About Pterapherapteryx sexalata (Retzius, 1783)
Pterapherapteryx is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae, erected by John Curtis in 1825. Its only species is Pterapherapteryx sexalata, commonly called the small seraphim, which was first described by Anders Jahan Retzius in 1783. This species is found in central and northern Europe, as well as south-east Russia. Its wingspan measures 22–26 mm. The forewings have a pale grey ground colour, with dark grey crosslines and two central bands: one in the basal field and one in the marginal field. The unmarked hindwings are pale grey or whitish. Full-grown caterpillars are green and strongly wrinkled. They have three whitish lines or stripes running along the dorsum, and some individuals also have a white line low along the sides. The head is yellowish, notched, and the last body segment bears two small pinkish points. Adults are active on the wing from May to August, with the flight period varying by location. Larvae feed on willow plants.
