Geometridae : Ennominae
Sharp-angled Peacock
MACARIA alternata ([Dennis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Sharp-angled Peacock
MACARIA alternata ([Dennis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 27-32mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Canary Isles,Croatia,Greece,Sicily & most Mediterranean Islands - eastwards to Amur Region of NE China -SE Siberia
UK Distribution: Southern,Isle o Wight,SW England,SW Wales, - Well distributed and fairly frequent : SE England - more local,less frequent : Ireland - rare : Channel Isles - locally frequent
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Open Broadleaved Woodland : Scrubby Heathland : Coastal Sand-dunes
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in cocoon just beneath the soil.
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: This moth is similar to the Peacock moth although this moth has defining features that make identification relatively easy. This moth has a greyish band that runs through the blackish markings on the forewing and hindwing although greyish specimens tend to blend in with this cross band, which is only seen on this species.The brown apical marking is bolder with this moth which highlights the sharper apex.The termen notch is also deeper and clearly defined with this moth.
The moth flies from dusk and is attracted to light.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Canary Isles,Croatia,Greece,Sicily & most Mediterranean Islands - eastwards to Amur Region of NE China -SE Siberia
UK Distribution: Southern,Isle o Wight,SW England,SW Wales, - Well distributed and fairly frequent : SE England - more local,less frequent : Ireland - rare : Channel Isles - locally frequent
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10km squares
- Least Concern
- Geometra alternata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
- [Phalaena] liturata Clerck, 1759
- Austria - near Vienna
Habitat: Open Broadleaved Woodland : Scrubby Heathland : Coastal Sand-dunes
Similar Species -
- Peacock Moth - Macaria notata - (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pupa: Pupates in cocoon just beneath the soil.
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: This moth is similar to the Peacock moth although this moth has defining features that make identification relatively easy. This moth has a greyish band that runs through the blackish markings on the forewing and hindwing although greyish specimens tend to blend in with this cross band, which is only seen on this species.The brown apical marking is bolder with this moth which highlights the sharper apex.The termen notch is also deeper and clearly defined with this moth.
The moth flies from dusk 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.
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.
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Alnus glutinosa - Alder
- Elaeagnaceae - Oleaster Family
- Hippophae rhamnoides - Sea Buckthorn
- Rhamnaceae - The Buckthorn Family
- Rhamnus frangula - Alder Buckthorn
- Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Prunus padus - Bird Cherry : Hackberry
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn
- Sorbus aucuparia - Mountain Ash - Rowan
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
Larval Food Plants
|
|
|
Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - MACARIA: Original Species Name: Species Name: Genus Group Name: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Ennominae Macariini MACARIA Curtis, 1826 Macaria alternata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - [Phalaena] liturata Clerck, 1759 - GEOMETRA alternata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) = alternaria (Hübner, 1809) = Semitohisa alternaria - = MACARIA Curtis 1826 = Pygmaena Boisduval 1840 - [Denis, M. & JI Schiffermüller] (1775): Ankündung a systematic work of the butterflies of the Vienna Area edited by some teachers at kk Theresianum. 1-323, pl. I a + b, frontispiece. Vienna (Augustin Bernardi) - Austria - near Vienna - M.a.f.lineata Lempke, 1953 - Ante & Postmedian lines pronounced M.a.f.demaculata Heinrich, 1923 - spot in centre postmedian line missing M.a.f.costanuda Lempke, 1953 - costal spots missing M.a.f.lunulacarens Lempke, 1953 - dark subapical half-mooon spot blurred out- as in notata M.a.f.lutescens Lempke, 1953 - wing background yellowish M.a.f.fusca Lemke, 1953 - background has smokey hue |