Aplocera cretica, Crete - photo © K. Bormpoudaki
Aplocera plagiata
MOTH INFO
Aplocera cretica is a moth of the family Geometridae on the island of Greece, Crete.
Scientific name
Aplocera plagiata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Phalaena (Geometra) plagiata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Phalaena duplicata (Fabricius, 1775)
Phalaena terlineata (Goeze, 1781)
Phalaena triplicata (Geoffroy, 1785)
Anaitis plagiaria (Boisduval, 1840)
Anaitis scotica (Richardson, 1952)
Common name
Treble-bar
Classification
Superfamily: Geometroidea > Family: Geometridae > Subfamily: Larentiinae > Tribus: Chesiadini > Genus: Aplocera
Wingspan
32-40 mm
Habitat
The moth can be found in phrygana, olive grooves, and shrubland.
Food plant
The larva is monophagous on Hypericaceae (Hypericum perforatum) and feeds on the leaves.
Flight period
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Links
Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
Notes
The species is very similar to Aplocera plagiata which is also present on the island. Aplocera cretica summer generation appears smaller (27-32 mm) than Aplocera plagiata (32-40 mm). Also “…sympatric specimens of Aplocera plagiata often show a slight yellowish tinge... “*
In general, identification based on external characteristics is doubtful.
* pg 470, The Geometrid Moths of Europe, Vol. III Subfamily Larentiinae I, by Axel Hausmann & J. Viidalep, Apollo Books 2012.
