Mottled Beauty
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| Mottled Beauty | |
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| Mounted female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Alcis |
| Species: | A. repandata |
| Binomial name | |
| Alcis repandata Linnaeus, 1758 |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a common species of Europe and the Near East.
The wingspan is 32-40 mm. This is an extremely variable species, typically being buff or grey with black bars along the costa, but often with a broad blackish band across the forewings. Melanic forms are also common, especially in industrial areas. In all but the darkest variations the most characteristic feature is a pale "zig-zag" line across the hindwing. This moth flies at night in June and July [1] and is attracted to light.
The larva feeds on the leaves and soft bark of a wide range of trees and other plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a small larva.
- ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
[edit] Recorded food plants
- Alnus - Alder
- Betula - Birch
- Calluna - Heather
- Crataegus - Hawthorn
- Cytisus - Broom
- Filipendula - Meadowsweet
- Ligustrum - Privet
- Lonicera - Honeysuckle
- Quercus - Oak
- Rhododendron
- Ribes - Currant
- Rubus - Bramble
- Rumex - Dock
- Salix - Willow
- Sorbus - Rowan
- Tilia - Lime
- Vaccinium
[edit] Subspecies
- A. r. muraria
- A. r. repandata
- A. r. sodorensium
[edit] References
- Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
- Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984
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