Kentish Glory Habitat Woods and hedgerows. The lar lOlldmlllis pcrsic%m vae feed on . and other " A large. conspicuous ; wingspan up to Status and distribution Widespread 90mm. The forewings are brown, marbled and moderately common throughout. with white and other colours, crossed by Season 6-8. two wavy lines. Males have feathery anten• Similar species nae, and fly by day. The larvae are large and Most other emeralds (see below) an, green, with a point towards the hind end, smaller. resembling some hawk-moth larvae. Light Emerald i~ Habitat Moorlands and open Birch almost as large, but paler yellowish-green. woodland. The larvae feed on Birch. with an unscalloped line across the centre Status and distribution In the UK, now of the wings. It is actually in a different fam• confined to the Scottish Highlands; wide• ily. Widespread throughout. spread though local on the Continent. Season 3-5. COlllihoCIIO {llIs/lI/a/o Geometers, Family Geometridae A distinctive little moth, with a wingspan of Small or medium-sized with srllall about 30mm. The emerald-green wings are bodies and relatively large wings, heid blotched with brown and white, unlike any either spread out or in a triangular shape. other Emerald. Female antennae simple. Caterpillars have Habitat Oakwoods. The larvae feed on only 2 pairs of legs, and move in a looping . fashion - they are known as 'loopers'. Status and distribution Absent from N Britain, locally common further south; Orange Underwing widespread and common on the Conti• Archiearis par/hcllias nent. A medium-sized moth; wingspan of Season 6-7. 35-40mm. Forewings dark, blotched paler, Similar species but the underwings are bright orange and aestivaria is black. Day-flying. similar in size, but has white uneven lines Habitat Open or lightly wooded areas across the wings, not blotches. Similar habi• with Birch . Males may visit Sallow tats and distribution. flowers. Small Emerald chrysoprasaria is Status and distribution Widespread larger (it is only 'small' in relation to Large and frequent throughout. Emerald!), up to 40mm across, with Season 3-4. straight, unbroken white lines. Local on Similar species limestones, feeding on Wild Clematis. Light Orange Underwing A. notha is slightly smaller. with paler hindwings and Little Emerald less variegated forewings. }odis lac/coria See also the underwings in the Noctuid A small moth; wingspan about 25mm. Very family (p. I84). pale green, with only faint white lines on the wings. Habitat Woods, hedges and anywhere Geolllc/ra papiliollaria with trees and . Larvae feed on vari• A distinctive, medium-large moth. with a ous trees and shrubs. wingspan of 50-65mm. Basically greenish• Status and distribution Widespread blue with numerous scalloped white marks and common throughout. on all wings. Season 5-7.

160 Birch Mocha yellow, marked with a broad angled stripe Cyclopl)(Jra all,ipl1l1ctata across all four wings. Flies by day if dis• A small to medium moth, with a wingspan turbed. of 2S-30mm. The wings are pale greyish• Habitat In a variety of habitats, feeding on white, often suffused with red, and each has numerous herbs and shrubs, a central dark-edged dot. Status and distribution Widespread Habitat Woodland and heath land, where and common throughout. Birch occurs. Season 6-9. Status and distribution Widespread in S Britain, general on the Continent. Silver-ground Carpet Season S--8. Xallt!Jor!Joe mOlltallata Similar species Wingspan about 30mm. A pretty little Dingy Mocha C. pendularia is very similar, moth, with the characteristic triangular but darker and more heavily speckled; shape of other 'carpets' when settled. The local, mainly southern, on Sallow. greyish-white wings have a strongly marked False Mocha C. parato is more yellowish, central black, uneven stripe, with darker lines across the wings. Wide• Habitat Woods, hedgerows and other spread, though mainly southern. undisturbed habitats. Status and distribution Widespread Blood-vein and common throughout. Timalldra griscata Season 5-7, A medium-small moth; wingspan 30• Similar species 35mm. The wings are pearly-grey, beauti• There are many other 'carpets' with a fully marked with a red stripe that runs in broadly similar pattern. Among the most a single wave when the wings are held at similar are the following: rest. The margins of the wings are also red Garden Carpet X. fluctuata has a darker, in colour. more speckled ground colour, with the Habitat A variety of open habitats, where stripe less well marked. Common every• docks, sorrels and related occur. where. Status and distribution Widespread in Flame Carpet X. designata has the black the south, becoming rarer northwards. stripe replaced by red; widespread Season S-9. throughout. Similar species Green Carpet Calastygia pectinatoria has a Small Blood-vein Scapula imitoria is similar pattern, but is mainly green, Wide• smaller, with a yellower ground colour and spread and frequent throughout. less well-marked stripe. Similar distribu• Common Carpet Epirrhae alternata has a tion. The main food- is , reddish-grey stripe on a greyish back• ground, Common throughout, Riband Wave Purple Bar Casmarhae acellata has a I daea at'crsata bluish-purple bar, and a dark spot towards The wingspan of this moth is about 35mm. the edge of the forewing. Common The ground colour is greyish-white to throughout.

