Photo © Mike Wall

March Moth

Alsophila aescularia

Checklist Number
70.245 [B&F: 1663]

Verification
Record will be accepted (subject to date and location checks)

Classification

Family:Geometridae
Subfamily:Ennominae
Genus:Alsophila
Species:aescularia
Authority:([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Common in open woodland, parks and gardens throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 34-38 mm, female wingless. Male has a distinctive resting posture and shape, with narrow, overlapping forewings and straight costa, giving the appearance of an arrow-head, and the forewing shows a distinct dentate subterminal fascia; the flightless female is very easy to overlook, but can be distinguished from other flightless females by the brown anal tuft and complete absence of wings. Larva feeds on numerous broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including Oak, Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Crab Apple, over-wintering as a pupa.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)