70.212 BF1890

Sharp-angled Peacock Macaria alternata

([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Wingspan 22-27 mm.

Mainly restricted to the southern counties of England and Wales, where it is locally fairly common, it has occasionally recorded elsewhere as far north as Scotland.

Superficially similar to the Peacock Moth (M. notata), this species has a deeper notch near the tip of the forewing, edged with blackish instead of brownish. The forewing blotch is usually less prominent, and the dark line around the edge of the hindwing is normally broken or dotted, rather than continuous as in Peacock Moth.

It flies in May and June, and occupies woodland and sand-dunes.

The larvae feed on sallow (Salix), alder (Alnus glutinosa) blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides).