Mottled beauty


The mottled beauty is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

Subspecies and forms

and forms include:
Alcis repandata is a common species of Europe and the Near East, extending throughout Europe to the Urals, in the south over the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, the Caucasus to Kazakhstan and in the north to the Arctic Circle.

Habitat

The species inhabits deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests, bushy heaths, meadows, marshes and settlement areas. In the Alps occurs up to 1800 meters.

Description

Alcis repandata has a wingspan reaching 30–45 mm. This is an extremely variable species, typically being buff or grey with black bars along the costa, but often with a broad blackish band across the forewings.
Melanic forms are also common, especially in industrial areas. In all but the darkest variations the most characteristic feature is a pale zigzag line across the hindwing.
This species is rather similar to Willow Beauty.

Biology

This moth flies at night in June and July and is attracted to light.
The larva feeds on the leaves and soft bark of a wide range of trees and other plants.
The species overwinters as a small larva.
  1. The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

    Recorded food plants

Host plants include: