Peribatodes rhomboidaria – The Willow Beauty is a variable moth and may be confused with other ‘Beauty’ species. It has a wingspan of 30-38mm. An important feature in identification is the cross-line on the forewing beyond the middle which is strongly kinked near the leading edge. It is more or less straight in trailing half, and forms a dot on each vein. The adult flies mainly June to August, but in the south a second generation form August to October. Readily comes to light, sometimes in fair numbers. Found in woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens. Common and widespread, and resident. The larvae feed on a range of broadleaved trees, shrubs and climbers, including privet, Honeysuckle and birches.
Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, July 2019. Nikon D7200 © Peter Hillman.
Nature Journeys 
Ah My nemesis. Every time I submit this to my French recording site they tell me it is an engrailed. ( there’re wrong! )
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As you know there are several of these ‘beauty’ moths which look very similar and can be a real pain to id with accuracy. I had to get this checked myself, and it came back as the Willow Beauty.
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They are tricky as the blotches are visually confusing. You have strengthened my faith in my own identification!
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🙂
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That’s some great camouflage. Could easily be mistaken for another lighter coloured stone or some light veining.
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It was taken on tree bark. Thank you Vicky 🙂
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Just shows how bad my close-up vision is Pete, LOL. I really thought it was a rock 😀
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Lol 🙂
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I tend to give up on these. Always a fantastic camouflage.
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Yes, they can be quite a challenge.
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Quite an understatement 😉 Yesterday evening I tried to find a kind of fly. My eyes are aching now, but I didn ‘t find it anyway, haha!
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It does kinda look like rock though, to be fair 🙂
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Yes 🙂
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There so many of these moths that disappear on a tree trunk. Nicely spotted.
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Oh, another confession. The moth was caught in my trap last night and I gently placed him on an old piece of bark for a more natural look. Photographed on an egg box just would not be quite the same 🙂
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🙂
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I imagine that if the background is bark that this moth must be fairly small – it also indicates what a sharp observer you are!
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I have a confession Anne. I caught the moth – and many of the others you see in these here posts – in my moth trap, and I gently pose them on and old piece of bark to try and get a more naturalistic image 🙂
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Quite fair enough 🙂
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You certainly pulled out the detail!
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Thank you Belinda.
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