Photo © Keith Tailby

Common Heath

Ematurga atomaria

Checklist Number
70.275 [B&F: 1952]

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

Classification

Family:Geometridae
Subfamily:Ennominae
Genus:Ematurga
Species:atomaria
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common on acid heathland, moorland, grassland, woodland rides and roadside verges throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight very common on the heaths of the New Forest and the north-east. Wingspan 22-34 mm. Day-flying. Very variable, but only likely to be confused with Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata, which see; in the south a large, yellow form sometimes occurs on chalk downland and in young plantations. Larva feeds on Red Clover, White Clover and Bird's-foot Trefoil, 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)