Geometridae : Ennominae
Straw Belle
ASPITATES (aspitates) gilvaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller] ,1775)
Straw Belle
ASPITATES (aspitates) gilvaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller] ,1775)
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 28 - 36mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - excluding (Azores,Balearic Is.,Canary Is.,Corsica,Crete,Croatia,Cyprus,Denmark,Greece,Madiera,Norway, N Russia,Sardinia,Sicily,Slovenia & Sweden)
UK Distribution: Restricted to the North Downs of Surrey & Kent
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Rough chalk grassland : Quarries
Similar Species -
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: A Red Data Book 3 species the moth is recorded in less than 15 - 10Km squares and is now restricted to the north downs in Kent and in Surrey.
The moth wings are very light yellow with a brown oblique postmedial line that almost reaches the apex and brown discal spot. Hindwing is light coloured yellowish white.
The moth which settles forming a triangular shape is similar to the Yellow Belle which has an additional antemedial brown line,missing in this moth.
The female is more speckled than the male and has a thin antennae as opposed to the feathered antennae of the male.
The moth is easily disturbed from rest among the grass during the day,flies at dusk and is attracted to the light trap.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - excluding (Azores,Balearic Is.,Canary Is.,Corsica,Crete,Croatia,Cyprus,Denmark,Greece,Madiera,Norway, N Russia,Sardinia,Sicily,Slovenia & Sweden)
UK Distribution: Restricted to the North Downs of Surrey & Kent
UK Conservation Status -
- RDB 3 ( 1980/93 ) =<15 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Geometra gilvaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller] ,1775)
- Geometra gilvaria Schiffermüller, 1775
- Austria - Vienna District
Habitat: Rough chalk grassland : Quarries
Similar Species -
- Yellow Belle - Aspitates ochrearia - (Rossi, 1794)
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: A Red Data Book 3 species the moth is recorded in less than 15 - 10Km squares and is now restricted to the north downs in Kent and in Surrey.
The moth wings are very light yellow with a brown oblique postmedial line that almost reaches the apex and brown discal spot. Hindwing is light coloured yellowish white.
The moth which settles forming a triangular shape is similar to the Yellow Belle which has an additional antemedial brown line,missing in this moth.
The female is more speckled than the male and has a thin antennae as opposed to the feathered antennae of the male.
The moth is easily disturbed from rest among the grass during the day,flies at dusk and is attracted to the light trap.
Subspecies
A.a.g.gilvaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller] ,1775) - nominate subspecies
A.a.g.gilvaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller] ,1775) - nominate subspecies
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.
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.
- Asteraceae - Compositae - Aster-Daisy - Sunflower Family
- Achillea millefolium - Yarrow
- Apiaceae - Umbelliferae - Umbellifer Family
- Pastinaca sativa - Wild Parsnip
- Fabaceae - Leguminosea - The Pulse - Bean - Pea - Legume Family
- Lotus corniculatus - Bird's-foot Trefoil - Birdfoot Deervetch (USA)
- Medicago lupulina - Black Medic - Medick
- Lamiaceae - Labiatae - The Mint Family
- Thymus polytrichus ssp britanicus - Wild Thyme
- Thymus polytrichus ssp britanicus - Wild Thyme
- Linaceae - Flax Family
- Linum catharticum - Purging Flax, Fairy flax
- Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Potentilla reptans - Creeping Cinquefoil - Creeping Tormentil
- Scrophulariaceae - Figwort Family
- Veronica serpyllifolia - Thyme - leaved Speedwell
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: - Type Species ASPITATES: Original Species Name: Nominotypical Subspecies Literary Ref: Type Locality: Subspecies: Forms: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Ennominae Aspitatini ASPITATES Treitschke, 1825 Aspitates Treitschke, 1825 Aspitates (aspitates) gilvaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller] ,1775) - Geometra gilvaria Schiffermüller, 1775 - GEOMETRA gilvaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller] ,1775) - Geometra gilvaria gilvaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller] ,1775) - Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend : Title Page : p.102 - n.10 - Austria - Vienna District - A.g.gilvaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller] ,1775) - Nominate subspecies A.g.burrenensis Cockayne, 1951 - Burren Ireland - Co Clare - darker,hindwing oblique line strongly developed A.g.orientalis Alphéraky, 1883 - Asia - paler - A.g.sublataria Fuchs, 1900 - devoid of markings A.g.nigrcans Jourdheuille, 1883 - wings dark brown |