Scalloped oak

Scalloped oak
Crocallis elinguaria. Dorsal view
Lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Crocallis
Species: C. elinguaria
Binomial name
Crocallis elinguaria
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The scalloped oak (Crocallis elinguaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae.

Distribution

This common species can be found from Europe to eastern Siberia. [1]

Habitat

This species inhabits a wide range of habitats, including mixed and deciduous forests, bushes, heaths, scrub, hedgerows, bogs, parks and gardens.[1][2][3][4]

Description

Scalloped oak

The wingspan is 32–46 mm. [2][3] This is a distinctive species, usually with yellow forewings with a broad orange-brown band and a pointed apex. Females are usually paler. There can be considerable variation, [2] with the central band sometimes the same colour as the rest of the forewing, ranging from pale yellow to orange-brown. Melanic forms are also known. There is always a blackish discal spot on the forewing in middle of band towards the costa. The thorax is hairy.[1] The hindwings are plain whitish. [3] This species is rather similar to Crocallis albarracina.[3]

Biology

It is an univoltine species. [2] The adults fly at night from July to September[1][2][3][4] and are attracted to light, sometimes in large numbers. The larva, grey and twig-like, feeds on various trees and shrubs (see list below) and is omnivorous and cannibalistic feeding also on smaller larvae. The species overwinters as an egg.

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

Recorded food plants

Larva

Recorded host plants include: [3][5]

Bibliography

References

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