70.240 : 1920 : 7647
Geometridae : Ennominae

Scalloped Hazel

ODONTOPERA bidentata (Clerck, 1759)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 32 - 40mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - not Mediterranean Islands - eastwards to Japan & Korea
UK Distribution: Widespread throughout British Isles : Channel Isles - widespread
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena bidentata (Clerck, 1759)
Type Species - Odontoptera
  • [Phalaena] bicendata (Clerck, 1759)
Type Locality -
  • Not given on original publication
Flight Period: South - April to June : Elsewhere - May to June
Habitat: Woodland : Gardens : Hedgerows : Scrub : Parks
Similar Species -
Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Larva: The larva of this moth are found coloured in green blue with black markings all over giving the appearance of lichen when at rest.
There is also a brown version of this larva which is light brown with a pair of double narrow lined lateral lines running down both sides. When viewed from above there are darker brown marking down the length of the larva.
Pupa: Pupates in the ground among plant material or mosses
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth derives part of its name for the scalloped markings  along the forewing edges.
The triangular or delta shaped moth lies flat at rest showing off clear whited dotted median lines which pronounce the median area which is usually darker than the rest of the wings,however lighter median areas are not uncommon.The background colour varies in colour between a lighter brown to a dark chocolate brown or in the f.nigra the colour is blackish.
There are two "eye" shaped spots located centrally in the forewing median area.

The larva of the moth is polyphagous ,feeding on a wide range of plant families.

The moth is attracted to light and is often found in reasonable numbers in the moth trap. During the day it can be found at rest on fences and walls.
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.
  • Orabanchaceae - Broomrape Family
    • Melampyrum pratense - Common Cow-Wheat
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - ODONTOPERA :

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Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Ennominae
Gonodontini
ODONOPTERA Stephens, 1831
Odonoptera bidentata (Clerck, 1759)
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[Phalaena] bidentata (CLerck, 1759)
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PHALAENA bidentata (Clerck, 1759)
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Icones insectorum rariorum cum nomibus eorum trivialibus, locique e C. Linnæi. - pp. [1-10], Tab. 1-16. Holmiæ : Title Page : pl.7  - f.2
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Not given in original publication
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O.b.f.fusca Lempke, 1951 - dark grey-brown
O.b.f.pallida Lempke, 1951 - whitish grey-brown
O.b.f.ochraea Fleck, 1904 - ochre colour
O.b.f.fuscomarginata Lempke, 1951 - darker distal area
O.b.f.defasciata Keifer, 1916 - forewing cross lines missing
O.b.f.approximata Lempke, 1951 - cross line close together
O.b.f.nigra Prout, 1924 - blackish
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O.b.oreas Herbulot, 1963 - southern Alps - Sepia brown