Purple thorn
Purple thorn | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Geometridae |
Genus: | Selenia |
Species: | S. tetralunaria
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Binomial name | |
Selenia tetralunaria (Hufnagel, 1767)
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The purple thorn (Selenia tetralunaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1767. It is a species of both Northern Europe and Central Europe. It has a scattered distribution in Britain but is absent from Ireland.
This species is dark purplish brown, paler towards the termen, with a dark spot at the apex of the forewing. Both wings are marked with a comma-shaped white mark. The margins of the wings are angular, giving the species a distinctive shape. Two broods are produced each year and they differ considerably in size and colour. Adults of the spring brood, which fly in April and May, have a wingspan of 46–52 mm. Moths of the summer brood, flying in July and August,[1] are smaller (wingspan 44–46 mm) and darker. The caterpillar is reddish brown, mottled with darker brown, and with pale greyish.
The species flies at night and is attracted to light.
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The caterpillar feeds on a variety of trees and shrubs (see list below).[1] The species overwinters as a pupa.[2]
Notes
[edit]- ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
Recorded food plants
[edit]- Alnus – alder
- Betula – birch
- Fraxinus – European ash
- Malus – apple
- Populus – black poplar
- Prunus
- Pyrus – pear
- Quercus – oak
- Rosa – rose
References
[edit]- ^ Kimber, Ian. "70.239 BF1919 Purple Thorn Selenia tetralunaria (Hufnagel, 1767)". UKMoths. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- ^ "Selenia tetralunaria (Hufnagel, 1767)". Lepidoptera and their Ecology. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Chinery, Michael (1986, reprinted 1991). Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe.
- Skinner, Bernard (1984). The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles.
External links
[edit]- Kimber, Ian. "70.239 BF1919 Purple Thorn Selenia tetralunaria (Hufnagel, 1767)". UKMoths. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Fauna Europaea
- Lepiforum e.V.