''Cosmorhoe'' is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae erected by

Jacob Hübner Jacob Hübner (20 June 1761 – 13 September 1826, in Augsburg) was a German entomologist. He was the author of ''Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge'' (1796–1805), a founding work of entomology. Scientific career Hübner was the author of '' ...

in 1825. Its only species, ''Cosmorhoe ocellata'', the purple bar, was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''.

Distribution

The species can be found in the Palearctic realm, which includes western Europe and the British Isles, Central Europe, Central Asia, Asia Minor, and Kyrgyzstan.

Habitat

In the Alps, it can be found at elevations up to 1500 meters. The species is found in many habitats, including heathland, deciduous and mixed forests, forest clearings, bushy places, grasslands, fens, scrub, gardens and park-like landscapes.

Description

Their wingspan is between 20 and 29 mm and the length of their forewings is between 13 and 15 mm. The ground colour of the forewings is creamy white to bright white. The base and midfield are coloured black to blue black. The latter is crossed by two bright lines. In the midfield band is a deep, jagged spot. In the bright areas between the basal area and the midfield as well as in the marginal field are grey or black spots of varying degrees. The hindwings are whitish and show a small black middle spot. Caterpillars are brownish, with bright angled markings on their backs and bright stripes on the sides. The pupa is usually shiny red brown.Kimmo Silvone
''Larvae of North-European Lepidoptera''
/ref>

Biology

This species shows two generations in the southern United Kingdom (from May to early July and from August to mid-October), but a single brood further north. The moths fly from May to August in the British Isles, and from mid-April till October in other parts of the range.''Lepidoptera of Belgium''
/ref> They are active from dusk onwards. The larvae feed from June to September on various species of

bedstraw ''Galium'' is a large genus of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Rubiaceae, occurring in the temperate zones of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Some species are informally known as bedstraw. There are over 600 spe ...

(mainly ''

Galium mollugo ''Galium mollugo'', common name hedge bedstraw or false baby's breath, is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Rubiaceae. It shares the name hedge bedstraw with the related European species, Galium album. Description ''Galium mollugo'' can ...

'' and '' Galium verum''). The larvae hibernates as a full-grown larva. They pupate in a cocoon.

References

*
Purple Bar ''Cosmorhoe ocellata''
''UKMoths''.

External links

* Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfil

* ttp://www.vlindernet.nl/vlindersoort.php?vlinderid=172 ''De Vlinderstichting'' {{Taxonbar , from1=Q2998335 , from2=Q1306112 Cidariini Moths described in 1758 Moths of Asia Moths of Europe Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Monotypic moth genera