162 LEPIDOPTERA Small Phoenix Habitat Woodlands, orchards, gardens. i-.clifil( ifliTe/ si!e/«\ll,l Status and distribution Widespread A small to medium moth; wingspan and common throughout. 30-35mm. The forewings are dark, mar• Season 10-3. bled with white and cream; the hindwings Similar species are pale, virtually unmarked. Northern Winter Moth O. (agata is Habitat Many open or semi-shaded habi• slightly larger, paler and shinier. Wide• tats, where willowherbs occur. spread, and not particularly northern. Status and distribution Widespread and common throughout. Chimney Sweeper Season 5-8. ()dezie/ dlre/la Similar species A small moth; wingspan 25-30mm. Soory• Dark Marbled Carpet citrata black allover, except for the margins of the is similar, but has a more distinct angled wings around the tip, which are white. Day• pale bar across the tips of the forewings. flying. Widespread and moderately common Habitat Flowery places where the food• throughout. plant, Pignut, occurs. Common Marbled Carpet C. truncota is Status and distribution Widespread extremely similar, usually rather darker. and locally frequent throughout. Widespread and common. Season 5-7. Similar species Argent and Sable Occasionally mistaken for a small , R!J('lf}}hlfJll!rd hilS/dId such as the Small Blue (see p.128). The A conspicuous medium-sized moth with a antennae and detailed colouring are quite wingspan of 35-40mm. Both forewings and different. hindwings are boldly marked with black and white, with a clear white band crossing the Magpie Moth or The Magpie middle of each wing (the northern race, A/JraxLls grosslllariata nigrescens, has more dark markings on the An attractive and distinctive moth; wing• wing). Partly day-flying. span 42-48mm. The combination of white Habitat A species of woodlands and ground colour, heavily dotted black, with moorland where are present; they orange stripes is unmistakable. May cause are the larval food-plant. damage to currant bushes. Status and distribution Widespread, Habitat Woods, gardens and scrub, but local and more frequent in upland where currants, gooseberries or Haw• areas. thorn occur. Season 5-7. Status and distribution Widespread and common throughout. Winter Moth Season 6-8. ()fJerofJhtere/ !)1"IIIIhlle/ Similar species This species has marked sexual dimor• Clouded Magpie A. sylvata is similar in phism, as the females are flightless and vir• size and shape, but lacks the black dots and tually wingless. Males have a wingspan of has reduced orange and grey patches. A about 30mm, and are pale yellowish• local woodland species. brown. The females are small and dark, and Clouded Border marginata is barely look like a moth at all.They crawl up smaller, mottled deep grey and white. the stems of trees to lay their eggs in Common in wooded areas. See also the crevices or on buds. unrelated Small Magpie, p.198.

