Geometridae : Ennominae
Pale Oak Beauty
HYPOMECIS punctinalis (Scopoli, 1763)
Pale Oak Beauty
HYPOMECIS punctinalis (Scopoli, 1763)
Life Cycle Guide
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 -
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Gardens : Parks
Similar Species -
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.
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
- Least Concern
- Phalaena puncinalis (Scopoli, 1763)
- Cymatophora umbrosaria Hübner, 1813
- In arboribus pomiferis (In fruit trees)
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Gardens : Parks
Similar Species -
- Great Oak Beauty - Hypomecis roboraria - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
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.
- Aceraceae - Maple Family
- Acer palmatum - Japanese Maple
- Acer pseudoplatanus - Sycamore
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Alnus Pendula - No Common Name
- Betula pendula - Silver Birch
- Betula pubescens - Downy Birch
- Carpinus laxiflora - Loose-flowered Hawthorn
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Cannabidaceae - Hemp/Hop Family
- Humulus lupulus - Hop
- Elaegnaceae - Oleaster Family
- Elaeagnus umbellata - Autumn Olive
- Fabaceae - Leguminosea - The Pulse - Bean - Pea - Legume Family
- Cytisus scoparius - Broom
- Wisteria floribunda - Japanese Wisteria
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Castanea crenata - Japanese Chestnut
- Quercus acutissima - Sawthorn Oak
- Quercus cerris - Turkey Oak
- Quercus mongolica - Mongolian Oak
- Quercus robur - Pendunculate Oak
- Quercus serrata - Korean Oak
- Quercus variabilis - Chinese Cork Oak
- Juglandaceae - Walnut Family
- Juglans mandschurica - Manchurian Walnut
- Lauraceae - Laurel Family
- Lindera umbellata - No Common Name
- Moraceae - Fig Family
- Morus bombycis - Kuwa
- Pinaceae - Pine Family
- Picea abies - Norway Spruce
- Pinus sylvestris - Scot's Pine
- Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Crataegus laevigata - Midland Hawthorn
- Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn
- Malus pumila - Paradise Apple
- Malus sylvestris - Crab Apple
- Prunus padus - Bird Cherry - Hackberry
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn
- Rosa multiflora - Japanese Rose - Multiflora rose
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Salix vulpina - No Common Name
- Santalaceae - Sandalwoods
- Buckleya lanceolata - No Common Name
- Tiliaceae - Lime Family
- Tilia cordata - Small-leaved Lime
- Ulmaceae - Elm Family
- Zelkova serrata - Japanese Zelkova
Larval Food Plants
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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 |