Purple thorn

The purple thorn (Selenia tetralunaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1767. It is a species of northern and central Europe. It has a scattered distribution in Britain but is absent from Ireland.

Purple thorn
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Selenia
Species:
S. tetralunaria
Binomial name
Selenia tetralunaria
(Hufnagel, 1767)
Male underside

This species is dark purplish brown, paler towards the termen, with a dark spot at the apex of the forewing. Both wings are marked with a comma-shaped white mark. The margins of the wings are angular, giving the species a distinctive shape. Two broods are produced each year and they differ considerably in size and colour. Adults of the spring brood, which fly in April and May, have a wingspan of 46–52 mm. Moths of the summer brood, flying in July and August, are smaller (wingspan 44–46 mm) and darker. The species flies at night and is attracted to light.

The caterpillar feeds on a variety of trees and shrubs (see list below).[1] The species overwinters as a pupa.[2]

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

Recorded food plants

References
  1. Kimber, Ian. "70.239 BF1919 Purple Thorn Selenia tetralunaria (Hufnagel, 1767)". UKMoths. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  2. "Selenia tetralunaria (Hufnagel, 1767)". Lepidoptera and their Ecology. Retrieved 5 July 2019.


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