Yellow Belle
Common NameYellow Belle
Scientific NameAspitates gilvaria
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyEnnominae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorscream, pale yellow, light brown
HabitatDry grasslands, heathland, chalk downland, sandy areas
Geographic RangeEurope, extending eastwards into parts of Asia
Host Plantsheather, wild thyme, bird's-foot trefoil, hawkweeds
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are polyphagous, feeding on various low-growing plants. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in the spring, often in a cocoon just below the soil surface.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its pale, often yellowish-cream ground color and the two characteristic faint, wavy, brownish lines on the forewings. It is often found in dry, open habitats.
Description
A pale yellowish-cream moth with two faint, wavy, brownish transverse lines across the forewings and scattered dark speckles. The hindwings are typically paler and unmarked.
