Kentish Glory Habitat Woods and hedgerows. The lar lOlldmlllis pcrsic%m vae feed on Birch. Beech and other tree" A large. conspicuous moth; 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 Campaea margaritata 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. Blotched Emerald COlllihoCIIO {llIs/lI/a/o Geometers, Family Geometridae A distinctive little moth, with a wingspan of Small or medium-sized moths 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 oak. 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 Common Emerald Hemithea 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 trees. Males may visit Sallow tats and distribution. flowers. Small Emerald Hemistola 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. large Emerald Habitat Woods, hedges and anywhere Geolllc/ra papiliollaria with trees and shrubs. 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 LEPIDOPTERA 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 plants 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-plant is Privet, 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 Chloroclysta 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 butterfly, 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 Birches 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 Lomaspilis 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 Europe. 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 Alder 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.