70.237 BF1917 - Early Thorn - Geometridae - Selenia dentaria

70.237 BF1917 - Geometridae - Ennominae - Selenia dentaria - Early Thorn

Adult Macro: CAT 1 - Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others -

- click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

- Generally Common / Widespread

Taxonomy: Macro >> Geometridae

ID Difficulty: green

- easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.

ID pointers: This is the only Thorn that holds its wings upright over the back and pressed together like a butterfly. The patterning on the wings is an intricate array of purple and red, brown and mauve. There is a small white “comma” shaped dash on the under hind-wing.

Distribution: Common and widely spread throughout Derbyshire. More so in the south and east and is the most common species of Thorn to be found in the county.

Flight Period: May / July / August / September / - On the wing February – May and July – September.

Moth Activity: Nocturnal - and is attracted to light

Wingspan: 28-40mm
Forewing: 14-23mm

Food Plant: Variety of deciduous trees.

Recorded dates for Common [Blue-coded ] moths are not stored on the website at this current time.

IMAGES BELOW: Melbourne, Derbyshire – Images by Tony Davison © / Kings Newton – Tony Davison ©