70.207 : 1887 : 7527
Geometridae : Ennominae

Clouded Border

LOMASPILIS marginata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 24-28mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe-not Corsica/Sardinia,east to Japan and Amur region of SE Siberia & NE China
UK Distribution: Well distributed in Great Britain,Isle of Man & Channel Isles
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena marginata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Species - Lomaspilis
  • Phalaena marginata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type locality -
  • Sweden?
Flight Period: South-May to July & July to August-bivoltine : Elsewhere-June to July
Habitat: Woodland : Heathland : Wetlands
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: The larva is leaf green with a fine thin yellow lateral line viewed from the side. There are also a series of darker green lateral lines all over the larva. Larval stage-mid July to mid September
Pupa: Pupates underground
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: As the name suggests this moth is easily recognised by its small size and the blackish-brown border markings on all of its wings.
The markings do vary with additional dorsum markings on both the hindwings and forewings.
As can be seen from the photos the moth rests with its wings fully open.

The moth can be disturbed during the day,flies from dusk and is a regular visitor to the light trap where it can appear in good 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.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - LOMASPILIS:

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Forms/Aberrations:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Ennominae
Cassymini
LOMASPILIS Hübner [1825]
Lomaspilis marginata (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Phalaena marginata (Linnaeus, 1758)
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PHALAENA marginata (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Syst.Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.527 - n.182
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Sweden?
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L.m.f.staphyleata Scopoli, 1763-Median patch elongated
L.m.f.marginaria Hübner, 1799-same as one above with hindwing showing signs of black lines
L.m.f.naevata Hübner, 1790-as one above with complete lines
L.m.f.nigrofasciata Schöyen, 1882-median line complete on all wings
L.m.f.conflua Stand, 1900-two costal patches can merge
L.m.f.postalbata Lempke, 1951-hindwing black points missing
L.m.f.albomarginata Ostehelder, 1931-wing margins have white edging
L.m.f.subdeleta Cockerall, 1889-forewing black patches much reduced
L.m.f.semialbata Mellaerts, 1928-as one above and reduced in basal area
L.m.f.brunnescens Lempke, 1951-markings golden-brown instead of blackish hue
L.m.f.lacticolor Lempke 1951-white relaced by yellowish white