Anaplectoides prasina (Denis & Schiff., 1775)

Description: Wingspan 43-53 mm. A distinctive species, which is not easily confused with others. Forewings are mottled bright green mixed with brown and white. The stigmata are large and paler than the base colour and the crosslines are conspicuous. Some individuals are more richly marked than others. Hindwings are unmarked fuscous with a pale fringe.

Key Identification Features:

• Bright coloration and marbled appearance
• Dark hindwings with pale coloured fringe

Sets:

Flight Period: Mid-June until late July.

Status: Widely distributed and not uncommon in suitable habitat especially in southern counties. It is frequently encountered in many of the bogs and fens in the Peatlands complex of north Armagh and also from many some sites in Fermanagh including Garvary, Brookeborough and Gortmaconnell.

Ecology: A species found mainly in deciduous woodland, but also on bogs. Adults come frequently to light and remain concealed by day often on the trunks of trees, where they blend cryptically with their surroundings. The larvae feed from August to April on Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. It overwinters as a larva.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe from Finland to Spain.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2138 Agassiz number: 73.352

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: