Species Details

ABH: 70.256

BF: 1935

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Ennominae

Taxon: Erannis defoliaria

Authority: (Clerck, 1759)

Vernacular: Mottled Umber

Account: Common in woodland, scrub, hedgerows, grassland, heathland, moorland and gardens throughout the British Isles, at low altitudes in the north, female wingless. Somewhat similar to Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiaria and Dotted Border A. marginaria, which see for differences. Larva, formerly considered a pest, feeds on various broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including Oak, Birch, Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Apple, Dog-rose, Sycamore, Hornbeam and Elm, over-wintering as an egg.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: male 40 — 45 mm; female wingless

Surrey Flight Period: —

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Betula sp. (a birch), Fagus sp., Quercus sp. (an oak), Ulmus sp. (an elm).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Vulnerable (VU)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/erannis-defoliaria/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 856

Individuals: 1687

Earliest Year: 1896

Latest Year: 2025

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