Cerura vinula

Japanese: モクメシャチホコ（英語表記）Cerura vinula

An insect of the Lepidoptera, family Orthopodidae. Its wingspan is about 6-7cm. Its body and wings are light gray-white, and its forewings have light black wood-grain markings, hence its name. The male's antennae are thick and comb-like. Along with the very similar Orthopod, Orthopod nigricans, it is found throughout the temperate zone of Eurasia, and is not uncommon in Japan. There is one generation per year, and they appear around June-July. The larvae live on the leaves of willows and poplars, and their caudal legs change into a pair of long tail-like projections, giving them a unique appearance. They build hard cocoons on the trunks of trees, become pupae, and overwinter.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

鱗翅目シャチホコガ科の昆虫。開張約6～7cm。体翅とも明るい灰白色，前翅にうす墨色の木目状の斑紋があるのでこの名がある。雄の触角は太い櫛歯（くしば）状。本種によく似たオオモクメシャチホコとともに，ユーラシアの温帯に分布，日本でもまれでない。年1化，6～7月ころ出現する。幼虫はヤナギ，ポプラの葉上におり，尾脚が1対の長い尾状の突起に変化し，独特の姿態を示す。樹幹上に固い繭をつくってさなぎになり越冬する。

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