What is "lackey moth"

Lackey \Lack"ey\, n.; pl. Lackeys. [F. laquais; cf. Sp. & Pg. lacayo; of uncertain origin; perh. of German origin, and akin to E. lick, v.] An attending male servant; a footman; a servile follower.

Like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey.
--Shak.

Lackey caterpillar (Zo["o]l.), the caterpillar, or larva, of any bombycid moth of the genus Clisiocampa; -- so called from its party-colored markings. The common European species ( Clisiocampa neustria) is striped with blue, yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The American species ( Clisiocampa Americana and Clisiocampa sylvatica) are commonly called tent caterpillars. See Tent caterpillar, under Tent.

Lackey moth (Zo["o]l.), the moth which produces the lackey caterpillar.

The lackey moth (Malacosoma neustria) is common across southern Britain and central Europe. Malacosoma species are notable for their caterpillars which are brightly coloured and form silken tents to regulate their temperature. Malacosoma neustria caterpillars are brown with blue, orange and white stripes. The adults are a fairly uniform brown. The larvae feed mainly on trees and shrubs from within their tents.

Malacosoma neustria Caterpillar.jpg|Caterpillar, Ermingen, Ulm, Germany Malacosoma neustria eggs.jpg|Eggs Malacosoma neustria caterpillars on silk tent.JPG|Caterpillars on silk tent.

Malacosoma neustria MHNT CUT 2011 0 446 male Mussidan.jpg|♂ Malacosoma neustria MHNT CUT 2011 0 446 female Mussidan.jpg|♀