About Euchoeca nebulata (Scopoli, 1763)
Euchoeca is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1823. Its only species is Euchoeca nebulata, commonly known as the dingy shell, which was described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1763. This species is found across the Palearctic realm, ranging from Europe through Russia to Japan. The wingspan of Euchoeca nebulata measures 23 to 25 millimetres (0.91 to 0.98 inches). The forewings have a sandy brown or orange cream ground colour, marked with very fine, faint darker cross lines and creamy-brown chequered fringes. The termen of the hindwing has a double curve. Two forms of the caterpillar exist. The first form is green, with three lines running along its dorsum: the central line is dark green, the two outer lines are yellow, and a purple stripe runs below the spiracles. In the second form, the caterpillar has a general greyish colour, with a reddish-brown stripe along its back and a series of spots of the same reddish-brown colour along its sides. Adult moths fly from April to September, with the flight period varying by location. Larvae feed on birch and alder, and are found in damp woodland, fens, and other marshy areas.
