Bug FAQMaiden's Blush
Cyclophora punctaria · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
Source: Wikipedia
Maiden's Blush is a medium-sized moth with a sand-coloured forewing that may show reddish or yellowish tones and a distinct brown cross line. It lives in oak-dominated woodlands across central and eastern Europe, reaching into southern Fennoscandia, the British Isles, France, northern Spain, Italy, the Balkans (except Greece) and Asia Minor, and it flies in two generations from May to June and again in August.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewings are sand-coloured, sometimes with reddish or yellowish tints, and show a clearly marked medium brown curved cross line.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The first generation has a wingspan of 13 to 25 mm, while the second generation is smaller, about 22 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on oak leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults fly in two generations, first from May to June and again in August in western Europe.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The moth is on the wing in May-June and again in August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is most common in central and eastern Europe. Its range extends north to southern Fennoscandia and the British Isles, west through France to northern Spain, south through Italy and the Balkans (except Greece) to Asia Minor.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It can be confused with Blair's Mocha (Cyclophora puppillaria), False Mocha (C. porata), Jersey Mocha (C. ruficiliaria) and Clay Triple-lines (C. linearia).
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What trees does Maiden's Blush damage?
Its larvae feed on oak leaves, which can harm oak trees.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see adult Maiden's Blush moths?
Adults are active in two periods: May to June and again in August.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell Maiden's Blush apart from similar moths?
Look for a sand-coloured forewing with a clear brown curved cross line; other similar species have different patterns.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclophora_punctaria
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.