Chlorissa viridata (Linnaeus, 1758) Species
Last modified: May 16, 2024, 12:31 p.m.
A very rare and local species in Belgium, most records are from the southern provinces and from the Kempen.
This species is considered Endangered according to the IUCN Red List category for Flanders 2023.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Geometridae > Subfamily: Geometrinae > Tribus: Hemitheini > Genus: Chlorissa > Species: Chlorissa viridata
- Vernacular names
- Smaragdgroene zomervlinder (NL), Small Grass Emerald (EN), L'Herbacée, la Phalène verte des Callunes (FR), Steppenheiden-Grünspanner (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Sélys-Longchamps E. 1844. Énumération des insectes Lépidoptères de la Belgique. — Mémoires de la Société royale des Sciences de Liége 2: 1–35. On page 15 (as viridaria). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 19–27 mm.
Can be easily confused with Chlorissa cloraria but the ground color is lighter green, the costa is concolorous with the ground color or more whitish and the postdiscal white line on the hind wings is more straight.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Bionomics
The adults are active from dusk on and come to light occasionally.
Flight periods
The adults fly from late May till July.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Salix repens
- Host plant (genera):
- Calluna and Betula
The larva is polyphagous on many species of lower plants and trees, it has been recorded a.o. on Calluna vulgaris, Betula or Salix.
Habitat
Thermophilous, heathland, sparse grassland on low nutrient, sandy soils.
