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Light Emerald
Campaea margaritaria (Linnaeus, 1767)
Geometridae: Ennominae
1961 / 70.283
Photo © Jack Oughton

Similar Dorset Species: None
Forewing: 18-26mm
Flight: May - August and August - September
Foodplant:   Broadleaved trees and shrubs
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 1

Davey, P., 2009: A common species in Britain, the larva feeding on birch (Betula spp.), beech (Fagus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), elm (Ulmus spp.), hawthorn (Crateagus spp.) and various other deciduous trees. In Dorset, the moth is common in deciduous woodland and frequent in deciduous scrub and thickets. It is rare in conifer plantation, in open grassland and on heathland. "Larvae may eat lichens (Usnea spp.) and mosses on oak, on alder (Alnus) and on beech tree trunks" (W Parkinson Curtis ms). The national norm is a single brood between July and early August, with a partial second brood in southern England between late August and the end of September. However, the moth is bivoltine in Dorset with the first brood on the wing from the end of May.

Recorded in 40 (100%) of 40 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1934.
Last Recorded in 2019.
(Data up to end 2019)

Latest 5 Records (Data up to end 2019)
Date#VC10k Area
17/10/201919SY98 - Wareham
16/10/201919SY78 - Broadmayne
16/10/201919SY98 - Wareham
15/10/201919SY79 - Puddletown
13/10/201919SY98 - Wareham
Further info: Campaea margaritaria
 
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