70.255 : 1934 : 7696
Geometridae : Ennominae

Dotted Border

AGRIOPIS marginaria (Fabricius, [1777])
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 36-42mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe(not Greece,Corsica & Ukraine) to Transcaucasia : Middle East : Morocco
UK Distribution: England,Wales & lowland Scotland : Well distributed and abundant : Isle of Man-local and infrequent : Ireland - well distributed : Channel Isle - Local and occasional
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena marginaria (Fabricius,[1777])
Type Species -
  • Geometra leucophaearia ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Type Locality -
  • Germany - Hamburg
Flight Period: Southern England - November to early May : Elsewhere - February to April
Habitat: Woodland : Scrub : Gardens : Hedgerows : Moorland : Heathland : Calcareous Grassy areas
Similar Species -
  • Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiaria Hübner, 1799
  • Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria Clerck, 1759
Larva: The larva range in colour from dark tan through to light grey brown,like most of the loopers,takes on the appearance of a twig where the head looks like a new years bub.The larvae are polyphagous feeing on a wide variety of plant genera.
Pupa: Overwinters as a pupa underground
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The confusion species the Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria Clerck, 1759 is similar to this moth but lacks the rows of dots on forewing and hindwing at the termen.The other main similar species is the Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiaria Hübner, 1799 has a forewing that is rounded at the costa  and termen, as opposed to the straighter costa with this moth, plus it is always golden yellow.

The moth is extremely veiriable with many forms(seen on taxonomy page), like f.fuscata Harrison, 1878, which is smokey brown and usually lacks the the series of black dots previously mentioned.

The female is flightless with pronounced wing stumps with dark cross bands and ranges from dark brown to yellowish brown.

The males are attracted to light and are often found in reasonable numbers especially, if trapping close to woodland.
The females are best located early in the morning on tree trunks.
Photo Gallery
Dotted Border larvae are polyphagous,feeding on plant families described below.
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 - AGRIOPIS:

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Forms/Aberrations:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Ennominae
Bistonini
AGRIOPIS Hübner, [1825]
Agriopis marginaria (Fabricius, [1777])
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Geometra leucophaearia ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
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Phalaena marginaria (Fabricius, [1777])
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PHALAENA marginaria (Fabricius, [1777])
Larerannis marginaria (Fabricius, [1777])
Phigaliohybernia marginaria (Fabricius, 1777)
Agriopis progemmaria (Hübner, [1799])
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Genera insectorvm eorvmqve characteres natvrales secvndvm nvmervm, figvram, sitvm et proportionem omnivm partivm oris adiecta mantissa speciervm nvper detectarvm. [1-15], 1-310. : Title Page : p.286 - n.40
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Germany - Hamburg
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A.m.f.diversaria Fabricius, 1794 - Forewing reddish
A.m.f.denigraria Ufflen, 1905 - Basal & terminal area on forewing brown
A.m.f.quadristrigaria Lempke, 1953 - extra cross line in terminal area of forewing
A.m.f.destrigaria Lempke, 1953 - cross lines absent
A.m.f.albescens Lempke, 1953 - (Female) - wing background whitish
A.m.f.contrasta Lempke, 1953 -(Female) - forewing black as far as second cross-line,hindwing as far as only line present,outer area light coloured
A.m.f.unistrigaria Lempke, 1953 - single cross-line,male
A.m.f.signata Lempke, 1953 - strong thick median area
A.m.f.progemmaria Hübner, 1799 - Forewing pale with strong russet postmedial line,edged with black,surface dotted with black scales
A.m.f.fuscata Harrison, 1878 - forewing smokey dark brown,hindwing slightly lighter
A.m.f.postgrisescens Lempke, 1970 - forewing dark brown,hindwing grey
A.m.f.pallida Lempke, 1970 - forewing whitish brown,markings feint,hindwing whitish
A.m.f.subfasciata Lempke, 1970 - area between postmedial line & black submarginal line sombre,even darker submarginal line stands out
A.m.f.infumata Fuchs, 1899 - forewing smokey with reddish hue
A.m.f.bicolor Lempke, 1953 -area between postdiscal line & margin brown,basal area light coloured
A.m.f.pseudobicolor Lempke, 1970 - forewing darkened to antemedial line,distal half light coloured,two area distinct contrast
A.m.f.grisea Lempke, 1970 - (female) - body & wings grey
A.m.f.lesaunieri Mabille, 1916 - female - all black
A.m.f.fasciata Lempke, 1970 - female - forewing with black median band restricted by two cross-lines
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A.m.pallidata Turati, 1911 - southern France - pale straw colour,cross-lines clearly visible