Aplocera praeformata, known as the purple treble-bar, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae.

Purple treble-bar
Moth of Aplocera praeformata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Aplocera
Species:
A. praeformata
Binomial name
Aplocera praeformata
(Hübner, 1826)
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Anaitis praeformaria Boisduval, 1840
  • Anaitis praeformata Kiefer, 1913
  • Anaitis rosacea Kiefer, 1913
  • Aplocera praeformata (Hubner, 1826)
  • Geometra praeformata Hubner, 1826
  • Larentia cassiata Treitschke, 1828
  • Larentia cassiata Treitschke, 1828

Subspecies

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Subspecies include: [3][4]

  • Aplocera praeformata gibeauxi Leraut, 1995
  • Aplocera praeformata praeformata (Hübner, 1826)
  • Aplocera praeformata urbahni Dufay, 1981

Distribution and habitat

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This species is present from the Iberian Peninsula and France, through Western Europe, over Central Europe, to Russia. Its northernmost range is southern Finland and the Baltic States. [5] [6] The subspecies Aplocera praeformata urbahni is found in Greece. In the Alps it is found to heights of up to 2,000 meters.

Description

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Mounted specimen

Aplocera praeformata has a wingspan of 34–44 mm. The forewings have a gray to blue-gray basic color. They show various bands of dark transverse lines. A red-brown stain extends towards the wing tip. The hind wings are monochrome gray-white without any drawing.

This species is rather similar to Aplocera plagiata.

Biology

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Adults are on the wing from June to August. [6] This species has one generation a year univoltine. The caterpillars are gray-brown, with a white side line and a dark lower edge. [7] The larvae feed on Hypericum species (St. John's worts), such as Hypericum maculatum and Hypericum perforatum.[8]

References

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