Geometridae : Larentiinae
November Moth agg.
EPIRRITA dilutata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
November Moth agg.
EPIRRITA dilutata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 38-44mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe and central Asia : Middle East : Morocco
UK Distribution: Britsh Isles,Ireland,Isle of Man - well distributed and abundant : Channel Isles - Jersey - widespread and abundant as possibly rest of Channel Isles
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Hedges : Gardens : Broad-leaved Woodland : Scrub
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates underground
Overwinters as: Ovum on bark or twig
Observations: With all four "Epirrita"moths having similar markings it is very difficult to distinguish these moths by visual means, leaving genitalia examination as the only secure way of separating the species.
Although this moth is variable the forewing is greyish with a slight brown tinge and the hindwing is whitish with weak cross lines.
The female has a more rounded forewing with stronger cross lines than the male. There is also a small discal spot in the centre of the forewing.
This moth is the commonest of the "Epirrita" moths and the most widespread occurring in a wide range of habitats throughout Britain.
The moth is attracted to light where it can be found at the moth trap and other light sources like security lights and underpasses.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe and central Asia : Middle East : Morocco
UK Distribution: Britsh Isles,Ireland,Isle of Man - well distributed and abundant : Channel Isles - Jersey - widespread and abundant as possibly rest of Channel Isles
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = > 300 10km squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena (Geometra) dilutata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
- Palaena dilutata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
- Austria - near Vienna
Habitat: Hedges : Gardens : Broad-leaved Woodland : Scrub
Similar Species -
- Pale November Moth - Epirrita christyi (Allen, 1906)
- Autumnal Moth - Epirrita autumnata (Borkhausen, 1794)
Pupa: Pupates underground
Overwinters as: Ovum on bark or twig
Observations: With all four "Epirrita"moths having similar markings it is very difficult to distinguish these moths by visual means, leaving genitalia examination as the only secure way of separating the species.
Although this moth is variable the forewing is greyish with a slight brown tinge and the hindwing is whitish with weak cross lines.
The female has a more rounded forewing with stronger cross lines than the male. There is also a small discal spot in the centre of the forewing.
This moth is the commonest of the "Epirrita" moths and the most widespread occurring in a wide range of habitats throughout Britain.
The moth is attracted to light where it can be found at the moth trap and other light sources like security lights and underpasses.
Photo Gallery
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.
- Aceraceae - Maple Family
- Acer pseudoplatanus - Sycamore
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Betula pendula - Silver Birch
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Ericaceae - Heather Family
- Vaccinium myrtilus - Bilberry - Blue Whortleberry
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Quercus robur - Pedunculate Oak
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Malus sylvestris - Crab Apple
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn - Sloe (Britain)
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Populus canadensis - Golden Carolina Poplar
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Rosaceae - Rosa - Rose, Crataegus - Hawthorn
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Populus canadensis - Golden Carolina Poplar
Larval Food Plants
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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 - EPIRRITA: Original Species Name: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Larentiinae Operophterini EPIRRITA Hübner, 1822 Epirrita dilutata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775) - Geometra dilutata ([Denis & Schiffermuuller],1775) - PHALAENA (Geometra) dilutata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775) - Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend : Title Page : p.109 - n.4 - Austria - near Vienna - E.d.f. obscurata Staudinger,1871 - smokey greyish forewing E.d.f. melana Prout, 1899 - melanic form - forewings blackish E.d.f. fimbriata Haworth, 1809 - markings contrast |
