Geometridae : Sterrhinae
Mullein Wave
SCOPULA (Calothysanis) marginepunctata (Goeze, 1781)
Mullein Wave
SCOPULA (Calothysanis) marginepunctata (Goeze, 1781)
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 25-28mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Canary Isles,Estonia,Latvia,Russia north & north- west,Norway : North Africa to Mongolia
UK Distribution: Local on most of England and Wales coastline - locally scarce inland except locally abundant in London
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Mainly coastal : Coastal Grassland : Rocky Places
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates underground in loose soil
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: This moth is quite distinctive with its creamy to greyish background with a scattering of black scales. Cross lines are darker greyish and wavy except the post median line which is more dentate especially towards the costa.
In f.aniculosata Rambur, 1829, found in south-west England and Scotland, is a blackish form with white fringes and f.mandata Prout, 1913 found in Sussex,Dorset and Isle of Wight, the opposite is the case, being white without dusting.
This moth has similar markings to the Weaver's Wave but is considerably larger and lacks the dark blocks on a narrower forewing.
The moth can be seen resting on rocks during the day and is attracted to light where it can appear at the moth trap in reasonable numbers.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Canary Isles,Estonia,Latvia,Russia north & north- west,Norway : North Africa to Mongolia
UK Distribution: Local on most of England and Wales coastline - locally scarce inland except locally abundant in London
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10km squares
- Nationally Scarce B (Nb - BAP : 1997) = 31 - 100 10Km Squares
- BAP : 2007 - Priority Species
- NERC S.41 : 2008 (England) & NERC S.42 : 2009 (Wales) - Species "of principle importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity"
- Northern Ireland : 2010 - Priority Species
- Least Concern
- Phalaena marginepunctata (Goeze, 1781)
- Phalaena paludata Linnaeus, 1767
- Europe
Habitat: Mainly coastal : Coastal Grassland : Rocky Places
Similar Species -
- Weaver's Wave - Idaea contiguaria) (Hübner, [1799])
Pupa: Pupates underground in loose soil
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: This moth is quite distinctive with its creamy to greyish background with a scattering of black scales. Cross lines are darker greyish and wavy except the post median line which is more dentate especially towards the costa.
In f.aniculosata Rambur, 1829, found in south-west England and Scotland, is a blackish form with white fringes and f.mandata Prout, 1913 found in Sussex,Dorset and Isle of Wight, the opposite is the case, being white without dusting.
This moth has similar markings to the Weaver's Wave but is considerably larger and lacks the dark blocks on a narrower forewing.
The moth can be seen resting on rocks during the day and is attracted to light where it can appear at the moth trap in reasonable numbers.
Subspecies
S.m.britonaria Oberthür, 1917 - English Channel & Atlantis Coast - consistent grey - black markings
S.m.britonaria Oberthür, 1917 - English Channel & Atlantis Coast - consistent grey - black markings
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website where further information like photos,physical characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
- Asteraceae - Compositae - Aster-Daisy - Sunflower Family
- Achillea millefolium - Yarrow
- Artemesia vulgaris - Mugwort
- Fabaceae - Leguminosea - The Pulse - Bean - Pea - Legume Family
- Hippocrepis comosa - Horseshoe Vetch
- Lamiaceae - Labiatae - The Mint Family
- Origanum vulgare - Oregano - Wild Marjoram - Sweet marjoram
- Teucrium scorodonia - Wood Sage
- Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Filipendula ulmaria - Meadowsweet
- Filipendula ulmaria - Meadowsweet
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - SCOPULA: Original Species Name: Genus/Subgenus Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Subspecies: Forms: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Sterrhinae Scopulini SCOPULA Schrank 1802 Calothysanis Hübner, [1823] Scopula (Calothysanis) marginepunctata (Goeze, 1781) - Phalaena paludata Linnaeus, 1767 - PHALAENA marginepunctata (Goeze, 1781) - SCOPULA Schrank, 1802 = Glossotrophia Prout 1913 = Ustocidalia Sterneck 1932 = Libanonia Hausmann 1993 = Glossotrophia Prout 1914 = Parenzanella Hausmann 1993 Calothysanis Hübner 1823 [subgenus] - Entomologische beyträge zu des ritter Linné 12. ausgabe des natursystems : 3:3, : / von Joh. Aug. Ephraim Goeze. : Title Page : p.385 - n.85 - Europe - S.m.britonaria Oberthür, 1917 - English Channel & Atlantis Coast - consistent grey - black markings S.m.argillacea Reisser, 1933 - Morocco - light brownish beige S.m.terrigina Prout, 1935 - Iran - more brown than above - S.m.f.aniculosata Rambur, 1829 - dotted with blackish smokey appearance - has been found in south-west England & Scotland S.m.f.mandata Prout, 1913 - extremely light specimen - occurs in Sussex,Dorset & Isle of Wight |