Photo © David G Green

Lunar Thorn

Selenia lunularia

Checklist Number
70.238 [B&F: 1918]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Geometridae
Subfamily:Ennominae
Genus:Selenia
Species:lunularia
Authority:(Hübner, [1788])

Local breeding in open woodland and scrub throughout the British Isles, usually in very small numbers; also an occasional immigrant to the south coast of England. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight very erratic in appearance, occurring infrequently in mainly coastal locations. Historic records from VC12 North Hampshire have been rejected as unverifiable. Wingspan 39-44 mm. The most likely confusion species is Purple Thorn S. tetralunaria, which see for differences. Larva feeds on Ash, Dog-rose and Blackthorn, over-wintering as a pupa.

Updated December 2019, status review

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Shalfleet (SZ48)1911oneH G JefferyAdult
Osborne (SZ59)1929-H G JefferyAdult
Binsted (SZ59)02/08/1994oneBrian WarneAdult
Cranmore (SZ39)30/05/1995-Paul WaringAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)15/08/2021oneJames HalseyAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Balmer Lawn, NF (SU30)02/06/1983-Anon-
Denny Wood, NF (SU30)01/08/1986-Anon-
Sandy Point, Hayling (SZ79)23/04/1998onePeter I V SewellAdult
Ashurst, NF (SU31)19/07/2013oneKeith GodfreyAdult
White Moor, NF (SU20)14/07/2019oneChris LewisAdult