Higher classification Cossus | Scientific name Cossus cossus Rank Species | |
 | ||
Similar Cossus, Cossidae, Butterflies and moths, Insect, Zeuzera pyrina | ||
Cossus cossus, the goat moth, is a moth of the family Cossidae. It is found in Europe.
Contents
- Red goat moth cossus cossus caterpillar searching for pupation site c2252
- As a food
- Taxonomy
- Subspecies
- References
This is a large heavy moth with a wingspan of 68–96 mm. The wings are greyish brown and marked with fine dark cross lines. The moth flies from April to August depending on the location.
The caterpillars feed in the trunks and branches of a wide variety of trees (see list below), taking three or four years to mature.
Red goat moth cossus cossus caterpillar searching for pupation site c2252
As a food
Pliny reported in Natural History that a grub which may have been Cossus cossus was considered a Roman delicacy after it was fed with flour.
Taxonomy
Cossus balcanicus Lederer, 1863 from Bulgaria is probably a hybrid between C. cossus and Lamellocossus terebrus (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775).
Subspecies
References
Cossus cossus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA