Geometridae : Ennominae
Dusky Thorn
ENNOMOS fuscantaria (Haworth, 1809)
Dusky Thorn
ENNOMOS fuscantaria (Haworth, 1809)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 38-42mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe to western Siberia : North Africa
UK Distribution: Well distributed/fairly frequent in England and Wales to Yorkshire : Channel Isles-widespread/occasional
UK Conservation Status -
Flight Period: Mid July to mid October
Habitat: Woods : Gardens : Hedgerows : Where larval food plant grows
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates among leaves of food plant
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: Although the August Thorn E.quercinaria Hufnagel, 1767 can also have a darker distal area on the forewing like the Dusky Thorn E.fuscantaria Haworth, 1809, the cross-lines for this moth are further apart at the dorsum.The postmedian fascia of this moth has a smooth and gentle curve at the costa, unlike its similar species where the line kinks at the same point.
The moth is attracted to light and is often seen at the moth trap or within the vicinity on a wall or fence.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe to western Siberia : North Africa
UK Distribution: Well distributed/fairly frequent in England and Wales to Yorkshire : Channel Isles-widespread/occasional
UK Conservation Status -
- NERC S.41 : 2008 (England) & NERC S.42 : 2009 (Wales) - Species "of principle importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- BAP : 2007 - Priority Species
- Endangered
- Least Concern
- Phalaena fuscantaria Haworth, 1809
- Eugonia autumnaria Werneburg, 1859
Flight Period: Mid July to mid October
Habitat: Woods : Gardens : Hedgerows : Where larval food plant grows
Similar Species -
- August Thorn Ennomos quercinaria Hufnagel, 1767
Pupa: Pupates among leaves of food plant
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: Although the August Thorn E.quercinaria Hufnagel, 1767 can also have a darker distal area on the forewing like the Dusky Thorn E.fuscantaria Haworth, 1809, the cross-lines for this moth are further apart at the dorsum.The postmedian fascia of this moth has a smooth and gentle curve at the costa, unlike its similar species where the line kinks at the same point.
The moth is attracted to light and is often seen at the moth trap or within the vicinity on a wall or fence.
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.
- Oleceae - Mesophytic Shrubs
- Ligustrum vulgare - Privet
- Fraxinus excelsior - Ash
Larval Food Plants
|
|
|
|
Taxonomy
|
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - ENNOMOS: Original Species Name: Species Name: Forms/Aberrations: Subspecies: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Ennominae Ennomini ENNOMOS Treitschke 1825 Ennomos fuscantaria (Haworth, 1809) - Eugonia autumnaria Werneburg, 1859 - PHALAENA fuscantaria (Haworth, 1809) = Ennomos fuscantarius Haworth, 1809 - E.f.f.pallida Lempke, 1951-base lighter than distal area E.f.f.aurantiaca Lempke-wing colour orangery E.f.f.perfuscata Rebel, 1910-wings suffused brownish E.f.f.effuscaria Rebel, 1901-outer area of wings not smokey E.f.f.destrigaria Galvagni, 1902-No cross-lines E.f.f.triangularis Lempke,1970-croos-lines break up towards inner margin E.f.f.lata Lempke, 1970-croos-lines further apart E.f.f.crassilineata Lempke, 1970-cross=lines very thick - E.f.algeriensis Prout, 1929-North Africa |