Mottled Beauty

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Mottled Beauty
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Geometridae Subfamily: Ennominae Genus: Alcis Species: A. repandata
Binomial name
Alcis repandata Linnaeus, 1758

The Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a common species of Europe and the Near East.

This is an extremely variable species, typically being buff or grey with black bars along the costa, but often with a broad blackish band across the forewings. Melanic forms are also common, especially in industrial areas. In all but the darkest variations the most characteristic feature is a pale "zig-zag" line across the hindwing. The wingspan is 43-56 mm. This moth flies at night in June and July ^[1] and is attracted to light.

The larva feeds on the leaves and soft bark of a wide range of trees and other plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a small larva.

1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

[edit] Recorded food plants

• Alnus - Alder
• Betula - Birch
• Calluna - Heather
• Crataegus - Hawthorn
• Cytisus - Broom
• Filipendula - Meadowsweet
• Ligustrum - Privet
• Lonicera - Honeysuckle
• Quercus - Oak
• Rhododendron
• Ribes - Currant
• Rubus - Bramble
• Rumex - Dock
• Salix - Willow
• Sorbus - Rowan
• Tilia - Lime
• Vaccinium

[edit] Subspecies

• A. r. muraria
• A. r. repandata
• A. r. sodorensium

[edit] References

• Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
• Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984