Scalloped Hazel
Odontopera bidentata
This record describes Odontopera bidentata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Quite a variable species, with individuals ranging from pale brown to almost black, the darker varieties having less obvious markings. It frequents woodland, heaths and suburban habitats. There is just one brood, flying in May and June. Larva feeds on various woody plants, including Hazel, Silver and Downy Birch, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Oak and some coniferous trees, overwintering as a pupa. The species is moderately common over most of the British Isles. 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
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Odontopera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It frequents woodland, heaths and suburban habitats.
Seasonal Activity
There is just one brood, flying in May and June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva feeds on various woody plants, including Hazel, Silver and Downy Birch, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Oak and some coniferous trees, overwintering as a pupa.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is moderately common over most of the British Isles. 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 Odontopera bidentata. 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 Scalloped Hazel (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Scalloped Hazel
What is Scalloped Hazel?
Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Scalloped Hazel found?
Habitat: It frequents woodland, heaths and suburban habitats.
When is Scalloped Hazel active?
Scalloped Hazel: seasonal activity - There is just one brood, flying in May and June..
What is the life cycle of a Scalloped Hazel?
Larva feeds on various woody plants, including Hazel, Silver and Downy Birch, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Oak and some coniferous trees, overwintering as a pupa.