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Welcome to Daves Moth and Butterfly World -
Species Name: Feathered Thorn

Welcome to Dave McCormick's Moth and Butterfly World. Here is information on the Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria). Hear Scientific Name Sound

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Information

The Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found throughout Europe and the Near East. In the UK it has only a single generation which flies in the autumn, from September to November. This species is quite commonly distributed in Britain, though more locally in Scotland.

In Northern Ireland, this moth is widespread and found in all counties but generally distributed in Down, Armagh and adjacent areas of Tyrone and around Lough Neagh. It is much scarcer in north Antrim, Fermanagh and west Tyrone. Known localities include Breen Wood in Antrim, Aghalane, Crom, Garvary Wood and Monmurry in Fermanagh and in Tyrone it is found at Altadavan, Crilly, Rehaghy Mountain and Strabane. In Londonderry, the only known location is Traad Point.

The flight period in Northern Ireland is around the 17th September to 28th November.

The locations this moth is found are, gardens, broadleaved woods, well-wooded heaths and bogs.

Similar Species

Dusky Scalloped Oak (Crocallis dardoinaria), Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata).

Known Aberrations

To be completed

Adult Images

The wingspan of this moth is 46–50 mm with the males being usually larger and broader-winged than the females. The forewings of this species are basically brown but individuals vary greatly in tone from drab light brown to much richer reddish tones. They are usually marked with two dark fascia and a small discal spot but these features can be faint or almost absent. The hindwings are lighter buffish brown. The common name derives from the very strong feathering on the antennae of the male.

 The females tend to be rather sluggish but the males fly actively at night and are attracted to light. The species is on the wing from September to November.

Adult Images
Image/Page Link Date Taken  Taken By
Feathered Thorn

Information

Location: Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland.

I was watching baseball on tv and I had the window open and this few in and landed in between some books. Taken with my Vivitar 4345. Taken on 25/10/2006.

 		 25/10/2006 David McCormick
Feathered Thorn Male

Information

Location: Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland.

I had a 6w heath trap out in a forest not far from my house. I found it resting on the top of the heath trap when I went to see what was in it. This is a male. Taken with my Canon 500D and Sigma 105mm Macro Lens. Taken on 28/09/2009.

 		 22/09/2009 David McCormick

Mating Images

None

Caterpillar Images

The caterpillar is brown and twig-like and feeds on a variety of trees and shrubs including Hawthorn, Black Poplar, Rowan, Hornbeam, Witch-hazel and Pear. The species overwinters as an egg.

Pupae Images

None.

Forms Pages

None

Subspecies Pages

paupera
pennaria

Aberrations

None

Videos Pages

None

References

http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1757 - Feathered Thorn - (c) 2009, Ian Kimbler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feathered_thorn - Feathered Thorn - Wikipedia

The Butterflies and Moths of Northern Ireland - (c) 2006, Robert Thompson, Brian Nelson

Page last edited: 28/09/2009 22:32

(c) David McCormick 2009