70.268 : 1944 : 7784
Geometridae : Ennominae

Pale Oak Beauty

HYPOMECIS punctinalis (Scopoli, 1763)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 46-55mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Norway and some Mediterranean Islands - eastwards to Japan,Amur Region of SE Siberia,Sakhalin and China
UK Distribution: Well distributed in southern England : Wales,SW England & central England - very local : Channel Isles - locally frequent in Jersey only : Ireland - very rare
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = > 300 10km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena puncinalis (Scopoli, 1763)
Type Species - Hypomecis
  • Cymatophora umbrosaria Hübner, 1813
Type Locality -
  • In arboribus pomiferis (In fruit trees)
Flight Period: South - Late May - mid August : Elsewhere - late May - mid July
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Gardens : Parks
Similar Species -
  • Great Oak Beauty - Hypomecis roboraria -  ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Larva: The 44mm final instar larva is in many shades of brown with mottling in lighter and darker shades with two prominences dorsally at the 5th abdominal segment.The head is brown and spiracles highlighted in black. The overall appearance of this larva is best describes as a twig.
Pupa: Pupa formed under the soil
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: Although similar to the Great Oak Beauty this moth is smaller,has elongated forewings which are narrow with a pointed apex.The subterminal line is brown,wavy and quite thick with two pale centred discal spots on the hindwing which the similar species does not have.
The overall markings on this moth are give the appearance of a pale grey-brown moth with a large wingspan.
There are also various cross lines across the hindwing.

It is possible that a partial second brood occurs in the south of England.

Can be found resting on tree trunks or fences and is attracted to light appearing at the light trap in reasonable numbers occasionally.
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.
  • Santalaceae - Sandalwoods 
    • Buckleya lanceolata - No Common Name
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom:
Phylum:
Subphylum:
Class:
Order:
Superfamily:
Family:
Subfamily:
Tribe:
Genus:
Accepted Species Name:

Type Species - HYPOMECIS:

Original Species Name:
Species Names:







Nominotypical Subspecies:

Literary Ref:



Type Locality:

Forms:


















Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Ennominae
Boarmiini 
HYPOMECIS Hübner 1821
Hypomecis punctinalis (Scopoli, 1763)
-
Cymatophora umbrosaria Hübner, 1813
-
PHALAENA puncinalis (Scopoli, 1763)
= turcaria (Fabricius, 1775)
= consortaria (Farbicius, 1787)
= pseudopunctinalis Wehrli, 1932
= Boarmia punctinalis 1763
= Boarmia grisearia Bastelberger 1902 Boarmia
= Boarmia magyarica Wehrli 1932
= Serreca punctinalis
-
Phalaena punctinalis punctinalis (Scopoli, 1763)
-
Entomologia Carniolica exhibens insecta Carnioliæ indigena et distributa in ordines, genera, species, varietates. Methodo Linnæana. - pp. [1-35], 1-420, [1]. Vindobonae. (Trattner) : Title Page :   p.217 - n.537
-
In arboribus pomiferis (In fruit trees)
-
H.p.obsoleta Lempke, 1953 - markings feint
H.p.distincta Lempke, 1953 - 2 cross line black,median area distinct,strong submarginal line
H.p.variegata Lempke, 1953 - pronounced median area,postmedial line underlined black,marginal area dull
H.p.bicolor Lempke, 1953 - basal area and space between median shade and outer margin dark,forewing median line and basal half of hindwing normal colour
H.p.consobrinaria Borkhausen, 1790 - Antimedian line thick & intensely dark,edged with light colour on outer border
H.p.intermedia Lempke, 1953 - dark grey background,marking still showing
H.p.humperti Humpert, 1898 - Blackish grey with traces of markings
H.p.nigra Warnecke, 1938 - wings and body blackish
H.p.nigromarginata Lempke, 1970 - wings grey black,marginal area black
H.p.magyarica Wehrli, 1938 - resembles a darkened form of consobrinaria
-
H.p. punctinalis (Scopoli, 1763) - Nominate subspecies
H.p. grisearia (Bartel, 1902)
H.p. marginata (Herz, 1905)
H.p. conferenda (Butler, 1878)
H.p. kerstinae Fischer & Lewandowski 2004 - Cyprus