Dotted Border

Dotted Border
For the genus of butterflies called the Dotted Borders, see Mylothris.
Dotted Border
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Tribe: Bistonini
Genus: Agriopis
Species: A. marginaria
Binomial name
Agriopis marginaria
Fabricius, 1776

The Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found throughout Europe, except the far north, and the Near East.

Dotted Border caterpillar

The female of this species has only vestigial wings and is totally flightless. It is usually found resting on the trunks and branches of the larval food plants. The male has orange-brown forewings with a paler yellowish band and a row of dots along the termen which gives it its common name. The hindwings are whitish with faint fascia. Melanic forms are frequently seen. The wingspan is 36-42 mm. The adults are active from February to April [1], the male sometimes coming to light but not strongly attracted.

The larva is greenish-brown with dark cross-shaped markings along the back and feeds on a range of trees and shrubs (see list below). The species overwinters as a pupa.

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

Recorded food plants

Subspecies

  • A. m. marginaria
  • A. m. pallidata

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
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