Small Cloth
Common NameSmall Cloth
Scientific NameEpirrhoe alternata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyLarentiinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, dark brown, white
HabitatWoodlands, grasslands, gardens, hedgerows, and open country
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, and parts of Asia
Host PlantsGalium spp. (bedstraws)
Flight PeriodMay to September (often bivoltine)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are typically green or brown 'inchworms' that feed on host plants. Pupation occurs in the soil or leaf litter, and the species overwinters as a pupa.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic wavy brown and dark brown bands across the forewings, especially the broad dark median band, and the distinctly scalloped outer wing margins. Small white flecks are often present along the pale subterminal line.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with broad, scalloped wings. The forewings are predominantly brown and dark brown, featuring intricate wavy lines and bands, with a prominent dark median band and a pale, often broken, subterminal line with small white flecks.
