About Scotopteryx luridata (Hufnagel, 1767)
Scotopteryx luridata, commonly known as the July belle, is a moth species that belongs to the family Geometridae. This species is found across most of Europe, with the exception of Finland and the Baltic region. Further east, its range includes Turkey, Georgia, and Transcaucasia. The wingspan of Scotopteryx luridata measures 32 to 38 mm. The forewings have a grey ground colour, with a darker central band located between two cross lines, and the discal spot sits within this band. An apical streak is present on the forewing. This species is very similar to Scotopteryx mucronata, but can be distinguished by two key features: its forewing discal spot lies closer to the inner antemedian line than the discal spot of S. mucronata, and its hindwings are slightly darker and lack any markings. For more detailed information, see the work of Townsend et al. The caterpillars of this species are brightly coloured, with a brownish stripe pattern. Adult moths are active and in flight from June to August. The larvae feed on plants of the Genista genus, including Genista anglica, and Ulex species. Larvae can be found from August to April, and the species overwinters in its larval stage.
