Galium Carpet
Epirrhoe galiata
This record describes Epirrhoe galiata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 28 to 32 mm. The species has a broad central bar of brown and greyish blue on a silvery white background. A bedstraw (Galium) feeding species, this moth is to be found on lime and chalk downland, grassy heathland and sea-cliffs where bedstraw is present. In the south there are two generations, whereas further north there is generally only one, but the adults are on the wing mainly between June and August. It has a preference for coastal sites, but is also found inland. It occurs throughout England and Wales, though locally, and is scarcer in Ireland and Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Epirrhoe
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A bedstraw (Galium) feeding species, this moth is to be found on lime and chalk downland, grassy heathland and sea-cliffs where bedstraw is present.
Seasonal Activity
In the south there are two generations, whereas further north there is generally only one, but the adults are on the wing mainly between June and August.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It has a preference for coastal sites, but is also found inland. It occurs throughout England and Wales, though locally, and is scarcer in Ireland and Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epirrhoe galiata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Galium Carpet
What is Galium Carpet?
Galium Carpet (Epirrhoe galiata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Galium Carpet found?
Habitat: A bedstraw (Galium) feeding species, this moth is to be found on lime and chalk downland, grassy heathland and sea-cliffs where bedstraw is present.
When is Galium Carpet active?
Galium Carpet: seasonal activity - In the south there are two generations, whereas further north there is generally only one, but the adults are on the wing mainly between June and August..