For other uses, see Engrailed.
The Engrailed and Small Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia) are moths of the family Geometridae. It is found from the British Isles through Central and Eastern Europe to the Russian Far East and Kazakhstan. The Western Mediterranean and Asia minor and the Caucasus represents the southern limit of the distribution (with the Balkan countries). In the North the distribution area ends at the Arctic circle. It also occurs in North America. There is a debate as to whether they make up one species, or whether E. crepuscularia actually refers only to the Small Engrailed, with the Engrailed proper being separable as E. bistortata.

The ground colour of the wings is buff or grey variably marked with darker fascia and a pale postdiscal crossline. The darker markings are not usually as strong as in the rather similar Willow Beauty. Melanic forms occur fairly frequently. The wingspan is 38–45 mm. One or two broods are produced each year. In the British Isles the adults can be seen at any time between March and August; this time range may vary in other parts of this moth's range. The species flies at night and is attracted to light.

The greyish caterpillar is truly polyphagous, feeding on a huge range of plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a pupa.

Engrailed/Small Engrailed

There is debate as to whether the Small Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia) and Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata) are the same species, despite DNA profiling confirming they are conspecific.

Recorded food plants


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Caterpillar
Acer, Maple
Aconitum, Monkshood
Alnus, Alder
Aquilegia, Columbine
Betula, Birch
Calluna vulgaris, Heather
Camellia japonica, Japanese Camellia
Castanea, Chestnut
Centaurea
Cirsium arvense, Creeping Thistle
Cornus, Dogwood
Daphniphyllum
Diervilla, Bush Honeysuckle
Frangula, Alder Buckthorn
Fraxinus, Ash
Genista, Broom
Glycine, Soybean
Hypericum maculatum, Imperforate St. John's Wort
Ilex, Holly
Juglans, Walnut
Larix, Larch
Lindera, Spice Bush
Lonicera, Honeysuckle
Lythrum salicaria, Purple loosestrife
Malus, Apple
Philadelphus, Mock-orange
Picea, Spruce
Pieris
Pinus, Pine
Plectranthus
Populus, Poplar
Pseudotsuga, Douglas-fir
Quercus, Oak
Ribes rubrum, Redcurrant
Rosa, Rose
Rubus idaeus, Raspberry
Rumex, Dock
Salix, Willow
Sambucus, Elder
Shepherdia canadensis, Canada Buffaloberry
Sorbus spp., rowans
Spartina, Cordgrass
Thuja
Trifolium, Clover
Tsuga, Hemlock
Ulmus, Elm
Vaccinium
Zanthoxylum
^ C. Michael Hogan (2008) Douglas-fir: Pseudotsuga menziesii, globalTwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Strõmberg
^ Hübner (1825) Ectropis