The Mallow
Larentia clavaria
This record describes Larentia clavaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Occupying a range of suburban habitats, waste ground and ditches or riverbanks. Adults are on the wing during September and October. As the English name suggests, the main larval foodplant is Mallow (Malva sylvestris), but the caterpillars will also eat cultivated hollyhock (Alcea). Distributed throughout England and Wales and into southern Scotland, this species is commoner in the south. It also occurs locally in Ireland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Larentia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupying a range of suburban habitats, waste ground and ditches or riverbanks.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are on the wing during September and October.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
As the English name suggests, the main larval foodplant is Mallow (Malva sylvestris), but the caterpillars will also eat cultivated hollyhock (Alcea).
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed throughout England and Wales and into southern Scotland, this species is commoner in the south. It also occurs locally in Ireland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Larentia clavaria. 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.
Photos of The Mallow (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About The Mallow
What is The Mallow?
The Mallow (Larentia clavaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is The Mallow found?
Habitat: Occupying a range of suburban habitats, waste ground and ditches or riverbanks.
When is The Mallow active?
The Mallow: seasonal activity - Adults are on the wing during September and October..
What is the life cycle of a The Mallow?
As the English name suggests, the main larval foodplant is Mallow (Malva sylvestris), but the caterpillars will also eat cultivated hollyhock (Alcea).