Common Emerald
Hemithea aestivaria
This record describes Hemithea aestivaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 24 to 27 mm. Distinctively shaped and with chequered fringes - this is an easy species to recognise but, like many green moths, its colour tends to fade fairly quickly. It flies from dusk onwards in June and July. The larvae feed on bushes such as Hawthorn and Blackthorn. Fairly frequent in the southern half of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Geometrinae
- Tribe
- Hemitheini
- Genus
- Hemithea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around woodland and hedgerows.
Seasonal Activity
It flies from dusk onwards in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on bushes such as Hawthorn and Blackthorn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent in the southern half of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hemithea aestivaria. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Common Emerald (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Emerald
What is Common Emerald?
Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Common Emerald found?
Habitat: Around woodland and hedgerows.
When is Common Emerald active?
Common Emerald: seasonal activity - It flies from dusk onwards in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Common Emerald?
The larvae feed on bushes such as Hawthorn and Blackthorn.