Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Family
THYATIRIDAE
Family
GEOMETRIDAE
Achlya flavicornis
(Linnaaeus) (
732-734
)
syn.
Polyploca flavicornis
(Linnaeus)
Yellow-horned moth
A generally common species, associated with birch
(
Betula
); found occasionally on ornamental and amenity
trees in the vicinity of birch woodlands. The larvae feed
during June and July, sheltering during the daytime in a
folded leaf. Young specimens are blackish olive,
marked with small, pale pinacula, and are superficially
tortrix-like. Older individuals (up to 33 mm long) are
whitish to pale greenish white, more or less suffused
with dark olive-green, and marked with black and white
spots; the head is mainly yellowish brown to reddish
brown. When fully grown, they enter the soil to pupate
in flimsy cocoons. Adults are mainly greenish grey, with
dark grey or black markings. They occur in March and
April.
A very large family of mainly slender-bodied moths
with relatively large, usually broad, wings; most species
are rather weak fliers. The larvae, commonly called
'looper caterpillars' or 'loopers', usually have just two
functional pairs of abdominal prolegs (those on the
third, fourth and fifth abdominal segment being
rudimentary or absent) and progress with a
characteristic looping gait; some are brightly coloured
but many are cryptic and, when at rest, bear a close
resemblance to twigs.
Abraxas grossulariata
(Linnaeus) (
735-736
)
Magpie moth
The characteristic creamy-white and black-spotted
larvae of this generally distributed species are
sometimes damaging to the foliage of ornamental trees
and shrubs, including crab-apple (
Malus
), flowering
cherry (
Prunus
) and flowering currant (
Ribes
sanguineum
), hawthorn (
Crataegus
), hazel (
Corylus
)
and spindle (
Euonymus
). The mainly black, white and
yellow adults (35-40 mm wingspan) occur in July and
August. Larvae feed from August onwards, individuals
hibernating during the winter months and completing
their development in the following May or June.
Although capable of causing noticeable defoliation,
numbers of larvae on ornamental plants are usually
small and damage is rarely, if ever, of significance.
732
Agriopis aurantiaria
(Hübner) (
737
)
syn.
Erannis aurantiaria
(Hübner)
Scarce umber moth
This widespread and locally common species attacks
various trees and shrubs, including beech (
Fagus
sylvatica
), birch (
Betula
), crab-apple (
Malus
),
hornbeam (
Carpinus betulus
) and oak (
Quercus
), the
larvae causing minor damage to the foliage. Larvae (up
732
Young larva of yellow-horned moth (
Achlya flavicornis
).
733
734
733
Larva of yellow-horned moth (
Achlya flavicornis
).
734
Male yellow-horned moth (
Achlya flavicornis
).
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