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Originally Posted by George Hogg  1 Are cocoons on twigs generally males |
Not that I'm aware.
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Originally Posted by George Hogg 2 Are female cocoons generally on thicker branches |
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Originally Posted by George Hogg 3 Is there any size difference between male and female caterpillars |
Not that I'm aware, although female caterpillars are twice, if not thrice the size of males so it would make sense, the larger caterpillars seeking out stronger twigs,
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Originally Posted by George Hogg 4 Do female caterpillars stray as widely as males and take as long to enter pupal stage |
That's a good question - I don't know! I would theorize that as the female caterpillars are bigger they would stray further (by virtue of being caterpillars longer) and would take longer to enter into pupal stage (again by virtue of being caterpillars longer).
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Originally Posted by George Hogg 5 Is Laburnum a common foodplant of Vapourer |
I've not witnessed them eating it, but they will eat a lot of things. See this list:
BRC - Database of Insects and their Food Plants (as laburnum isn't native its probably not their "ideal" foodplant, nor will it be as commonly investigated for larva, which will also contribute to a lack of records)
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Originally Posted by George Hogg 6 Were the emerging males from this or last years caterpillars |
Vapourers can have two broods a year - so they could be this years or last years (it depends where you are - double broods are commoner in the south).