The 'Dotted Border' (''Agriopis marginaria'') is a
moth of the family
Geometridae. It is found throughout
Europe, except the far north, and the
Near East.
The female of this species has only vestigial wings and is totally flightless. It is usually found resting on the trunks and branches of the
larval food
plants. The male has orange-brown forewings with a paler yellowish band and a row of dots along the
termen which gives it its common name. The hindwings are whitish with faint
fascia.
Melanic forms are frequently seen. The
wingspan is 36-42 mm. The adults are active from February to April , the male sometimes coming to light but not strongly attracted.
The larva is greenish-brown with dark cross-shaped markings along the back and feeds on a range of
trees and
shrubs (see list below). The species overwinters as a
pupa.
# ''The flight season refers to the
British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.''
Recorded food plants
★ ''Alnus'' -
Alder
★ ''Betula'' -
Birch
★ ''Corylus'' -
Hazel
★ ''Crataegus'' -
Hawthorn
★ ''Fagus'' -
Beech
★ ''
Malus'' - Apple
★ ''
Prunus''
★ ''Quercus'' -
Oak
★ ''Salix'' -
Willow
★ ''Ulmus'' -
Elm
Subspecies
★ ''A. m. marginaria''
★ ''A. m. pallidata''
References
★ 'Chinery, Michael' ''Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe'' 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
★ 'Skinner, Bernard' ''Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles'' 1984