Agriopis marginaria (Fabricius, 1777)

Description: Wingspan 51-56mm. Adult males are generally reddish brown, although this ground colour can vary between individuals. The forewings have a darker band and a series of small dots towards the outer margin. There is a dark melanic form called ab. fuscata which is present in small numbers throughout its range in N. Ireland. The females are wingless and can be searched for after dark by examining the trunks of trees.

Similar Species: Mottled Umber

Key Identification Features:

• Small dots on the outer margin of forewing
• Pale hindwings with small discal spot and thin wavy crossline
• Early flight period

Sets:

Flight Period: Generally from early January to late April, although it has occasionally been recorded at the beginning of May.

Status: Widespread and frequently recorded around the Lough Neagh basin and also parts of east Down and Fermanagh. Increased fieldwork in early spring has accounted from the vast majority of recent records. Probably more widespread than records suggest, especially in other suitable habitats, which are seldom trapped so early in the year.

Ecology: An early spring species found frequently on a variety of habitats especially woodland, heaths, bogs and occasionally urban gardens close to adjacent woodland. Males are found commonly at light and occasionally by day. The larvae can be found from April to June on a variety of trees, particularly oak Quercus spp., birch Betula spp., willow Salix spp., Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and Hazel Corylus avellana. It overwinters in the pupal stage.

World Distribution: Throughout Europe and the Urals.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 1934 Agassiz number: 70.255

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: