| Sharp-angled Peacock (Macaria alternata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)) |
|
|
|
Scientific name: Macaria alternata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Common name: Sharp-angled Peacock Other names: Autre nom scientifique : Semiothisa alternaria. French name: Philobie alternée Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Geometridae Subfamily: Ennominae Wingspan: 22-30 mm. Biotope: Woodland edges, clearings, bushes, hedgerows. Geographic area: Europe from Mediterranean regions north to northern Scandinavia, Asia. Flight time: Late April to late June in two overlapping broods. Number of generations : 2 Caterpillar: Green, brown or greyish with a lateral dark brown band made of merging dark dots on each side of the head and sometimes dark spots on the flanks. Host plant: Willows (Salix), Birches (Betula), Alders (Alnus), Rowans and Whitebeams (Sorbus), Sea Buckthorns (Hippophae), Buckthorns (Rhamnus) and Prunus. |
The Sharp-angled Peacock has greyish white wings crossed by more or less marked greyish transversal lines. The fore wings' costal edge bears a series a small black spots preceding a larger reddish brown spot located just before the apex. There is a small dark discal patch which may be divided into several parts by white veins on each fore wing. There is also a deep black notch at the margin of the fore wing close to the apex. The hind wings are angulous. There is a similar species, the Peacock Moth (Macaria notata). This last one has generally a larger and darker discal spot. The costal spot preceding the larger spot next to the apex is larger and paler than on the Sharp-angled Peacock (Macaria alternata). The subapical notch is not so deep on the Peacock Moth. It is also paler especially along the outer edge. Two small dark veins sometimes cross the fringe of the Peacock Moth's wings. They are always missing on the Sharp-angled Peacock. More difficult to see, the Sharp-angled Peacock's hind wings are crossed by a broad grey stripe while there are only thin lines on the Peacock Moth. The Sharp-angled Peacock over winters as a pupa. |
| [To know more about the Sharp-angled Peacock] [Top] |
|
I have photographed this Sharp-angled Peacock next to a window where it may have been attracted to light. I have, at first, hesitated with the Peacock Moth species (Macaria notata), but after having read identification information I realized that telling both species apart is often a rather easy task. |
André Bon December 2016