Clouded Magpie
Common NameClouded Magpie
Scientific NameAbraxas sylvata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyEnnominae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorswhite, grey, brown, yellow
HabitatDeciduous woodlands, parks, gardens, hedgerows
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia (e.g., Russia, China, Japan)
Host Plantselm, birch, hazel, sallow, alder, blackthorn
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are 'looper' caterpillars, typically greyish-white with black spots and a yellow stripe, feeding on various deciduous trees. They pupate in a cocoon among leaves or in the soil.
Identification TipsKey features include the striking white and dark blotched pattern, especially the large dark blotches on the forewing costa and tornus, and the yellowish-brown markings near the head and on the abdomen.
Description
A medium-sized moth with white wings distinctively marked with irregular greyish-brown and yellowish-brown blotches, particularly prominent on the forewings and along the costa.
