Engrailed

From Freepedia

The Engrailed
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Geometridae
Genus:Ectropis
Species: E. crepuscularia
Binomial name
Ectropis crepuscularia
Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775

The Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia) is a moth of the family Geometridae. Some authors split this moth into two species: E. bistortata The Engrailed and E. crepuscularia Small Engrailed. It is distributed across most of Europe.

The ground colour of the wings is buff or grey variably marked with darker fascia. The darker markings are not usually as strong as in the rather similar Willow Beauty. Melanic forms occur fairly frequently. The wingspan is 38-45 mm. One or two broods are produced each year and the adults can be seen at any time between March and August*. The species flies at night and is attracted to light.

The greyish larva is truly polyphagous, feeding on a huge range of plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a pupa.

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

Recorded food plants

External Link

The Engrailed at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera pages

References

  • Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
  • Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984
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