Scalloped Oak

Scalloped Oak
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Geometridae
Genus:	Crocallis
Species:	C. elinguaria
Binomial name
Crocallis elinguaria Linnaeus, 1758

The Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a common European species.

Illustration

Larva

This is a distinctive species, usually with yellow forewings with a broad orange-brown band and a pointed apex. There can be considerable variation, with the central band sometimes the same colour as the rest of the forewing, ranging from pale yellow to orange-brown. Melanic forms are also known. There is always a blackish discal spot on the forewing. The hindwings are plain whitish. The wingspan is 40-46 mm. The adults fly at night in July and August ^[1] and are attracted to light, sometimes in large numbers.

The larva, grey and twig-like, feeds on various trees and shrubs (see list below) and is omnivorous and cannibalistic feeding also on smaller larvae. The species overwinters as an egg.

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

Recorded food plants

• Alnus - Alder
• Betula - Birch
• Calluna - Heather
• Corylus - Common Hazel
• Lonicera - Honeysuckle
• Populus - Aspen
• Prunus - Bird Cherry
• Rhamnus - Buckthorn
• Ribes - Currant
• Rosa - Rose
• Rubus - Raspberry
• Salix - Willow
• Sorbus - Rowan
• Syringa - Common Lilac
• Tilia - Lime
• Vaccinium

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