Lomographa temerata, the clouded silver, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species is found in Asia and Europe and was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775.

Lomographa temerata
Upperside
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Lomographa
Species:
L. temerata
Binomial name
Lomographa temerata

Distribution

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The species can be found in most of Europe, the Russian Far East, Siberia, Central Asia, Transcaucasia and Issyk-Kul.[1]

Habitat

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These moths inhabit woodland, suburban areas, bushy deciduous forests, mountain valleys, heathlands, hedges, meadows and gardens.[2][3]

Description

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The wingspan is 22–26 mm.[2] The ground colour of the wings is whitish with a silky sheen. The forewings have a black discoid spot and short black-brown markings at the base. It is also recognizable by the dark clouding in the distal part of the forewing, though this varies greatly in intensity and always leaves free (at least in part) a broad white dentate subterminal line.[4] On the hindwings there is also a small black central spot and weakly marked grey bands. The black spots on the upperside of the wings appear also on the undersides. Grown caterpillars are green and have a yellow or reddish often interrupted line on the back.[5] Pupae are brown.

Biology

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These moths fly from May to June in one generation.[1] The larvae feed on the leaves of various trees, including hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), blackthorn Prunus spinosa,[2] wild cherry (Prunus avium), bird cherry (Prunus padus), Prunus cerasus, Prunus domestica, Malus domestica, Acer campestre, Fagus sylvatica, Rosa canina sp., Salix sp., Sorbus aucuparia, Impatiens noli-tangere, birch (Betula) and oak (Quercus).[3][6] They overwinter as a pupa.

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Notes

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  1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References

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  1. ^ "Lomographa temerata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "70.280 BF1958 Clouded Silver Lomographa temerata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)". UKMoths. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Heiner Ziegler Schmetterlinge der Schweiz
  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.
  5. ^ Kimmo Silvonen Larvae of North-European Lepidoptera
  6. ^ Savela, Markku. "Lomographa temerata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
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