Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths) ➔ Family Geometridae (Geometer or inchworm moths)

Lycia isabellae (Harrison, 1914)

Isabellen-Dickleibspanner Black Beauty

Synonyms and other combinations:

Poecilopsis isabellae Harrison, 1914 [original combination] |

  • Lycia isabellae, male 8596
    Lycia isabellae (Harrison, 1914)  Isabellen-Dickleibspanner  Black Beauty 
    Lycia isabellae, male, conf. Julian Bittermann
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-02-26 13:13:07
    Image number: 8596
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2019-02-26 13:13:07
    conf. Julian Bittermann
  • Lycia isabellae, male 8597
    Lycia isabellae (Harrison, 1914)  Isabellen-Dickleibspanner  Black Beauty 
    Lycia isabellae, male, conf. Julian Bittermann
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-02-26 15:22:10
    Image number: 8597
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2019-02-26 15:22:10
    conf. Julian Bittermann
  • Lycia isabellae, male 8598
    Lycia isabellae (Harrison, 1914)  Isabellen-Dickleibspanner  Black Beauty 
    Lycia isabellae, male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-02-27 08:40:19
    Image number: 8598
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2019-02-27 08:40:19
  • Lycia isabellae, male 8599
    Lycia isabellae (Harrison, 1914)  Isabellen-Dickleibspanner  Black Beauty 
    Lycia isabellae, male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-02-27 08:41:32
    Image number: 8599
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2019-02-27 08:41:32
  • Lycia isabellae, male 8600
    Lycia isabellae (Harrison, 1914)  Isabellen-Dickleibspanner  Black Beauty 
    Lycia isabellae, male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-02-27 08:41:50
    Image number: 8600
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2019-02-27 08:41:50
  • Lycia isabellae, male 8601
    Lycia isabellae (Harrison, 1914)  Isabellen-Dickleibspanner  Black Beauty 
    Lycia isabellae, male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-02-27 12:01:57
    Image number: 8601
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2019-02-27 12:01:57
  • Lycia isabellae, male 8602
    Lycia isabellae (Harrison, 1914)  Isabellen-Dickleibspanner  Black Beauty 
    Lycia isabellae, male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-02-27 12:03:30
    Image number: 8602
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2019-02-27 12:03:30
  • Lycia isabellae, male 8603
    Lycia isabellae (Harrison, 1914)  Isabellen-Dickleibspanner  Black Beauty 
    Lycia isabellae, male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2019-02-27 13:19:59
    Image number: 8603
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2019-02-27 13:19:59

Classification:
Lycia isabellae belongs to the subfamily Ennominae, tribe Bistonini.
Distribution and Habitat:
Europe (Central Europe, France, Italy); in montane and alpine altitudes with larch populations (up to about 2300 m) not rare.
Description:
The body of Lycia isabellae is long and coarsely hairy. Males and females are easy to distinguish.
The males have comb-like antennae and translucent wings with black veins. The wings are partly covered with white and a few orange scales. The wingspan is about 28 - 30 mm.
The flightless females have stub-shaped wings and compared to other species of the genus thick, pale antennae. Their body length is about 11 - 14 mm.
Biology:
The Black Beauty Lycia isabellae forms one generation per year. The males fly from March or later depending on the altitude. They look for flightless females.
The caterpillars are monophagous. They feed and develop on larches (Larix decidua) and can be found from mid May to mid August.
Lycia isabellae hibernates in pupal stage.

References, further reading, links:
  1. Bestimmungshilfe des Lepiforums