70.305 BF1669

Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria

(Hübner, 1789)

Wingspan 24-27 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, around woodland and hedgerows, and occurs in the southern half of Britain.

Hawthorn (Crataegus), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and other trees and bushes are the foodplants preferred by the larvae.