Lomographa bimaculata
Encyclopedia
The White-pinion Spotted (Lomographa bimaculata) is a geometer moth
species
(family
Geometridae). It belongs to the large geometer moth subfamily Ennominae
, and therein to the tribe
Baptini. It is – under its junior synonym – the type species
of its genus
Lomographa
. It is also (under its original name Phalaena bimaculata) the type species of Bapta, a junior objective synonym of Lomographa and the namesake of the Baptini.
Two subspecies
have been named, as well as several forms (e.g. bipunctata):
and can be found all over Europe
. However, it seems to be absent on the Balkans
, between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece
. It is also not found on Iceland
and rarer at the periphery of its range; for example, north of the English Midlands
and on Ireland
it is found only locally.
The adults fly usually in early summer, e.g. from May to June in the British Isles
. But in exceptional cases it is found later in the year; it was recorded in Germany
in early August 1938, for example. It is a mainly nocturnal species which can be attracted to light by night. The adults' wingspan is 22–26 mm. The wings are a very pale silvery grey, with two dark grey spots on each forewing's leading edge, from which the two bands typical of Ennominae (but in this species consisting only of very small and weak grey speckles) run over the fore- and hindwings to form a semicircle. The body is also whitish.
This moth has a single generation
per year (though late sightings suggest that this might not always be so). The caterpillar
s feed on Prunus
species – including Bird Cherry
(P. padus) and Blackthorn
(P. spinosa) – as well as on Crataegus
(hawthorns).
Geometer moth
The geometer moths or Geometridae are a family of the order Lepidoptera...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
(family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Geometridae). It belongs to the large geometer moth subfamily Ennominae
Ennominae
Ennominae is the largest subfamily of the geometer moth family with some 9,700 described species in 1,100 genera. They are usually fairly small moth species, though some grow considerably larger. This subfamily has a global distribution. It includes some species that are notorious defoliating...
, and therein to the tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Baptini. It is – under its junior synonym – the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of its genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Lomographa
Lomographa
Lomographa is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.Species include:* Lomographa araeophragma * Lomographa buraetica * Lomographa bimaculata – White-pinion Spotted...
. It is also (under its original name Phalaena bimaculata) the type species of Bapta, a junior objective synonym of Lomographa and the namesake of the Baptini.
Two subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
have been named, as well as several forms (e.g. bipunctata):
- Lomographa bimaculata bimaculata (Fabricius, 1775)
- Lomographa bimaculata subnotata (Warren, 1895)
Ecology and description
The rather common species inhabits mainly woodlandWoodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
and can be found all over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. However, it seems to be absent on the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It is also not found on Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and rarer at the periphery of its range; for example, north of the English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
and on Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
it is found only locally.
The adults fly usually in early summer, e.g. from May to June in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. But in exceptional cases it is found later in the year; it was recorded in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in early August 1938, for example. It is a mainly nocturnal species which can be attracted to light by night. The adults' wingspan is 22–26 mm. The wings are a very pale silvery grey, with two dark grey spots on each forewing's leading edge, from which the two bands typical of Ennominae (but in this species consisting only of very small and weak grey speckles) run over the fore- and hindwings to form a semicircle. The body is also whitish.
This moth has a single generation
Generation
Generation , also known as procreation in biological sciences, is the act of producing offspring....
per year (though late sightings suggest that this might not always be so). The caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s feed on Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. There are around 430 species spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for fruit and ornament.-Botany:Members of the genus...
species – including Bird Cherry
Bird Cherry
Prunus padus, known as Bird Cherry or Hackberry, is a species of cherry, native to northern Europe and northern Asia. It is a deciduous small tree or large shrub, 8–16 m tall, which grows north of the Arctic Circle in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia...
(P. padus) and Blackthorn
Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa is a species of Prunus native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also locally naturalised in New Zealand and eastern North America....
(P. spinosa) – as well as on Crataegus
Crataegus
Crataegus , commonly called hawthorn or thornapple, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America. The name hawthorn was originally applied to the species native to northern Europe,...
(hawthorns).
Synonyms
Junior synonyms of the White-pinion Spotted include:- Bapta bimaculata (Fabricius, 1775)
- Geometra taminata Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
- Lomographa taminata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
- Phalaena bimaculata Fabricius, 1775