LARGE EMERALD MOTH : Geometra papilionaria
Also see : BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS
Usually see from June until August.
They live in a variety of habitats. While they usually fly at night they may occassionally be found during the day too.
The Wildlife Trusts tells us that : Large emerald caterpillars appear in late summer and feed on alder, beech, and birch trees. They spend the winter as a caterpillar, sitting on a silk pad on a twig of their foodplant. They are already well camouflaged, but hide themselves even more by placing tiny, chewed-up pieces of bark on their body. They become active again in spring, feeding amongst the foliage. When they're fully fed, they pupate amongst leaf litter on the ground, ready to emerge as adults in summer.
This one was found on the upper Leven towpath in June. It had been raining and its wings were somewhat bedraggled.
WILDLIFE TRUSTS : https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/moths/large-emerald
