University of Alberta Museums Search

For a geometrid, this species has an unusually stout and hairy body (hence the name), and together with the elongate wing shape, it is more reminiscent of a species of Gluphisia (Notodontidae); however, it lacks the tan scales of Gluphisia. More uniformly grey overall than Biston betularia, with less contrasting transverse black lines. Lycia rachelae is not mottled, and has orange-brown scales along the forewing costa (absent in ursaria). Female fully winged, but apparently collected only rarely.

The eggs are laid in clusters of 150 to 200 in early spring before bud break, and hatch in about three weeks. The purplish-brown larvae are twig mimics, and develop slowly throughout the spring and summer, not pupating until mid July to early August (Prentice 1963, McGuffin 1977, Wagner et al. 2001). Adults come to light. This is one of the first species to emerge in the spring, along with Feralia, Orthosia and Gluphisia species.

Larvae feed on a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs such as dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), white birch (Betula papyrifera), willows (Salix spp.), alders (Alnus spp.), Vaccinium spp. and Prunus spp. (McGuffin 1977).