The Large Emerald, (Geometra papilionaria), is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is the type specimen for the family. It is found throughout Europe including the British Isles.
This is a large and attractive species, as the specific name suggests very butterfly like, with a wingspan of 50-65 mm. Newly emerged adults are bright green with darker green and white fascia, though the green colouration fades after a few days. It flies at night from June to August and is attracted to light.
The larva is brown at first, turning green later, and feeds mainly on birch though it has also been recorded on alder, beech and hazel. The species overwinters as a larva.
References
Chinery, MichaelCollins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
Skinner, BernardColour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984
Several moths in the family Tineidae are commonly regarded as pests because their larvae eat fabric such as clothes and blankets made from natural proteinaceous fibers such as wool or silk.
Henry Hsiao conjectures that moths, as nocturnal creatures, fly towards the darkest part of the sky in pursuit of safety and are thus inclined to circle ambient objects in the Mach band region.
The Zygaenidae are a family of Lepidoptera (moths) typically day-flying with a slow fluttering flight, and with rather clubbed antennae.
The bright colours are a warning to predators that the moths are distasteful - they contain toxic substances throughout all stages of their life-cycle.
In April and May of both 2001 and 2002, a homeowner in the City of Fairfax, Fairfax County, Virginia, noticed a large infestation of larvae on her ornamental Euonymus (Celastraceae); the larvae were causing significant defoliation of the plants.
Feeds |
Contact