Ematurga atomaria

Ematurga atomaria, the common heath, is a moth of the family Geometridae.

Ematurga atomaria
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Geometridae
Genus:
Ematurga
Species:
E. atomaria
Binomial name
Ematurga atomaria

The species can be found in the Palearctic realm from the Iberian Peninsula in the west, central and eastern Europe and east to Siberia and Sakhalin. In the south, its range includes the northern Mediterranean and the Turkish part of the Black Sea region.[1]

The wingspan is 24–34 millimetres (0.9–1.3 in). The colour is variable ranging from yellow brown to dark brown. The appearance is mottled with bands and spots. The brown cross bands on both forewings and hindwings vary in width and there may be no cross bands at all only small dark brownish spots. Males have comb-like antennae. Females are usually brown with a dusting of white but can be almost white with a series of brown crosslines.[2]

The moths fly in one generation from May to June.[Note 1] The caterpillars feed on a heather, heath and clovers.

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

References
  1. de:Heidespanner
  2. David Newland, Robert Still, & Andy Swash, 2013 Britain's Day-flying Moths: A Field Guide to the Day-flying Moths of Britain and Ireland Wild Guides ISBN 9780691158327


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