245 Alsophila aescularia (March Moth)

70.245 Alsophila aescularia (March Moth)

fw: 16-19mm; Feb-Apr; various broad-leaved trees & shrubs; common in open woodland throughout GB
Formerly considered as the sole British representative of now obsolete Subfamily: Alsophilinae
I have yet to discover the reason for its taxonomic affinity with Colotois pennaria (Feathered Thorn).

Alsophila aescularia (March Moth) §1 male

ID: Male recognised from early flight season; triangular resting posture with overlapping wings; 2 jagged dark-edged pale crosslines.
Female is completely wingless. It has a conspicuous tuft of brown hair at the apex of the abdomen which distinguishes it from other wingless females (Winter Moth, Spring Usher, Pale Brindled Beauty).

Variation
Dissection
Male genitalia
Female genitalia

§1 Belfairs Woods, Essex; 12/03/2008; male; fw 17.5mm
§2 Belfairs Woods, Essex; 12/03/2008; male; fw 15.7mm
§3 Foulness, Essex; 06/02/2011; male; fw 18.1mm
§4 Belfairs Woods, Essex; 17/02/2012; male; fw 17.0mm
§5 Belfairs Woods, Essex; 17/02/2012; male
§6 Belfairs Woods, Essex; 17/02/2012; male
§7 Belfairs Woods, Essex; 17/02/2012; male
§8 Hockley Woods, Essex; 23/03/2015; male; fw 16.8mm
§9 Bampton Grange, Cumbria; 28/03/2017; male; fw 16.0mm; to light
§10 Bampton Grange, Cumbria; 27/02/2019; male
All images © Chris Lewis

Page published 21/03/2013 (§1-7) | §8 added 30/03/2015 | §9 added 01/04/2018 | §10 added 06/01/2020