70.128 : 1784 : 8411
Geometridae : Larentiinae

Pretty Chalk Carpet

MELANTHIA procellata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Picture
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 32-40mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe east to Japan and Sakhalin
UK Distribution: South-east England,southern East Anglia - well distributed and frequent : South-west England,north to Lincolnshire,west Midlands,Monmouthshire - more local : Wales -south coast - local
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = > 300 10km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena (Geometra) procellata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Type Species - Melanthia
  • Geometra procellata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Type Locality -
  • Austria - near Vienna
Flight Period: South - early April - October
Habitat: Woodland edges : Hedgrows
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: The 25mm final instar larva is light brown with three lines along the dorsal area of which the central one is the narrowest. Dark,almost black markings are found irregularly along the side. The spiracles are black whilst the head is reddish brown and flat.
Pupa: Pupates overwinter in leaf litter or light soil
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: As the vernacular name implies this is a chalky white moth with a median band consisting of two dark areas from costa half way across the forewing and a central section that gives the appearance of white tiling.The basal area is dark and the white terminal line is interupted midway with a white patch.The subtermial line is brownish.

The moth can be disturbed during the day and is attracted to light.
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.
Larval Food Plants

Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom:
Phylum:
Subphylum:
Class:
Order:
Superfamily:
Family:
Subfamily:
Tribe:
Genus:
Accepted Species Name:

Type Species - MELANTHIA:

Original Species Name:

Literary Ref:


Type Locality:

Forms:

Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Larentiinae
Melanthiini
MELANTHIA Duponchel,1829
Melanthia procellata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
-
Geometra procellata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
-
PHALAENA (Geometra) procellata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
-
Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend : Title Page : p.114 - n.1
-
Austria - near Vienna
-
P.p.f.fasciata Hoffmann,1917 - dark lines in median area
-
M.p.procellata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775) - Nominate subspecies
M.p inquinata (Butler, 1878) - Russian far east