70.299 : 1666 : 7969
Geometridae : Geometrinae

Large Emerald

GEOMETRA papilionaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 50-64mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - Urals : SW.Siberia : Turkey : Caucasus : Transcaucasus
UK Distribution: Resident : Common,frequent and well distributed throughout the British Isles : Scotland-Highlands-tends to be found around coast and in valleys : Ireland-Widespread and well distributed. : Channel Isles-Jersey-local
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Geometra papilionaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Species - Geometra
  • Geometra papilionaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Locality -
  • Not Specified
Flight Period: Late June-Late August/Early September-South-Univoltine-single brooded
Habitat: Woodland : Heaths : Gardens : Parks : Hedgerows : Meadows
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: July-May : The caterpillar is brown when first emerged and begins feeding on leaves, before overwintering on a silk pad in a branch. Upon re-emerging the caterpillar feeds on fresh growing leaves, changing to green as it develops.The larva has strange bumps or warts like lumps at intervals along the top of the body.
Pupa: Pupates in leaf litter
Overwinters as : Small larva on silk pad on larval food plant
Observations: As seen in photos 1 & 2 the settled moth rests with wings raised in "V' type formation, similar to that of a butterfly that is about to fly.
The Large Emerald as the name suggests is a distinctive green moth, both on wings and abdomen, with whitish cross lines that tend to be less variable than the other emerald moths.
Subspecies
G.p.papilionaria Linnaeus, 1758-Europe - Urals : SW.Siberia : Turkey :  Caucasus : Transcaucasus
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 - GEOMETRA:

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Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Geomerinae
Geometrini
GEOMETRA Linnaeus, 1758
Geometra papilionaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Phalaena papilionaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
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PHALAENA (Geometra) papilionaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
= Phalaena prasinaria Hufnagel, 1767
= Geometra albopunctata Mattuschka, 1805 = alba Gillmer, 1909
= cuneata Burrows, 1905
= deleta Burrows, 1905
= subcaerulescens Burrows, 1905
= subobsoleta Burrows, 1905
= diffluata Marschner, 1932
= lutescens Bergmann, 1955
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.522 - n.151
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Not Specified
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G.p.alba Gillmer, 1909-White
G.p.cuneata Burrows, 1905
G.p.deleta Burrows, 1905-Alignment of white spots can be missing
G.p.subcaerulescens Burrows, 1905
G.p.subobsoleta Burrows, 1905-Antemedial line can be missing
G.p.diffluata Marschner, 1932
G.p.lutescens Bergmann, 1955
G.p.obsoleta Osthelder, 1929-All lines missing
G.p.tangens Lempke, 1967-Ante & Postmedial lines touch
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G.p.papilionaria Linnaeus, 1758-Europe - Urals : SW.Siberia : Turkey :  Caucasus :Transcaucasus
G.p.herbacearia Ménétriés, 1859-W.Siberia - SE.Siberia : Korea
G.p.subrigua Proute, 1935-Japan