Feathered thorn

Description:

The Feathered Thorn is a moth of the family Geometridae and derives its name from the very strong feathering on the antennae of the male. The forewings of this species are brown but individuals vary greatly in tone from drab light brown to much richer reddish tones. They are usually marked with two dark fascia and a small discal spot but these features can be faint or almost absent. The hindwings are lighter buffish brown. The wingspan is 46–50 mm, the males being usually larger and broader-winged than the females. The females tend to be rather sluggish but the males fly actively at night and are attracted to light. The species is on the wing from September to November (for the British Isles). The caterpillar is hairless, brown and twig-like and reaches a length of up to 50 mm and can be found from May to July feeding mainly at night on a variety of trees and shrubs including birch and oak trees. The species overwinters as an egg.

Habitat:

These moths are mainly present deciduous and mixed forests and in large gardens. This species can be found throughout Europe and the Near East.

Notes:

I made the second photo a little lighter to make some of the features clearer.