Olive Crescent
Common NameOlive Crescent
Scientific NameHemithea aestivaria
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyGeometrinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Primary Colorspale green, yellowish green
HabitatWoodlands, gardens, hedgerows, scrubland
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host PlantsHawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), Birch (Betula spp.), Oak (Quercus spp.), Willow (Salix spp.)
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are green or brown, resembling twigs, and feed on various deciduous trees and shrubs. They overwinter as small larvae and pupate in a flimsy cocoon among leaves or on the ground.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive pale olive-green coloration, the two faint wavy white lines on the forewings, and the slightly scalloped wing edges. It is often confused with other green geometrids but these features help distinguish it.
Description
A small, delicate moth with pale olive-green to yellowish-green wings, marked by two faint, wavy white lines on the forewings and one on the hindwings, and subtly scalloped outer margins.
