| Grass Emerald | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Pseudoterpna |
| Species: | P. pruinata |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudoterpna pruinata (Hufnagel, 1767) |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Grass Emerald (Pseudoterpna pruinata) is a moth species that is fairly common throughout Great Britain with the exception of northern Scotland. It can be found in such habitats as heathland, moorland, and commons,[1] where its larvae feed on broom, gorse and petty whin.[2]
When newly emerged from their cocoons, Grass Emeralds are bright bluish-green in coloration with a white spiracular stripe, but they quickly fade into a greyish shade.[1][2] An adult Grass Emerald has a wingspan of 30-35mm.