70.254 : 1933 : 7695
Geometridae : Ennominae

Scarce Umber

AGRIOPIS aurantiaria (Hübner,[1799])
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 40-44mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe (not Corsica,Sicily & Greece)eastwards to Transcaucasia,Middle East
UK Distribution: South east England - Dorset to Essex - very well distributed,locally abundant : rest of England,Wales,lowland Scotland - quite well distributed : Ireland - widespread but local : Isle of Man - local : Channel Isles - rare
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name:
  • Geometra aurantiaria (Hübner,[1799])
Type Species - Agriopis
  • Geometra leucophaearia ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Type Locality -
  • Not Specified
Flight Period: October to December
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Gardens
Similar Species -
  • Mottled Umber - Erannis defoliaria (Clerck, 1759)
Larva: The 30mm final instar larva varies in colour  but is usually greyish with a broad dorsal brownish orange stripe and fine lines in a paler colour which are irregular. There is also a variable amount of brownish black markings on the side view which sometimes extend into the dorsal area.The head is reddish brown.
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: Although similar to the Mottled Umber - Erannis defoliaria (Clerck, 1759) this moth is reliably identified by the termem which is curved as apposed to the straight termen of the similar species. This moth is usually uniform orange yellow as opposed to the similar species which is widely variable brown or blackish.
The forewings are usually orange yellow with strong antemedial and postmedial cross line which are edged with greyish brown and variable as seen below.
The flightless female of this species has short wing stumps which are missing in the female similar species.
All though fairly common throughout its range this moth is possibly under recorded due to the lateness of its season which is October to December.

The male of this species is attracted to light where it can be found in large numbers.


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.
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Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - AGRIOPIS:

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Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Ennominae
Bistonini
AGRIOPIS Hübner, [1825]
Agriopis aurantiaria (Hübner,[1799])
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Geometra leucophaearia ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
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Geometra aurantiaria aurantiaria (Hübner,[1799])
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GEOMETRA aurantiaria (Hübner,[1799])
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Sammlung europäischer Schmetterlinge / errichtet von Jacob Hübner in Augsburg. By Hübner, Jacob, 1761-1826 : Lepidoptera V : Geometrae 11 : pl 34 - f.184
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Not Specified
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A.a.f. demacularia Scholz, 1947 - brown patches missing
A.a.f. macalata Nordström, 1942 - extensive brown patches
A.a.f. unistrigaria Lempke, 1953 - only postmedial line visible
A.a.f. ellipsaria Scholtz, 1947 - under costal margin postmedial line splits in two forming a loop
A.a.f. confluaria Scholtz, 1947 - basal and antemedial  lines touch
A.a.f. margineobscuraria Scholtz, 1947 - costal margin smaokey
A.a.f. venosaria Galvagni, 1948 - venation has dark tone
A.a.f. bellaria Scholtz, 1947 - median area wide dark band
A.a.f. brunnea Burmann, 1944 - all wings suffused brown
A.a.f. marmoraria Scholtz, 1947 - scales darkened creating marbled affect
A.a.f. obscura Burmann, 1944 - completedly darkend all over
A.a.f. fasciaria Linstow, 1907 - brown line on distal side of postmedian line
A.a.f. pallida background light yellow,pale markings
A.a.f. bistrigaria Lempke, 1970 - antemedial line missing
A.a.f. fumipennaria Hellweger, 1906 - forewing purplish brown,fringe yellow,hindwing darker
A.a.f. weileri Sholtz, 1947 - forewing suffused with dark coloured scales
A.a.f. poelli Sholtz, 1947 - median area only suffused dark coloured
A.a.f. nigra Sholtz, 1947 - female all black
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A.a.lariciaria Scholtz, 1947(= A.a.clui Leraut, 1994 syn.nov.) - French to Austrian alps - sulphur yellow wings,less orange hue