Clouded Magpie

Geometridae : Ennominae

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 -

Local = 101 - 300 10km squares

European Conservation Status -

Least Concern

Original Species Name -

Phalaena sylvata (Scopoli, 1763)

Type Species -

Phalaena grossulariata Linnaeus, 1758

Type Locality -

Slovenia: "Carniolia"

Flight Period: South - late May - early September : Elsewhere - late May - July
Habitat: Woodland : Parkland : Scrub
Similar Species -

None

Larva: The 30mm final instar larva is whitish yellow with intermittent yellow and black lateral lines(7)and a black head against a ring of yellow.
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.

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

Taxonomy

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Type Species ABRAXAS:

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Forms:

Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Ennominae
Abrixini
ABRAXAS Leach, [1815]
Calospilos Hübner, [1825]
Abraxas (Calospilos) sylvata (Scopoli, 1763)
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Phalaena grossulariata Linnaeus, 1758
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PHALAENA sylvata (Scopoli, 1763)
= Calospilos sylvata Scopoli, 1763
= Abraxas sylvatus (Scopoli, 1763)
= Phalaena sylvata Scopoli, 1763
= Phalaena ulmata Fabricius, 1775
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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
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Slovenia: "Carniolia"
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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