Species Details

ABH: 70.302

BF: 1673

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Geometrinae

Taxon: Hemistola chrysoprasaria

Authority: (Esper, 1795)

Vernacular: Small Emerald

Account: Local on heathland, downland, open woodland, scrubland and in gardens throughout much of southern England, spreading into northern England, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Distinguished from all other medium-sized emeralds by the rounded wings and curved cross-lines. Larva feeds on Traveller's-joy and cultivated Clematis.

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: 33 — 40 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 7 Jun (1883) — 26 Sep (1994)

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

Foodplant: Clematis vitalba (Traveller's-joy).

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

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP: BAP(R)

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/hemistola-chrysoprasaria/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 350

Individuals: 77

Earliest Year: 1883

Latest Year: 2025

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