Anticollix sparsata, the dentated pug, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Georg Friedrich Treitschke in 1828. It is found across the Palearctic from Europe to Japan.

Anticollix sparsata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Anticollix
Species:
A. sparsata
Binomial name
Anticollix sparsata
(Treitschke, 1828)
Synonyms
  • Larentia sparsata Treitschke, 1828
  • Anticollix sparsatus

The wingspan is 20–26 mm. The ground color of the forewings is light brown or grey. Along the costal edge there are most often some square dark spots (usually four), but these can be blurred. In the middle of the wing there are usually two or three small triangular black spots, but no trace of any dark transverse band. The hindwing has a conspicuous toothed border. It is monochrome grey. Both pairs of wings have small black spots along the outer edges. The larva is slender, green on the back and pale green on the abdomen, with a narrow white lateral stripe. It has scattered, short, bright bristles.[1] [2] [3] See also Prout.[4]

Adults are on wing from May to September in two generations.

Figs 1,1a larvae after final moult

The larvae feed on the flowers and leaves of Lysimachia vulgaris.

References edit

  1. ^ Waring, P. & Townsend, M, 2003, Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland British Wildlife Publishing ISBN 9781472964519
  2. ^ Skinner, B, 1998, The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles , Viking Press, ISBN 9780670879786
  3. ^ Riley, A.M. & Prior, G., 2003, British and Irish pug moths, Harley Books, ISBN 0-946589-51-8
  4. ^ Prout, L. B. (1912–16). Geometridae. In A. Seitz (ed.) The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Palaearctic Geometridae, 4. 479 pp. Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart.pdf   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

External links edit