Species Details

ABH: 70.306

BF: 1670

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Geometrinae

Taxon: Chlorissa viridata

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Small Grass Emerald

Account: Nationally scarce (Na) in damp heathland and mosses in parts of southern England and in north-western England, where now very rare. Fairly common in boggy areas of the New Forest, and eastwards to Emer Bog although not in recent years; formerly on heathy ground in Botley Wood, but not since 1960. No recent record from the Isle of Wight, and the old record for northern Hampshire remains unconfirmed. Wingspan 24-27 mm. Similar to Little Emerald Jodis lactearia, but cross-lines straighter. Larva feeds on Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Creeping Willow, Gorse and other woody plants, 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: 24 — 27 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 22 May (1952) — 24 Jul (1954)

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

Foodplant: Betula sp. (a birch), Calluna sp., Salix repens (Creeping Willow).

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: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/chlorissa-viridata/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 33

Individuals: 55

Earliest Year: 1911

Latest Year: 2008

« Previous Random 🎲 Next »