142. Common Emerald

What is there not to love about the muppet haircut and the beautiful emerald green of Hemithea aestivaria? The underside that you can't see here is a pale creamy green. The emerald moth is found through out Europe and has been introduced to the Pacific Northwest. Apparently the first that were observed around Vancouver was 1979. In Europe the caterpillars are known to feed on willow, oaks, birch and a number of other deciduous trees. On southern Vancouver Island  they have been seen feeding on dogwood and snowberry. Here are some photographs of the caterpillar: http://facweb.furman.edu/~snyderjohn/tatum/218-221.htm

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