72.020 BF2060

White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Wingspan 34-48 mm.

Widely distributed and fairly common over much of Britain, there is considerable variation in the degree of black speckling, and in certain parts of Scotland, there are forms with a buffish ground colour.

It generally flies from May to July, sometimes later in the south.

The hairy larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants.