The mottled beauty (Alcis repandata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

Subspecies and forms

Subspecies and forms include:

  • Alcis repandata muraria
  • Alcis repandata repandata
  • Alcis repandata sodorensium
  • Alcis repandata f. conversaria
  • Alcis repandata f. nigricata

Distribution

Alcis repandata is a common species of Europe and the Near East, extending throughout Europe to the Urals, in the south over the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, the Caucasus to Kazakhstan and in the north to the Arctic Circle.

Habitat

The species inhabits deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests, bushy heaths, meadows, marshes and settlement areas. In the Alps occurs up to 1800 meters.

Description

thumb|220px|Adult moth

Alcis repandata has a wingspan reaching 30–45 mm. This is an extremely variable species, See also Prout (1912–16)

This species is rather similar to Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) and its congeners. See Townsend et al.

Biology

This moth flies at night in June and July in the British Isles. It is attracted to light.

  • Alnus – alder
  • Betula – birch
  • Calluna – heather
  • Crataegus – hawthorn
  • Cytisus – broom
  • Filipendula – meadowsweet
  • Ligustrum – privet
  • Lonicera – honeysuckle
  • Quercus – oak
  • Rhododendron
  • Ribes – currant
  • Rubus – bramble
  • Rumex – dock
  • Salix – willow
  • Sorbus – rowan
  • Tilia – lime
  • Vaccinium

Subspecies

  • Alcis jubata jubata

<gallery widths="240" heights="180">

File: Alcis repandata (larva) - Mottled beauty (caterpillar) - Дымчатая пяденица ивовая (гусеница) (40205895544).jpg|Caterpillar

File: Alcis repandata - Mottled beauty (pupa) - Дымчатая пяденица ивовая (куколка) (40205895454).jpg|Chrysalis

File: Geometridae - Alcis repandata .JPG|Imago

File: Alcis repandata.female.jpg|Mounted specimen

File:Alcis repandata.conversaria.jpg|Male Alcis repandata f. conversaria

</gallery>

References

  • Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
  • Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984
  • Alcis repandata - Biodiversity Heritage Library - Bibliography
  • Lepiforum e.V.
  • Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa