Geometridae : Larentiinae
Small Seraphim
PTERAPHERAPTERYX sexalata (Retzius, 1783)
Small Seraphim
PTERAPHERAPTERYX sexalata (Retzius, 1783)
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 22-26mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe-not Balkans : east to Amur region of N.E. China-S.E. Siberia
UK Distribution: Southern England & East Anglia-Quite well distributed : Channel Islands-rare : Elsewhere-local
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Damp places : Broadleaved woodland : Fens
Similar Species -
The final instar larva is green with a series of yellowish lateral lines.
Pupa: Pupates among dead plant material
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth has a series of grey and white cross lines/bands with a broad grey median band with two large black discal spots adjacent to the proximal band.
Situated between the white cross bands are a series of light brown cross lines and the subterminal fascia is dentate in appearance.
The moth flies at dusk and is also attracted to the light appearing at the moth trap in usually small numbers.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe-not Balkans : east to Amur region of N.E. China-S.E. Siberia
UK Distribution: Southern England & East Anglia-Quite well distributed : Channel Islands-rare : Elsewhere-local
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena sexalata Retzius, 1783
- Phalaena sexalisata Hübner, 1788
- Not Specified
Habitat: Damp places : Broadleaved woodland : Fens
Similar Species -
- None
The final instar larva is green with a series of yellowish lateral lines.
Pupa: Pupates among dead plant material
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth has a series of grey and white cross lines/bands with a broad grey median band with two large black discal spots adjacent to the proximal band.
Situated between the white cross bands are a series of light brown cross lines and the subterminal fascia is dentate in appearance.
The moth flies at dusk and is also attracted to the light appearing at the moth trap in usually small numbers.
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.
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Salix alba - White Willow
- Salix aurita - Eared Sallow
- Salix bebbiana - Beak - Bebb Willow
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Salix phylicifolia - Tealeaf Willow
- Salix starkiana - Pale Willow
- Populus tremula - Aspen 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 - PTERAPHERAPTERYX: Original Species Name: Species Name: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms/Aberrations: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Larentiinae Trichopterygini PTERAPHERAPTERYX Curtis 1825 Pterapherapteryx sexalata (Retzius, 1783) - Phalaena sexalisata Hübner, 1788 - PHALAENA sexalata (Retzius, 1783) = Phalaena sexalisata Hübner, 1788 - Caroli Lib. Bar. De Geer "Genera et species insectorvm" e generosissimi avctoris scriptis extraxit, digessit, latine qvoad partem reddidit, et terminologiam insectorvm Linneanam additit Anders Iahan Retzivs (...). - pp. [1-5], III-VI [= 3-6], 7-220. Lipsiae. (Crusius) : Title Page : p.50 - n.137 - Not Specified - P.s.f.uniformata Lempke, 1950-white bands on forewing replaced with brownish tinge P.s.f.approximata Lempke, 1950-cross lines closer together P.s.f.obscura Lempke, 1969-forewings have duller look |