Frosted Yellow
Common NameFrosted Yellow
Scientific NameIsturgia limbaria
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyEnnominae
Wingspan (mm)28
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsorange, black, brown
HabitatDry grasslands, heathland, open woodland, chalk downland
Geographic RangeCentral and Southern Europe, parts of Asia
Host PlantsGenista tinctoria, Cytisus scoparius
Flight PeriodMay to July
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are typically green or brown, feeding on broom and dyer's greenweed. They pupate in a cocoon underground, overwintering as pupae.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive bright yellow-orange forewings with a broad black border. It is a diurnal moth, often seen flying rapidly in sunshine over dry grasslands where its host plants grow.
Description
A small, diurnal moth characterized by its bright yellow-orange forewings with a prominent broad black border along the costa and termen, and greyish-brown hindwings.
