ABH 73.325
Purple
Thorn Selenia
tetralunaria
BF 1919
Back To
(Hufnagel, 1767)
Phenology
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Family
Geometridae » Ennominae
Wingspan
30-38 mm.
Description
This species is dark purplish-brown,
paler towards the termen, with a dark spot at the apex of the forewing.
Both wings are marked with a comma-shaped white mark. The margins
of the wings are angular, giving the species a distinctive shape.
Similars The most likely confusion species is Lunar Thorn Selenia
lunularia, both share the same posture at rest, but Lunar Thorn
has the postmedian line straighter, joining the costa closer to
the base of the forewing, and lacks the dark spot near the dorsum
on the hindwing of Purple Thorn.
Life Cycle
The two broods fly
in April and May, then in July and August. Where there is only one
generation, the moths are out in May. Larva feeds on various broad-leaved
trees, including Hazel, Birch, Alder, Hawthorn and Oak, over-wintering
as a pupa.
Habitat
Occupying
woodland, heathland and other bushy areas, this species is fairly
common in southern England and Wales, becoming scarcer northward
Links
Images
ABH 73.325 |
Purple Thorn Selenia tetralunaria |
BF 1919 |
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| Back To | (Hufnagel, 1767) |
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Phenology |
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Family |
Geometridae » Ennominae | ||||||||||||||
Wingspan |
30-38 mm. | ||||||||||||||
Description |
This species is dark purplish-brown, paler towards the termen, with a dark spot at the apex of the forewing. Both wings are marked with a comma-shaped white mark. The margins of the wings are angular, giving the species a distinctive shape. Similars The most likely confusion species is Lunar Thorn Selenia
lunularia, both share the same posture at rest, but Lunar Thorn
has the postmedian line straighter, joining the costa closer to
the base of the forewing, and lacks the dark spot near the dorsum
on the hindwing of Purple Thorn. |
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Life Cycle |
The two broods fly in April and May, then in July and August. Where there is only one generation, the moths are out in May. Larva feeds on various broad-leaved trees, including Hazel, Birch, Alder, Hawthorn and Oak, over-wintering as a pupa. | ||||||||||||||
Habitat |
Occupying woodland, heathland and other bushy areas, this species is fairly common in southern England and Wales, becoming scarcer northward | ||||||||||||||
Links |
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Images |
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