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Isturgia limbaria

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Isturgia limbaria
Male, underside
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Isturgia
Species:
I. limbaria
Binomial name
Isturgia limbaria
(Fabricius, 1775)
Synonyms
  • Phalaena limbaria Fabricius, 1775

Isturgia limbaria, the frosted yellow, is a moth of the family Geometridae.

Distribution

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This species can be found in parts of Central and Southern Europe. It is extinct in Britain.[1][2]

Habitat

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These moths inhabit heathers, edge of the forests and scrubby areas.[3]

Description

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Mounted specimen

Isturgia limbaria has a wingspan of 26–30 millimetres (1.0–1.2 in). Forewings can reach a length of 13–15 millimetres (0.51–0.59 in).[3] The male has feathered antennae, while those of the females are filiform. The upperside of the wings is yellow or orange yellow with a chocolate brown margin, less evident in the females. The underside of the hindwings is pale yellowish or greyish and strongly mottled, with visible longitudinal white stripes.

Movie of Isturgia limbaria

Biology

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These day-flying moths fly from mid April to mid August [1] in one or two generation. The larvae feed on broom. They over-winter as a pupa.[4]

  1. ^ The flight season refers to The Netherlands and Belgium. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References

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