Species Details

ABH: 70.246

BF: 1925

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Ennominae

Taxon: Apocheima hispidaria

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Small Brindled Beauty

Account: Local in oak woodland and mature hedgerows throughout much of England and Wales, less frequently in the north. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight common and widespread, but with a very short flight season, the date of which is subject to the prevailing early spring weather, it may go under-recorded in some years. Wingspan male 35-37 mm, female wingless. For females, the main confusion species is Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria, for males, Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria, which see. Larva feeds on various deciduous trees, including Oak, Hawthorn, Silver Birch, Hazel, Elm, Hornbeam and Sweet Chestnut, over-wintering as a pupa.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: male 35 — 37 mm; female wingless

Surrey Flight Period: 3 Jan (2024) — 9 Apr (1978)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Castanea sp., Corylus sp., Quercus sp. (an oak), Ulmus sp. (an elm).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/apocheima-hispidaria/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 610

Individuals: 2956

Earliest Year: 1840

Latest Year: 2025

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