Photo © Mike Wall

Peppered Moth

Biston betularia

Checklist Number
70.252 [B&F: 1931]

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

Classification

Family:Geometridae
Subfamily:Ennominae
Genus:Biston
Species:betularia
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common in woodland, scrub, hedgerows, parks and gardens throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 45-62 mm. In the past, dark forms predominated in urban areas. Larva feeds on many different types of tree and shrub, including Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Birch and Lime, and some herbaceous plants, including Mugwort and Goldenrod, 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)