70.267 : 1943 : 7783
Geometridae : Ennominae

Great Oak Beauty

HYPOMECIS roboraria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: Male-42-60mm : Female-45-65mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe east to Japan
UK Distribution: Southern England-found in Hampshire,Sussex,Berkshire & Surrey. Only scattered records elsewhere
UK Conservation Status -
  • Notable (Nb) = 101 - 300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Geometra roboraria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Type Species - Hypomecis
  • Cymatophora umbrosaria Hübner, 1813
Type Locality -
  • Austria-Vienna region
Flight Period: Mid May to mid August,peaking mid June to mid July
Habitat: Established Oak woodlands
Similar Species -
  • Pale Oak Beauty Hypomecia punctinalis Scopoli, 1763
Larva: Like so many of the geometrid larvae this can best be described as giving the appearance of an Oak twig both in colour and with a series of lateral buds being created adjacent to the head and another on top of the larva. 
Pupa: Pupates below ground
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: Without doubt after seeing Willow Beauty's on a fences for some period the biggest impact of seeing this moth for the first time has to be its enormous size.
The central cross-lines converge at the dorsum sometimes joining completely to form a dark blotch,not quite seen in the specimen below.
The moth can vary between light and dark as can be the markings which sometimes provide a strong subterminal and terminal lines on the hind wing to the marking being almost absent altogether like the subspecies H.r.f.infuscata Staudinger,1871-blackish-grey background,markings weak

The moth is a nationally scarce species mainly found in the mature oak woodlands in southern England like those found in the New Forest.

The moth is found during the day on fences or tree trunks and is also attracted to the light trap.
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.
Taxonomy
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Type Species - HYPOMECIS:

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Forms/Aberrations:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Ennominae
Boarmiini 
HYPOMECIS Hübner 1821
Hypomecis roboraria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
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Cymatophora umbrosaria Hübner, 1813
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GEOMETRA roboraria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
= Boarmia roboraria Treitschke 1825
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Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend : Title Page : p.101 - n.1
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Austria-Vienna region
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H.r.f.infuscata Staudinger,1871-blackish-grey background,markings weak
H.r.f.melaina Schultz,1913-blackish background
H.r.f.variegata Leraut-strong dark cross-lines,inner margin postmedial & median lines join to form short blackish line
H.r.f.obsoleta Leraut-wings whitish grey,faded markings