| | Insects of Britain and Ireland: the genera of Lepidoptera-Geometridae |
Adults. Relatively stout-bodied to slender-bodied. Antennae of males bipectinate; apically simple.
Wingspan 33–40 mm. The outer margin of the forewing convexly curved. Forewings light brownish or pale fuscous, with darker lines; predominantly pale fuscous, or light brown; with a clear discal mark (this black, before the median). Forewings of the male with a fovea. Hindwings conspicuously patterned; coloured like the forewings; with a clear discal mark; transversely lined (conspicuously wavy-lined, but the first absent).
Hindwings lacking a tubular vein 5. Vein 8 of the hindwings approximated to or anastomosed with the upper margin of the cell to the middle or beyond. Hindwing veins 6 and 7 separate.
Posterior tibiae of males 4-spurred.
Early stages. Larvae feeding on Quercus, Betula, Prunus spinosa.
British representation. 1 species; South-east England, Central-southern England, South-west England, English Midlands, Northern England, Southern Scotland, Northern Scotland, Wales, and Ireland (but scarce in Scotland). Living adults found in July. P. rhomboidaria (Willow Beauty); plus P. secundaria (Feathered Beauty, very recent migrant/colonist on conifers), and P. ilicaria (Lydd Beauty, very recently noted migrant).
Subfamily. Ennominae.
Illustrations. • Peribatodes rhomboidaria (Willow Beauty, pale and melanic forms: photos). Peribatodes rhomboidaria (Willow Beauty). Fig. 4 typifies the dusky aspect of all the individuals of this common species encountered in the Leek district (N. Staffs, habitats "rural" but located 10 and 30 miles respectively from heavily industrialised Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester), in the decade 1948–1958. The situation apparently reflected displacement of the light (“normal”) form by f. perfumaria, which existed as a relatively rare non-industrial (rural) melanic prior to the Industrial Revolution. For comparison, Figs. 1–3 represent material collected at one locality in France in 1953, where the pale form (1–2) was predominant, but one fully melanic specimen (f. rebeli, Fig. 3) was encountered.
Figs. 1–3, Bagneux, Seine, July 1953; Fig.4, Leek, Staffs., July 1949. From Watson's collection. • Alcis, Biston, Cleora, Cleorodes, Deileptenia, Fagivorina, Menophra, Ourapteryx, Peribatodes, Selidosema: Newman. 1, Ourapteryx sambucaria (Swallow-tailed Moth); 2, Biston betularia (Peppered Moth); 3, Biston strataria (Oak Beauty); 4, Peribatodes rhomboidaria (Willow Beauty); 5, Menophra abruptaria (Waved Umber); 6, Cleora cinctaria (Ringed Carpet); 7a-b, Selidosema brunnearia scandinaviaria (Bordered Grey, male and female); 8, Alcis repandata (Mottled Beauty); 9, Alcis jubata (Dotted Carpet); 10, Fagivorina arenaria (Speckled Beauty); 11, Cleorodes lichenaria (Brussels Lace); 12, Deileptenia ribeata (Satin Beauty). From Newman, 1869. • Ennominae: Kirby 48. ENNOMINAE. 1, Cleora cinctaria (Ringed Carpet); 2, Peribatodes rhomboidaria (Willow Beauty); 3, Peribatodes secundaria (Feathered Beauty); 4, Deileptenia ribeata (Satin Carpet); 5, Alcis repandata (Mottled Beauty); 6, Boarmia roboraria (Great Oak Beauty); 7, Serraca punctinalis (Pale Oak Beauty); 8, Fagivorina arenaria (Speckled Beauty); 9, Cleorodes lichenaria (Brussels Lace); 10, Ectropis crepuscularia (Small Engrailed); 11, Ectropis (Paradarisa) consonaria (Square-spot); 12, Ectropis similaria (Brindled White-spot); 13, Aethalura punctulata (Grey Birch Moth); 14, Gnophos furvata; 15, Gnophos obscuratus (Dark Annulet); 16, cf. Charissa (Rhopalognophos) glaucinaria; 17, Gnophos (Charissa) obscuratus (Annulet); 18, Gnophos obfuscatus (Scotch Annulet); 19, Psodos quadrifaria; 20, Macaria fusca; 21, "Fidonia fasciolaria", = Isturgia?; 22, Istugia famula; 23, Isturgia roraria; 24, "Fidonia plumistraria", = ?; 25, Ematurga atomaria (Common Heath); 26, Bupalus piniaria (Bordered White); 27, Selidosema brunnearia (Bordered Grey); 28, Itame vincularia; 29, Semiothisa (Macaria) wauaria (V-Moth); 30, Semiothisa (Itame) brunneata (Rannoch Looper); 31, Macaria artesiaria; 32, Petrophora chlorosata (Brown Silver Line); 33, Semiothisa (Macaria) clathrata (Latticed Heath). From Kirby 48, with updated names.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2003 onwards. Insects of Britain and Ireland: the genera of Lepidoptera-Geometridae. Version: 14th February 2021. delta-intkey.com’.
