Straw Belle
Common NameStraw Belle
Scientific NameAspitates gilvaria
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyEnnominae
Wingspan (mm)34
Primary Colorspale yellow, straw, brown
HabitatDry grasslands, heathlands, chalk downs, open sandy areas
Geographic RangeEurope, from the Iberian Peninsula to Russia, including the British Isles
Host Plantsheather, thyme, various low-growing herbaceous plants
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae overwinter and feed on low-growing plants in spring, pupating in the soil. Adults emerge in late summer for a single brood.
Identification TipsLook for its uniform pale straw color, the two subtle wavy cross-lines on the forewings, and the strongly bipectinate (feathery) antennae in males.
Description
A delicate, pale straw-yellow moth with two faint, wavy brownish lines crossing each forewing. Males possess distinctive feathery antennae.
