Scopula (Calothysanis) marginepunctata

• Subfamily: Sterrhinae, Scopulini
• Wingspan: 25-28 mm
• Flight period: May - Sep
• Spread: Common
• Host plants: Polyphagous

Information

The Scopula marginpunctata also called Mullein Wave is a moth of the Geometridae family, subfamily Sterrhinae, with a wingspan of 25-28 mm.
It is distributed in most of Europe, despite its wide distribution the species is absent in some parts of northern Germany, Norway and northern Russia. *
In Italy it is also present in the islands. *
Its range is extdended in North Africa, the Middle East, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, northern Iran, and Central Asia and Mongolia.

The background color of Scopula marginpunctata ranges from white to very light brown, with dark markings and dusting. The wing design varies from dark gray to dark brown, in contrast to the background color. The wings have some transverse lines. The internal transverse line and the mid-bands are usually little developed, as is the median band which is relatively broad when present. but often washed out. The internal transverse line is frequently reduced to a row of stitches.

On the other hand, the external transverse line is significantly developed and almost always very pronounced and jagged. The edge of the front wing may be slightly darker than the background color. In the marginal field there are usually four or five faded, tooth-shaped spots. Disc spots are almost always present on the front wings as well as on the hind wings.

The hind wings have the same pattern. The head, thorax and abdomen have the background color of the wings with dusting of the same color as the markings present. on the wings on each segment.

The moth flies in two, sometimes three generations from May to September. It frequents environments that tend to be rich in stones such as unused quarries, prairies with shrubs, vineyards, slopes and rocky walls, bushy grounds, sandy grasslands full of shrubs and similar places.
Overwinters in the larva stage.

The eggs are ovoid with a color ranging from white / greenish to pink. **
The brown caterpillar has a generally darker dorsal line and a series of diamond-shaped designs. **
The pupa is ocher in color with greenish hues in the wing area and with the area of ​​the abdominal bands shaded in brown to darken near the cremaster . **

The larva is polyphagous and feeds on Gypsophyla, Thymus, Origanum, Teucrium, Stanchys recta, Artemisia vukgaris, Achillea millefolium, Sedum, etc. . ***


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/
*** Roland Robineau, Guide de papillons nocturne de France, Delachaux et Niestlé, 2011 p.43.