Isturgia limbaria

Isturgia limbaria, the frosted yellow, is a moth of the family Geometridae.

Isturgia limbaria
Male, underside
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Isturgia
Species:
I. limbaria
Binomial name
Isturgia limbaria
(Fabricius, 1775)
Synonyms
  • Phalaena limbaria Fabricius, 1775

Distribution

This species can be found in parts of Central and Southern Europe. It is extinct in Britain.[1][2]

Habitat

These moths inhabit heathers, edge of the forests and scrubby areas.[3]

Description
Mounted specimen

Isturgia limbaria has a wingspan of 26–30 millimetres (1.0–1.2 in). Forewings can reach a length of 13–15 millimetres (0.51–0.59 in).[3] The male has feathered antennae, while those of the females are filiform. The upperside of the wings is yellow or orange yellow with a chocolate brown margin, less evident in the females. The underside of the hindwings is pale yellowish or greyish and strongly mottled, with visible longitudinal white stripes.

Biology

These day-flying moths fly from mid April to mid August in one or two generation. The larvae feed on broom. They over-winter as a pupa.[4]

  1. ^ The flight season refers to The Netherlands and Belgium. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References
  1. Fauna europaea
  2. Funet
  3. Suffolh Moths
  4. Hants Moths


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