Barred Tooth-striped
Common NameBarred Tooth-striped
Scientific NameTrichopteryx polycommata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyLarentiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, white, black
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, gardens, scrubland
Geographic RangeEurope, including the British Isles
Host Plantsprivet, ash, honeysuckle, forsythia
Flight PeriodMarch to May
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as a pupa in the soil. Larvae feed on the leaves of host plants during summer before pupating.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive broad, dark central band on the forewings, often with a paler band on either side, and the 'toothed' or jagged appearance of the cross-lines. The overall mottled brown and grey pattern is also characteristic.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with mottled grey-white and brown forewings, characterized by prominent dark brown to blackish transverse bars and a distinct central band. Its cryptic coloration provides excellent camouflage against tree bark.
