Geometridae : Geometrinae
Common Emerald
HEMITHEA aestivaria (Hübner, 1789)
Common Emerald
HEMITHEA aestivaria (Hübner, 1789)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: Male - 21-26mm,Female - 23-28mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - S.Urals - SE.Siberia : Caucasus : Transcaucasia : N.Iran : Korea : Japan : British Columbia
UK Distribution: England & Wales - well distributed and frequent : Scotland - rare in extreme south : Ireland - thinly recorded : Isle of Man - local : Channel Isles - frequent
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Woodland : Gardens : Hedgerows : Downland : Heathland
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in a spinning among the leaves of the food plant
Overwinters as: Small Larva
Observations: The moth has green wings which are darker green within the median area and has pointed apex and a single projection on the hindwing.
The antemedian and postmedian cross lines are white and wavy across the wings .
Although similar to the Sussex Emerald this moth has two projections on the hindwing and the fringe is chequered with red.
The moth flies from dusk and visits flowers after dark and is also attracted to light.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - S.Urals - SE.Siberia : Caucasus : Transcaucasia : N.Iran : Korea : Japan : British Columbia
UK Distribution: England & Wales - well distributed and frequent : Scotland - rare in extreme south : Ireland - thinly recorded : Isle of Man - local : Channel Isles - frequent
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = > 300 10km squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena (Geometra) aestivaria (Hübner, 1799)
- Geometra aestivaria (Hübner, 1799)
- Poland, near Niemirów ("Niemierow")
Habitat: Woodland : Gardens : Hedgerows : Downland : Heathland
Similar Species -
- Sussex Emerald - Thalera fimbrialis - (Scopoli, 1763)
Pupa: Pupates in a spinning among the leaves of the food plant
Overwinters as: Small Larva
Observations: The moth has green wings which are darker green within the median area and has pointed apex and a single projection on the hindwing.
The antemedian and postmedian cross lines are white and wavy across the wings .
Although similar to the Sussex Emerald this moth has two projections on the hindwing and the fringe is chequered with red.
The moth flies from dusk and visits flowers after dark and is also attracted to light.
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.
- Adoxaceae - Viburnum Family
- Viburnum lantana - Wayfaring Tree
- Araliaceae - Ivy Family
- Aralia elata - Japanese Angelica Tree
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Betula grossa - Japanaese Cherry Birch
- Betula platyphylla - White Birch
- Carpinus betulus - Hornbeam
- Carpinus laxiflora - No Common Name
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle Family
- Diervilla hortensis - No Common Name
- Lonicera involucrata syn xylosteum -Twinberry-Dwarf Honeysuckle
- Ericaceae - Heather Family
- Rhododendron japonicum - Japanese azalea
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Castanea crenata - Japanese Chestnut
- Quercus acutissima - Sawthorn Oak
- Quercus cerris - Turkey Oak
- Quercus serrata - Korean Oak
- Quercus glauca - No Common Name
- Quercus variabilis - Chinese Cork Oak
- Grossulariaceae - Currant Family
- Ribes uva-crispa - Gooseberry
- Ribes rubrum - Redcurrant
- Juglandaceae - Walnut Family
- Juglans mandschurica - Manchurian Walnut
- Moraceae - Fig Family
- Morus bombycis - Kuwa
- Oleceae - Mesophytic Shrubs - Trees - Vines
- Ligustrum obtusifolium - Border Privet
- Pinaceae - Pine Family
- Larix kaempferi - Japanese Larch
- Rhamnaceae - The Buckthorn Family
- Rhamnus frangula - Alder Buckthorn
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Malus pumila - Paradise Apple
- Malus sieboldii - Siebold's crabapple
- Photinia villosa - Orienental Photinia
- Prunus grayana - Japanese Bird Cherry
- Prunus mume -Japanese Apricot
- Prunus persica - Peach
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn - Sloe (Britain)
- Prunus yedoensis - Tokyo Cherry
- Rosa acicularis - Prickly Rose
- Rosa multiflora - Japanese Rose - Multiflora rose
- Rubus crataegifolius - Korean Raspberry
- Rubus fruticosus - Bramble - Blackberry
- Rubus palmatus - No Common Name
- Sorbus aucuparia - Mountain Ash - Rowan
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Hypericaceae - Hypericum - St John's Wort
- Rosaceae - Crategus - Hawthorn : Potentilla - cinquefoils
- Rutaceae - Rue/Citrus - Lemon/Orange
- Tiliaceae - Tilia - Lime
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - HEMITHEA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms: Subspecies: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Geometrinae Hemitheini HEMITHEA Duponchel 1829 Hemithea aestivaria (Hübner,1799) - Geometra aestivaria (Hübner, 1799) - PHALAENA (Geometra) aestivaria (Hübner, 1799) = Phalaena (Geometra) strigata Müller, 1764 = Nemoria alboundulata Hedemann, 1879 = krajniki Komarek, 1950 - Beiträge zur Geschichte der Schmetterlinge. - 1 (4) : p.22, : pl.24 - f.R - Poland, near Niemirów ("Niemierow") - H.a.f.approximata Lempke, 1967 - cross-lines closer - H.a.alboundulata Hedemann, 1879 - Japan - larger |