164 LEPIDOPTERA Latticed Heath Brimstone Moth SClI1iolhisa clalhrala O/Jislhograplis IlIlcolala An attractive little moth; wingspan about A distinctive moth. with a wingspan of 30mm. Distinctively patterned chequered 35-45mm. The wings are yellow (like a brown and white wings. Male antennae not male Brimstone butterfly). and the fore• feathery. Day-flying. wings are edged with 3 red-brown blobs. Habitat Many types of open habitat, in• Habitat H'i'dges. gardens and open cluding heaths and downs. The food-plants woods. include various legumes. Status and distribution Widespread Status and distribution Widespread and common throughout. and common throughout. Season 5·-10. Season 4-9. Similar species Canary-shouldered Thorn Netted Mountain Moth S. carbonorio is EllIl011U)S a/lliaria darker. less distinctly chequered. A moth of Wingspan 38-40mm. An attractive moth. mountain areas. in Scotland, and wide• with pinkish-yeilow wings. and a furry yel• spread in N . low head-thorax area. The legs are furry. Common Heath Ematurga atomaria is and the males have feathered antennae. similar in size and colour to Latticed Heath, Habitat Woods. fens and other unim• but lacks the strong transverse lines. Com• proved habitats. Food-plants include mon in heathy places and open woodland and Birch. throughout. Status and distribution Widespread and common throughout. Brown Silver-line Season 7-10. l'clrophora ch!orosala Similar species An undistinguished pale brown moth; Large Thorn E. autumnaria is larger. with wingspan about 35mm. Forewings are thorax hairs pinkish-yellow. Forewings brown, with 2 darker stripes across; hind• dark towards the tip. Common through• wings paler. Of interest as one of the rela• out. tively few to feed on Bracken. August Thorn E. quercinaria is similar in Habitat Heaths or moors, wherever size to Canary-shouldered. but duller in Bracken occurs. colour and lacking the bright yellow thorax Status and distribution Widespread hairs. Common throughout. and locally frequent, throughout. Season 5-7. Early Thorn Selenia delliaria Speckled Yellow Wingspan 45-50mm, rather smaller in sec• I'sclIdopalllhcrtlll1aclllaria ond-generation specimens. A greyish• A small but unmistakable moth. Wingspan brown moth. though very variable in about 30mm. Wings yellow. speckled with colour. with (usually) 4 bands of deeper black. Day-flying. especially in sunny colour across the forewings. Rests with weather. wings held above body, or partly raised. Habitat Open woods. scrub and rough Habitat Woodland. hedges and scrub. grassland. Food-plants include various Labi• Status and distribution Widespread ates (Mint family). and common throughout. Status and distribution Widespread Season 3-9. with a gap in the middle. and locally common throughout. Similar species Season 4-7. Lunar Thorn S. /unularia has much more jagged wing margins. Widespread but local.

166 LEPIDOPTERA Swallowtailed Moth Status and distribution Widespread Ourapteryx samhucaria and moderately common throughout, A beautiful and distinctive moth, with a except in the far north. wingspan of 55--65mm. Pale yellow overall, Season 10-12. with 2 greyish lines across each forewing, Similar species and spots of red next to the 'swallow tails' Dotted Border A. marginaria is similar in on the hindwings. The larvae closely resem• size and shape, but has a row of dots along ble twigs, especially Ivy. the back of all wings. Similar habitats and Habitat Woods, hedges and gardens. distribution. Food-plants include Ivy and Hawthorn. Erannis defoliaria is more Status and distribution Widespread strongly marked and mottled, and has a and moderately common throughout. spot in the centre of each forewing. Wide• Season 6-8. spread and common throughout.

Belted Beauty Great Oak Beauty Lycia ZOl1aria Boarmia rohoraria Males have a wingspan of 30-35mm, A large moth; wingspan up to 70mm. Vari• females are wingless. Males have attractive able in colour, but essentially grey mottled brown-grey wings striped with white, hind• with white and some black, forming a lacy wings paler. Females are small and dark. pattern. Habitat Sand-dunes and grassy areas. Habitat Oak woodland; the larvae feed Food-plants include Bird's-foot Trefoil, on oak. clovers and Burnet . Status and distribution Rather local Status and distribution Rather local, and mainly southern. though widespread. Mostly coastal. Season 6-8. Season 3-5. Similar species Pale Oak Beauty Serraca punctinalis is 'Peppered Moth smaller and lighter in colour. Similar habi• 13istol1 hetularia tats and distribution. A largish moth; wingspan up to 62mm. Famous 'because of its wide variety of Black-veined Moth colour forms, shown to have evolved in Siona lineata relation to pollution-darkening of tree bark. A small to medium moth; wingspan up to Habitat In a wide variety of wooded or 50mm. It is crea~y-white in colour, and the lightly treed sites; a wide range of food• undersides have a strongly marked pattern plants includes trees and herbs. of black veins. The moths fly by day, with a Status and distribution Widespread and weak fluttery flight. reasonably common virtually throughout. Habitat Limestone and chalk grassland, Season 5-B. where Tor Grass occurs. Status and distribution Very rare in Scarce Umber UK, where it is found only in Kent. More aural1tiaria widespread on the Continent, commonest Males have a wingspan of about 40mm, towards the south. females are wingless. Male forewings are Season 5-7. yellowish-brown, with darker markings; Similar species the hindwings are very pale. Females dark Could be confused with some of the white brown. (see p. I20) but the general dif• Habitat Wooded areas and unimproved ferences between moths and butterflies farmland. (see p.IIS) should distinguish them.

168 LEPIDOPTERA