Geometridae : Larentiinae
July Belle
SCOTOPTERYX luridata (Hufnagel, 1767)
July Belle
SCOTOPTERYX luridata (Hufnagel, 1767)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 32-38mm
Worldwide Distribution: Most of Europe excluding Finland and the Baltics
UK Distribution: Resident. Local and uncommon in Britain and Ireland.
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Open scrub : Heathland : Moorland : Downland : Shingle beaches.
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon in plant debris
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: Distinguishing this moth from its similar species the Lead Belle S.mucronata is problematic and in certain instances can only be differentiated by genitalia examination.
The July Belle generally has darker grey background and a smaller discal spot that is located nearer the antemedian fascia line and the zig zag subterminal facia line is fainter than seen on the Lead Belle.
The Lead Belle central spots are usually "tear shaped" whereas with this moth the spots are round.
Both moths have apical streaks at the forewing apex.
Hindwings are slightly darker than Lead Belle with no markings.
As the Lead Belle emerges possibly four weeks before the July Belle it would only be at the end of the formers lifespan that the two moths could be seen together thus also aiding identification between the two species.
Easily disturbed from foodplant. Flies from dusk.
Worldwide Distribution: Most of Europe excluding Finland and the Baltics
UK Distribution: Resident. Local and uncommon in Britain and Ireland.
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10Km Squares
- Vulnerable
- Least Concern
- Phalaena luridata Hufnagel, 1767
- Geometra tenebraria Hübner, 1809
- Not Specified
Habitat: Open scrub : Heathland : Moorland : Downland : Shingle beaches.
Similar Species -
- Lead Belle Scotopteryx mucronata Scopoli, 1763
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon in plant debris
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: Distinguishing this moth from its similar species the Lead Belle S.mucronata is problematic and in certain instances can only be differentiated by genitalia examination.
The July Belle generally has darker grey background and a smaller discal spot that is located nearer the antemedian fascia line and the zig zag subterminal facia line is fainter than seen on the Lead Belle.
The Lead Belle central spots are usually "tear shaped" whereas with this moth the spots are round.
Both moths have apical streaks at the forewing apex.
Hindwings are slightly darker than Lead Belle with no markings.
As the Lead Belle emerges possibly four weeks before the July Belle it would only be at the end of the formers lifespan that the two moths could be seen together thus also aiding identification between the two species.
Easily disturbed from foodplant. Flies from dusk.
Subspecies
S.l.plumbaria Fabricius, 1775 - England to N Netherlands down to Pyrenees
S.l.plumbaria Fabricius, 1775 - England to N Netherlands down to Pyrenees
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.
- Fabaceae - Leguminosea - Pulse - Bean - Pea - Legumes
- Cytisus scoparius - Broom - Scotch Broom
- Genista anglica - Petty Whin - Needle Furze - Needle Whin
- Ulex europaeus - Gorse - Furze - Whin
- Genista saggitalis - Winged Broom
- Genista tinctoria - Dyer's Greenweed
Larval Food Plant Slideshow
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - SCOTOPTERYX: Original Species Name: Nominotypical subspecies: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms/Aberrations: Subspecies: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Larentiinae Xanthorhoini SCOTOPTERYX Hübner, [1825] Scotopteryx plumbaria (Hufnagel, 1767) - Geometra tenebraria Hübner, 1809 - PHALAENA luridata (Hufnagel, 1767) = Phalaena plumbaria Fabricius, 1775 - Phalaena luridata luridata (Hufnagel, 1767) - Berlin. Magazin. 4 (6) : Title Page : p.526 - n.49 - Not Specified - S.l.f.nigrita Heydemann, 1938-Melanic form,found in areas of England to N Netherlands south to Pyranees S.l.f.approximata Prout, 1914-Cross-lines close together - S.l.pseudomucronata Heydemann, 1941-Southern Europe-Forewing lighter grey,cross-lines fine with median space not darkened-highly variable S.l.plumbaria (Fabricius, 1775) - Forewing median space variably suffused with greyish brown,cross-lines run closer together.Highly variable giving melanic forms locally - England to N Netherlands down to Pyranees S.l. luridata (Hufnagel, 1767) - Nominate subspecies |