Insecta : Lepidoptera : GeometridaeButterflies and Moths

Perizoma albulata (Denis & Schiff., 1775)

Grass Rivulet

Perizoma albulata

Description: Wingspan 20-26mm. Adult forewings predominantly white with a series of pale brown median cross-lines, the central one being the widest especially at the costal edge of the wing. Mid June to late August.

World Distribution: Throughout Europe.

Irish Distribution: Widely distributed in south eastern counties with a few scattered records mainly from coastal localities in Londonderry and Antrim. It has been recorded in recent years from well-recorded sites such as Oxford Island, Armagh, Montiaghs Moss and Ballymoney, Antrim and the Umbra, Londonderry. There are several recent records from Down at Seaforde Estate, Belvoir Park Forest and Hillsborough Forest Park.

Ecology: A small, attractive species associated with wet meadows and coastal grassland. It may be under-recorded in some other suitable localities where its foodplant Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor is common. Adults rest among grassy tussocks and fly usually from late afternoon onwards when the weather is favourable. The larvae can be found in July and August on the seeds of Yellow-rattle. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

  • Wings white with fine brown cross-lines
  • Hindwings white

Distribution Map from NBN: Perizoma albulata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Perizoma albulata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

 Thompson, R. & Nelson, B. (2023). Perizoma albulata. (Denis & Schiff., 1775). [In] Moths of Northern Ireland.
https://habitas.org/moths/species.php?item=33253. Accessed on 2026-11-02.