Argent and Sable moth
Encyclopedia
Argent and sable moths or Rheumaptera hastata are day flying moth
s of the Geometridae family, with distinctive black and white colourings. They tend to live on wetland
s and hillsides. The larva
e spin together the leaves of their food plants (such as Birch
and Bog myrtle) to form their cocoons. It was named in 1778, after the heraldic color names for black and white.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s of the Geometridae family, with distinctive black and white colourings. They tend to live on wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s and hillsides. The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e spin together the leaves of their food plants (such as Birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
and Bog myrtle) to form their cocoons. It was named in 1778, after the heraldic color names for black and white.