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Welcome to Daves Moth and Butterfly World -
Species Name: Green-Brindled Crescent

Welcome to Dave McCormick's Moth and Butterfly World. Here is information on the Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae). Hear Scientific Name Sound

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Information

Although superficially a dull brown species, the typical form of this moth has patches of metallic green scales giving it an attractive sheen in the correct light. A melanic form, ab. capucina is quite common in suburban areas, and shows much less green. This form is only known to occur in Britain.

Being an autumn species, flying from September to November, it is fairly common throughout much of the UK, occupying woodland, hedgerows and suburban habitats.

In Northern Ireland this moth is widespread. It is widely recorded in Armagh and Down, but more localised in the west and north of the country. This moth has been trapped regularly at Fermanagh and Tyrone at Aghalane, Crom, Garvary Wood, Monmurry in Fermanagh and Benburb, Crilly and Rehaghy Mountain in Tyrone.

This moth is still under recorded in the north because of the date of when it flies. The northern most region where it is found is mid-Antrim and Ballymena. In Northern Ireland this moth is found from around the 20th August to 7th November.

In other parts of Britain, this moth is most common in London, the Midlands and northern England.

Similar Species

Oak Rustic (Dryobota labecula).

Known Aberrations

ab. capucina

Adult Images

The wingspan of this moth is 35-45 mm. The moth flies from September to November depending on the location.

The sexes are similar, but the antennae on the male are dentate (has a tooth-like margin), while those of the female are ciliate (hair-like).

Adult Images
Image/Page Link Date Taken  Taken By
Green-Brindled Crescent

Information  

Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland Ireland.

My father caught this one and I never seen it before. This escaped from the jar it was in and is under my window ledge inside my bedroom. Taken with my Samsung Digimax L85. Taken on 07/08/2007.

 		 07/08/2007 David McCormick

Mating Images

None

Caterpillar Images

The caterpillars hatch in spring and and are 3mm in length when newly hatched. Their head is brown and their body is brownish-ocherous with dark brown longitude lines. The first instar caterpillar is a semi-looper, but by the third instar, the caterpillar had a reddish-brown head with a blackish-brown body with a oblique orange lateral mark on the first abdominal segment and prominent dorsal hump on the last segment.

If disturbed, an older caterpillar will drop from its foodplant and whip from side to side. They feed at night on Crataegus, Prunus spinosa, Birch and various fruit bearing trees.

Pupae Images

None

Forms Pages

None

Subspecies Pages

None

Aberrations

None

Videos Pages

None

References

http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1764 - Green-Brindled Crescent - (c) 2009, Ian Kimbler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allophyes_oxyacanthae - Green-Brindled Crescent - Wikipedia

Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (Revised edition) - Paul Waring and Martin Townsend (c) 2003, 2009

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

Page last edited: 09/11/2009 22:49

(c) David McCormick 2009