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Insects of Britain and Ireland: the genera of Lepidoptera-Geometridae

L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz

Venusia Curtis

Adults. Antennae of males bipectinate; apically simple. Face smooth.

Wingspan 28–31 mm. The outer margin of the forewing slightly sigmoid-curved, or convexly curved. Forewings pale grey with dark striae; predominantly pale grey; without a clear discal mark; with a distinct median band to without a median band. Hindwings plain; pale grey to whitish; without a clear discal mark; transversely lined (with darker posterior lines).

Vein 10 of the forewings arising independently of 9; arising out of 11 and anastomosing with 9 to form a simple areole. Hindwings exhibiting a tubular vein 5. Vein 5 of the hindwings arising from about the middle of the transverse vein, or arising from below the middle of the transverse vein (?). 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 stalked.

Thorax glabrous beneath. Posterior tibiae of males 4-spurred.

Early stages. Larvae feeding on Sorbus aucuparia (Mountain Ash).

British representation. 1 species; South-west England, English Midlands, Northern England, and Ireland. Living adults found June and July. V. cambrica (Welsh Wave).

Subfamily. Larentiinae.

General comments. Thorax glabrous beneath.

Illustrations. • Venusia cambrica Curtis (Welsh Wave): B. Ent. 759. • Venusia cambrica Curtis: B. Ent. 759, legend+text. • Venusia cambrica Curtis: B. Ent. 759, text cont.. • Acasis, Aplocera, Asthena, Carsia, Chesias, Discoloxia, Euchoeca, Hydrelia, Lithostege, Lobophora, Minoa, Odezia, Pterapherapteryx, Trichopteryx: Newman 1869. 1, Chesias legatella (The Streak); 2, Chesias rufata rufata (The Broom-tip); 3a-b, Aplocera plagiata plagiata (The Treble-bar); 4a-c, Carsia sororiata anglica (Manchester Treble-bar); 5, Odezia atrata (The Chimney-sweeper); 6, Venusia cambrica (Welsh Wave); 7, Discoloxia blomeri (Blomer's Rivulet); 8, Lithostege griseata (Grey Carpet); 9, Hydrelia flammeolaria (Small Yellow Wave); 10, Hydrelia sylvata (Waved Carpet); 11, Asthena albulata (Small White Wave); 12, Euchoeca nebulata (Dingy Shell); 13, Minoa murinata (Drab Looper); 14a-b, Lobophora halterata (The Seraphim); 15, Trichopteryx polycommata (Barred Tooth-striped); 16, Trichopteryx carpinata (Early Tooth-striped); 17, Pterapherapteryx sexalata (Small Seraphim); 18, Acasis viretata (Yellow-barred Brindle). From Newman (1869).


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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’.

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