Peppered Moth
Common NamePeppered Moth
Scientific NameBiston betularia
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyEnnominae
Wingspan (mm)45
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorswhite, black, grey
HabitatWoodlands, forests, urban and suburban areas, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, Asia, North America
Host Plantsbirch, willow, oak, elm, lime, poplar, hawthorn, blackthorn
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plants. Larvae (caterpillars) are green or brown and mimic twigs, feeding on leaves. They pupate in the soil. Adults emerge to mate and lay eggs.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive 'salt-and-pepper' or mottled pattern on the wings and body. It often rests with wings spread flat on tree trunks or walls. The melanic form (carbonaria) is entirely black.
Description
A medium-sized moth with a pale greyish-white background heavily speckled with black, creating a mottled, cryptic pattern that blends well with lichen-covered tree bark.
