Mottled beauty
Appearance
Mottled beauty | |
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Mounted female | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Geometridae |
Genus: | Alcis |
Species: | A. repandata
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Binomial name | |
Alcis repandata | |
Synonyms | |
The mottled beauty (Alcis repandata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a common species of Europe and the Near East.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Alcis_repandata.conversaria.jpg/200px-Alcis_repandata.conversaria.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Alcis_repandata_larva1.jpg/200px-Alcis_repandata_larva1.jpg)
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.
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
Subspecies
- A. r. muraria
- A. r. repandata
- A. r. sodorensium
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
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alcis repandata.