Things With Wings
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Field Guide
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Large Emerald
Geometra papilionaria
1 photo
·1 photographer
·Common · 1 ptsLarge leafy-green moth of birch and hazel woodland; flies on summer nights.
1 community photo of Large Emerald on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/50ss shutter, 6.86mm.
Species Profile
Green List; locally common in suitable upland habitat but range-restricted in the UK.
- Lifespan
- 2–3 weeks as an adult moth
- Size & Weight
- Wingspan 36–42 mm
- Habitat
- Woodland edges, river valleys, and areas with abundant birch and alder trees, particularly in upland regions.
- UK Distribution
- Resident in northern England, Scotland, and parts of Wales; absent from southern England. Flights peak in late June and July.
- Diet
- Adults do not feed; larvae feed exclusively on the foliage of birch (Betula) and alder (Alnus) trees.
- Predators
- Birds, spiders, and small mammals; vulnerable to nocturnal predators when at rest during the day.
- Mating Season
- June to August
- Breeding
- Females lay eggs singly or in small batches on host plant foliage. Single generation per year; larvae develop through summer and pupate in autumn, overwintering in the soil.
- Behaviour
- Nocturnal and attracted to light. Adults rest during the day on vegetation with wings folded roof-like over the body. They are strong fliers and active only at night, making them difficult to observe.
- •The brilliant emerald-green coloration of the wings fades significantly after death, making freshly-caught specimens far more striking than museum specimens.
- •The species is restricted to regions where its host plants (birch and alder) are abundant, limiting its distribution to upland and northern areas of the UK.
- •Large Emerald moths are highly sensitive to light pollution and habitat fragmentation, making them useful indicators of woodland health.
- •The caterpillar's preference for birch makes it a feature of Scottish Highlands and Lake District woodlands where these trees dominate.
- •Adults emerge synchronously over a short period in summer, creating spectacular nights when they are attracted to lights in their habitat areas.
- Small Emerald — Small Emerald is noticeably smaller (27–32 mm wingspan) and typically shows more yellow-green rather than pure emerald colouration.
- Marbled Green Leuconycta — This species has more marbled and variable patterning and is restricted to very localized upland areas; the Large Emerald has cleaner, brighter emerald coloration.
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Camera Settings (top photos)
Shutter
1/50ss
ISO Range
200
Aperture
f/f/1.78
Focal Length
6.86mm
