About Macaria brunneata (Thunberg, 1784)
Macaria brunneata, commonly known as the Rannoch looper, is a species of moth belonging to the family Geometridae. It was first described by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1784. This moth is distributed across Siberia, Japan, northern and mountainous regions of North America, and the whole of Europe. In Britain, however, it is largely or entirely limited to mature forests in central Scotland. The wingspan of Macaria brunneata ranges from 25 to 30 mm, or 0.98 to 1.18 inches. Its forewings measure 11 to 13 mm in length, which is 0.43 to 0.51 inches. This species flies during the day, and when resting it often holds its wings closed just like a butterfly does. In Britain, it flies in June and July, while in North America its flight period is July and August. In Britain, the caterpillars of this moth feed on bilberry. In North America, they feed on bilberry alongside other heath family plants, including bearberry.
