70.237 : 1917 : 7641
Geometridae : Ennominae

Early Thorn

SELENIA dentaria (Fabricius, 1775)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 40-51mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe east to Kamchatka
UK Distribution: Well distributed/fairly frequent throughout the British isles,Ireland,Channel Isles & Isle of Man
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name-
  • Phalaena dentaria Fabricius, 1775
Type Species - Selenia
  • Geometra illunaria Hübner, 1799
Type Locality -
  • England ("Anglia")
Flight Period: South-mid February to May & Mid June to September-Bivoltine
Habitat: Woods : Gardens : Parkland : Hedgerows
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: The final instar larva is in shades of light and darker brown, once again giving the appearance of a food plant twig thus providing maximum camouflage.At abdominal segments 5 & 6  there are the appearance of lateral buds (2 on top and one below appearing darker).Surely all the "Thorn" larvae are masters in the art of camouflage appearing like young and older twigs alike to suit their larval food plant.
Pupa: Pupates among spun leaves
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The settled position of this moth clearly defines this species from all the other "Thorns",never opening its wings in a similar way to some of the summer butterflies.
Of the two generations the summer species tend to be smaller and brightly coloured.

The moth flies from dusk and attracted to light and is a regular visitor to the light trap or the lighted windows as was the one found above.
Photo gallery
Identification Guide - Early/Purple/Lunar Thorn
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 - SELENIA:


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Forms/Aberrations:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Ennominae
Ennomini
SELENIA Hübner [1823]
Selenia dentaria (Fabricius, 1775)
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Geometra illunaria Hübner, 1799(syn Phalaena dentaria
(Fabricius, 1775)
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= PHALAENA dentaria (Fabricius, 1775)
= Phalaena (Geometra) bilunaria Esper, 1795
= Selenia dentaria alpestris Wehrli, 1940
= Selenia bilunaria Esper, 1801
= Ennomos illunaria Hübner, 1799
= Geometra illunaria (Fabricius, 1775)
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"Systema Entomologiae", sistens insectorvm classes, ordines, genera, species, adiectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibvs, observationibvs. - pp. [1-31], 1-832. Flensbvrgi, Lipsiae. (Kort). : Title Page :  p.623 - n.15
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England ("Anglia")
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S.d.f.illunaria Esper, 1795-summer form-small with orange hue,less darker shades
S.d.f.harrisoni Wagner, 1928-melanistic form
S.d.f.griscens Lempke, 1951-greyish without yellow tone
S.d.f.obscura Lempke, 1951-grey-black
S.d.f.rufescens Lempke, 1951-russet