Mottled beauty
| Mottled beauty | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| 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) | |
| Synonyms | |
The mottled beauty (Alcis repandata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a common species of Europe and the Near East.
Alcis repandata f.conversaria Male
Larva
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 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
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