What is "swallow-tailed moth"

Swallow-tailed \Swal"low-tailed`\, a.

1. Having a tail like that of a swallow; hence, like a swallow's tail in form; having narrow and tapering or pointed skirts; as, a swallow-tailed coat.

2. (Carp.) United by dovetailing; dovetailed.

   Swallow-tailed duck (Zo["o]l.), the old squaw.

   Swallow-tailed gull (Zo["o]l.), an Arctic gull ( Xema furcata), which has a deeply forked tail.

   Swallow-tailed hawk or Swallow-tailed kite (Zo["o]l.), the fork-tailed kite.

   Swallow-tailed moth (Zo["o]l.), a European moth ( Urapteryx sambucaria) having tail-like lobes on the hind wings.

The swallow-tailed moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a common species across Europe and the Near East.

This is a large ( wingspan 50–62 mm), impressive moth, remarkably butterfly-like. All parts of the adult are bright white to pale yellow marked with faint buffish fascia. The species gets its common name from pointed projections on the termen of the hindwing with brownish spots at their base. It flies at night in June and July and is attracted to light, sometimes in large numbers.

The brown, twig-like larva feeds on a variety of trees and shrubs including elder, hawthorn, honeysuckle and ivy . The species overwinters as a larva.

1. The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.