Geometridae : Ennominae
Lunar Thorn
SELENIA lunularia (Hübner,[1788])
Lunar Thorn
SELENIA lunularia (Hübner,[1788])
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 39 - 44mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - ( Excluding - Azores,Balearic Is.,Canary Is.,Crete,Cyprus,Madeira,Malta,N Russia and Sardinia) : eastwards to central Asia
UK Distribution: Mainland Britain,Ireland,some of the Hebrides - very local : Jersey - local and occasional : Resident and migrant
UK Conservation Status -
Phalaena lunularia (Hübner,[1788])
Type Species - Selenia
Habitat: Open Woodland : Scrub
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in cocoon either among plant litter or just below the soil.
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The resting posture of the Lunar Thorn is very similar to the Purple Thorn with the forewings partially open,with forewing having cross line beyond small central marks. Variable in terms of colour from pale straw to reddish or purplish brown.
An identification guide is shown below identifying the scallop on the hindwing outer edge varies over three species from nothing to deep scallop with this species.
The moth is fairly local throughout its range,seldom found except in low numbers, usually at night where it is attracted to light..
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - ( Excluding - Azores,Balearic Is.,Canary Is.,Crete,Cyprus,Madeira,Malta,N Russia and Sardinia) : eastwards to central Asia
UK Distribution: Mainland Britain,Ireland,some of the Hebrides - very local : Jersey - local and occasional : Resident and migrant
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10km squares
- Least Concern
Phalaena lunularia (Hübner,[1788])
Type Species - Selenia
- Geometra illunaria Hübner, 1799(syn Phalaena dentaria (Fabricius, 1775)
- Germany - Augsburg,Bavaria
Habitat: Open Woodland : Scrub
Similar Species -
- Purple Thorn - Selenia tetralunaria - (Hufnagel, 1767)
- Early Thorn - Selenia dentaria - (Fabricius, 1775)
Pupa: Pupates in cocoon either among plant litter or just below the soil.
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The resting posture of the Lunar Thorn is very similar to the Purple Thorn with the forewings partially open,with forewing having cross line beyond small central marks. Variable in terms of colour from pale straw to reddish or purplish brown.
An identification guide is shown below identifying the scallop on the hindwing outer edge varies over three species from nothing to deep scallop with this species.
The moth is fairly local throughout its range,seldom found except in low numbers, usually at night where it is attracted to light..
Photo Gallery
Identification Guide Lunar/Purple/Early 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.
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 incana - Grey Alder
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Quercus robur - Pedunculate Oak - Common Oak
- Oleceae - Mesophytic Shrubs - Trees - Vines
- Fraxinus excelsior - Ash
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Prunus domestica - Bullace - Plum (Britain)
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn - Sloe
- Rosa canina - Dog Rose
- Rubus idaeus - Raspberry - Framboise
- Ulmaceae - Elm Family
- Ulmus procera - English Elm - Common 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 SELENIA: Original Species Name: Species Name: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Subspecies: Forms: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Ennominae Ennomini SELENIA Hübner 1823 Selenia lunularia (Hübner,[1788]) - Geometra illunaria Hübner, 1799(syn Phalaena dentaria (Fabricius, 1775) - PHALAENA lunularia (Hübner,[1788]) = lunaria (Denis & Shiffermüller, 1775) - Beiträge zur Geschichte der Schmetterlinge by Hübner, Jacob, 1761-1826 : p.27 - 28 ; Pl.111 - figs 2-3 - Germany - Augsburg,Bavaria - S.l.gamra Rungs, 1950 - Middle-Atlas,Morocco - first brood dark brown,little contrast in markings - second brood scarcely lighter,extensively speckled with dark colour - S.l.f.delunaria Hübner, 1799 - summer form - smaller and lighter coloured,less dark scales S.l.f.brunnea Lempke, 1951 - brown form,less speckling S.l.f.maculosa Lempke, 1951 - normal form densely speckled brown S.l.f.pallida Lempke, 1970 - wing background light yelllow S.l.f.rubra Lempke,1970 - brown-russet S.l.f.lilacina Lempke, 1970 - lilac S.l.f.deumbrata Lempke, 1951 - medium shade absent S.l.f.schizomedia Lempke, 1951 - or double S.l.f.nigrumbrata Lempke, 1951 - blackish S.l.f.roseofasciata Lempke, 1951 - extensive pink patch on forewing |
