Geometridae : Ennominae
Clouded Magpie
ABRAXAS (Calospilos) sylvata (Scopoli, 1763)
Clouded Magpie
ABRAXAS (Calospilos) sylvata (Scopoli, 1763)
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 38-44mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Canary Isles,Croatia,Channel Isles,Greece,N Russia,Sicily & most Mediterranean Islands - E to China & Japan
UK Distribution: England,Wales - widespread but thinly distributed : Isle of Man - locally numerous : Scotland - recorded on various sites : Ireland - local : Channel Isles - only one recorded in Guernsey
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Woodland : Parkland : Scrub
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon underground
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth is unmistakable with its white wings displaying blurred black patches partially ringed in yellow on all four wings with the basal area being much the same,namely black with yellow.There is grey edging along the costa and termen with other grey patches and a cross line made up of a series of grey dots.The abdomen is yellow with black dots along its length.
The moth can be found resting during the day and is attracted to light although most found adjacent to the moth trap as opposed to being in the trap.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Canary Isles,Croatia,Channel Isles,Greece,N Russia,Sicily & most Mediterranean Islands - E to China & Japan
UK Distribution: England,Wales - widespread but thinly distributed : Isle of Man - locally numerous : Scotland - recorded on various sites : Ireland - local : Channel Isles - only one recorded in Guernsey
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10km squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena sylvata (Scopoli, 1763)
- Phalaena grossulariata Linnaeus, 1758
- Slovenia: "Carniolia"
Habitat: Woodland : Parkland : Scrub
Similar Species -
- None
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon underground
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth is unmistakable with its white wings displaying blurred black patches partially ringed in yellow on all four wings with the basal area being much the same,namely black with yellow.There is grey edging along the costa and termen with other grey patches and a cross line made up of a series of grey dots.The abdomen is yellow with black dots along its length.
The moth can be found resting during the day and is attracted to light although most found adjacent to the moth trap as opposed to being in the trap.
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.
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.
- Adoxaceae - Viburnum Family
- Viburnum lantana - Wayfaring Tree
- Betulaceae - Birch Family
- Betula pubescens - White Birch - Downy Birch
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Fagus sylvatica - Beech
- Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Prunus avium - Wild Cherry
- Prunus padus - Bird Cherry - Hackberry
- Theaceae - Tea - Camellia Family
- Camelia sinensis - Tea Plant
- Ulmaceae - Elm Family
- Ulmus davidiana - Japanese Elm
- Ulmus glabra - Wych Elm - Scots Elm
- Ulmus laciniata - Manchurian Elm
- Ulmus procera - English Elm - Common Elm
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 ABRAXAS: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Ennominae Abrixini ABRAXAS Leach, [1815] Calospilos Hübner, [1825] Abraxas (Calospilos) sylvata (Scopoli, 1763) - Phalaena grossulariata Linnaeus, 1758 - PHALAENA sylvata (Scopoli, 1763) = Calospilos sylvata Scopoli, 1763 = Abraxas sylvatus (Scopoli, 1763) = Phalaena sylvata Scopoli, 1763 = Phalaena ulmata Fabricius, 1775 - Entomologia Carniolica exhibens insecta Carnioliæ indigena et distributa in ordines, genera, species, varietates. Methodo Linnæana. - pp. [1-35], 1-420, [1]. Vindobonae. (Trattner) : Title page : p.220 - n.546 - Slovenia: "Carniolia" - A.s.f.suffusa Tutt, 1897 - suffused with lead grey A.s.f.obscura Tutt, 1897 - wings coated with ochre hue A.s.f.transversa Tutt, 1897 - cross line slate grey A.s.f.pantarioides Spitz, 1908 - markings much smaller |