Agriopis aurantiaria
Agriopis aurantiaria, the scarce umber, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1799 and it is found throughout Europe.
| Scarce umber | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Agriopis |
| Species: | A. aurantiaria |
| Binomial name | |
| Agriopis aurantiaria (Hübner, 1799) | |
The wingspan is 27–35 mm. There is a strong sexual dimorphism.
The males have normally developed wings. The forewings are dark golden yellow or orange yellow to light brown and dusted with many black scales. There are three brown-grey transverse bands the outermost broken. Sometimes there are large black patches in the postdiscal area. The hindwings have the same basic colour as the forewings, but are however always paler with two thin, dark lines. The antennae are double saw combed.
The flightless females have almost entirely vestigial wings, a clumsy body, tapering at the end of body shape and are grey brown. The stub wings have are grey with two black crosses. Adults are on wing from October to November.
The larvae feed on various deciduous trees, including Betula, Quercus robur, Sorbus aucuparia, Rosa and Prunus padus.
Subspecies
- Agriopis aurantiaria aurantiaria
- Agriopis aurantiaria cleui
- Agriopis aurantiaria lariciaria
References
- Waring, P. & Townsend, M. (2006). Nachtvlinders, veldgids met alle in Nederland en België voorkomende soorten, Baarn: Tirion.
