Geometridae : Ennominae
August Thorn
ENNOMOS quercinaria (Hufnagel, 1767)
August Thorn
ENNOMOS quercinaria (Hufnagel, 1767)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 42-50mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe to Central Asia
UK Distribution: Widespread and local in England and Wales north to Yorkshire & Cumbria : Scotland-rare : Isle of Man-widespread and infrequent : Ireland-fairly frequent : Channel Isles-fairly frequent
UK Conservation Status -
Flight Period: South-late June to early August : Elsewhere-mid August to late September
Habitat: Woodland : Gardens : Parkland : Hedgrows
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates amongst the leaves of the foodplant
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: With the August Thorn lasting into September and the September Thorn starting before August it is clear these two moths cannot be separated by flight season.The outer cross-line with this species usually kinks towards and then away from the base as it touches the costa.Beyond this line it is not unusual for this moth to have varying degrees of dark shading which normally defines the Dusky Thorn.
Males tend to be quite orange whilst the females appear straw coloured.There can also be freckling of the forewing with both male and female although as can be seen below this can be very slight also.
This moth can usually be found at rest during the day on vegetation and is also attracted to the light trap where it can be found in good numbers.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe to Central Asia
UK Distribution: Widespread and local in England and Wales north to Yorkshire & Cumbria : Scotland-rare : Isle of Man-widespread and infrequent : Ireland-fairly frequent : Channel Isles-fairly frequent
UK Conservation Status -
- NERC S.41 : 2008 (England) & NERC S.42 : 2009 (Wales) - Species "of principle importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity
- Northern Ireland - Priority Species : 2010
- Local = 101 - 300 10Km Squares
- BAP : 2007 - Priority Species
- Vulnerable
- Least Concern
- Phalaena quercinaria Hufnagel, 1767
- Eugonia autumnaria Werneburg, 1859
Flight Period: South-late June to early August : Elsewhere-mid August to late September
Habitat: Woodland : Gardens : Parkland : Hedgrows
Similar Species -
- Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria Haworth, 1809
- September Thorn Ennomos erosaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Pupa: Pupates amongst the leaves of the foodplant
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: With the August Thorn lasting into September and the September Thorn starting before August it is clear these two moths cannot be separated by flight season.The outer cross-line with this species usually kinks towards and then away from the base as it touches the costa.Beyond this line it is not unusual for this moth to have varying degrees of dark shading which normally defines the Dusky Thorn.
Males tend to be quite orange whilst the females appear straw coloured.There can also be freckling of the forewing with both male and female although as can be seen below this can be very slight also.
This moth can usually be found at rest during the day on vegetation and is also attracted to the light trap where it can be found in good numbers.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwde
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.
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Alnus viridis - American Green Alder
- Betula pendula - Silver Birch
- Betula pubescens - Downy Birch
- Carpinus betulus - Hornbeam
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Fagus sylvatica - Beech
- Quercus petraea - Sessile Oak
- Quercus robur - Pedunculate Oak - Common Oak
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn - Sloe(Britain)
- Ulmaceae - Elm Family
- Ulmus minor var. minor - East Anglian Elm - Narrow-leaved Elm
- Ulmus minor var. minor - East Anglian Elm - Narrow-leaved Elm
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 - ENNOMOS: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms/Aberrations: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Ennominae Ennomini ENNOMOS Treitschke 1825 Ennomos quercinaria (Hufnagel, 1767) - Eugonia autumnaria Werneburg, 1859 - PHALAENA quercinaria (Hufnagel, 1767) = Ennomos quercinarius Hufnagel, 1767 - Berlin. Magazin. 4 (5) : Title Page : p.520 - n.31 - Not Specified - E.q.f.equestraria Fabricius, 1777-basal and distal areas brown E.q.f.carpinaria Hübner, 1799-wings ochre E.q.f.angularia Hübner, 1799-extensive shade after postmedial line E.q.f.maculosa Lempke, 1951-forewing has dark speckling E.q.f.obsoleta Lempke, 1951-cross lines missing E.q.f.perfuscata Prout, 1914-wings completely brown |