Magpie moth

Abraxas grossulariata

"Abraxas grossulariata" is a moth of the family Geometridae, native to the Palearctic realm and North America. Its distinctive speckled colouration has given it a common name of magpie moth. The caterpillar is similarly coloured to the adult, and may be found feeding on the leaves of shrubs such as gooseberry and blackcurrant.
Magpie moth Magpie moth spotted by the river Abraxas grossulariata,Magpie,Magpie moth,National Moth Week 2022,Protoploea apatela,Summer,United Kingdom,Wildlife,insect,leaves,magpiemoth,moth,moth week 2022

Appearance

The length of the forewing is 18–25 mm. The strikingly patterned forewings have a white ground colour, with six transverse series of black stains, partly associated with a pale yellow basal cross band and another through the central area of the forewing. The hindwings are paler, and have a few, small dark stains.

It is a highly variable species with many different forms. Research using "Abraxas grossulariata" led to the discovery of sex-linked characteristics.
Magpie moth Abraxas grossulariata,Geotagged,Magpie moth,Summer,United Kingdom

Naming

*"Abraxas grossulariata grossulariata"
⤷ "Abraxas grossulariata karafutonis" Matsumura, 1925
⤷ "Abraxas grossulariata conspurcata" Butler, 1878
⤷ "Abraxas grossulariata dsungarica" Wehrli, 1939

The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of "Systema Naturae".

Food

*"Ribes rubrum"
⤷ "Ribes nigrum"
⤷ "Prunus spinosa"
⤷ "Crataegus"
⤷ "Corylus"
⤷ "Euonymus europaeus"
⤷ "Salix"

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
FamilyGeometridae
GenusAbraxas
SpeciesA. grossulariata
Photographed in
United Kingdom