Scalloped oak

Scalloped oak
Crocallis elinguaria. Dorsal view
Lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Geometridae
Genus:	Crocallis
Species:	C. elinguaria
Binomial name
Crocallis elinguaria (Linnaeus, 1758)

The scalloped oak (Crocallis elinguaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae.

This common species can be found from Europe to eastern Siberia.

This species inhabits a wide range of habitats, including mixed and deciduous forests, bushes, heaths, scrub, hedgerows, bogs, parks and gardens.

The wingspan is 32–46 mm. This is a distinctive species, usually with yellow forewings with a broad orange-brown band and a pointed apex. Females are usually paler. There can be considerable variation, with the central band sometimes the same colour as the rest of the forewing, ranging from pale yellow to orange-brown. Melanic forms are also known. There is always a blackish discal spot on the forewing in middle of band towards the costa. The thorax is hairy. The hindwings are plain whitish. This species is rather similar to Crocallis albarracina.

It is an univoltine species. The adults fly at night from July to September and are attracted to light, sometimes in large numbers. The larva, grey and twig-like, feeds on various trees and shrubs (see list below) and is omnivorous and cannibalistic feeding also on smaller larvae. The species overwinters as an egg.

Recorded host plants include:

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