Green-Brindled Crescent - Allophyes oxyacanthae

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Green-Brindled Crescent - Allophyes oxyacanthae

18th October 2019
October this year has been pretty wet, but mild. So I wasn’t expecting much when I put the moth trap out on a wet but cool evening.  But the next morning there were two individuals a Green-brindled Crescent - Allophyes oxyacanthae, and a Beaded Chestnut - Agrochola lychnidis. I am intrigued each time I look at moths - the cryptic markings and colours can be unusual to our human eye and perceptions of colour until you consider the camouflage they provide. Take the Green-brindled Crescent, the green flashes make it look like it has been "lichenised" when I took it out of the moth trap this morning. But then if it was resting on a tree trunk I am very much certain I wouldn't see it. I can't deny the Beaded Chestnut that kept it company is as interesting, but……  
Superficially it is a dull brown species, but the the right light typical form has patches of metallic green scales giving it an attractive sheen. There is a melanic form, ab. capucina is quite common in cities and suburban areas, which shows much less green. The difference can be seen in the two individuals I’ve found over the past couple of years.


There is only one generation a year and the adult A. oxyacanthae is on the wing in the autumn, flying from September to  November. Although widely distributed and still fairly common throughout much of Britain, however, it is one of the macro moths that has been a big decline in its numbers. The State of Britain’s Larger Moths 2013 published by Butterfly Conservation reports it has seen a decline by 81% over the previous 40 years.
The adults lay the eggs near food plants and can be found in a wide variety of habitats, occupying woodland, hedgerows as well as suburban environments. A. oxyacanthae die off in the winter and the next generation overwinters as an egg. The eggs are laid singly on twigs in the food plant, which include Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Crab Apple, Dog-rose, Plum, cotoneaster and Rowan. All of these trees can be found in or very near tour garden. The caterpillars hatch in spring and feed up until they are ready to create their cocoon underground ready for pupation. 

The scientific names derives from the following roots. Allophyes come from the Greek meaning changeable in nature. Related to the dimorphism of the Green-brindled Crescent. Oxyacanthae from the hawthorn, one of the food plants.

References. Emmet,A.M. (1991) The Scientific Names of British Lepidoptera: Their History and Meaning. Harley Books: Colchester. Fox, Richard & Parsons, Mark & Chapman, Jason & Woiwod, Ian & Warren, Martin & Brooks, David. (2013). The State of Britain’s Larger Moths 2013. National Biodiversity Network. Allophyes oxyacanthae. NBN. https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000006338. Accessed 20.10.2019.Waring,P. Townsend,M. And Lewington,R. (2011) Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (2nd ed) British Wildlife Publishing. 

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