1931 Peppered Moth Biston betularia (Linnaeus, 1758)

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Family Geometridae: Ennominae

Wingspan

Flight period

 

Descripttion

The lighter colour moth is the common form but completely black (melanic) form has become more common in industrialised areas . An intermediate form, insularia which is black speckled with white is also found. The female is large tha the male and have much thinner antenna. The moths fly by night in may and June, sometimes later and are generally common in Woodlands parks and gardens trhrough out the British Isles except for the Northern Isles . The larvae feed on various trees including Oak, Birch, Elm, Sallow , Plum and bramble they pupate in the soil where the chestnut brown pupae pass the winter