Lobophora halterata explained

Lobophora halterata, the seraphim, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1767. The species can be found in central and northern Europe and a few localities in southern Europe, Siberia, Amur, Primorye, Sakhalin and Japan.

Description

The wingspan is 20–25 mm. The length of the forewings is 12–15 mm. Forewing whitish, with a very slight tinge of brown, at least in the central area; a narrow subbasal dark band, closely followed by conspicuous broader one, the pale line which separates them angulated anteriorly; the lines of the median area ill-defined, dentate. Hindwing white, nearly always with a narrow greyer distal border and sometimes with one or two indistinct lines in outer half. Forewing beneath very weakly but more uniformly marked; hindwing with very distinct discal dot. Variable in the intensity of the markings.[1] The caterpillar is green, darker below and between the rings.The body is wrinkled, and with two points on the last ring. The most distinct markings are two yellow lines along the back. The head is notched. The pupa is reddish brown. The cremaster has the shape of a small anchor.

Biology

The moths fly from May to June.

The larvae feed on aspen and poplar.

Similar species

Notes

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Prout, L. B. 1912–16. Geometridae. In A. Seitz (ed.) The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Palaearctic Geometridae, 4. 479 pp. Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart.