# Perizoma costiguttata

The Perizoma costiguttata is a beautiful moth with lovely patterns on its wings. It loves to fly around at night and can be found resting on trees and walls during the day.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Perizoma costiguttata](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Perizoma_costiguttata.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Jeremy deWaard, University of British Columbia, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perizoma_costiguttata.jpg)

## Appearance

The Perizoma costiguttata is a small moth, typically displaying brownish-grey forewings marked with subtle darker cross-lines. It often features a distinctive pale or dark spot near the leading edge of its wings. Its hindwings are usually a plainer grey-brown.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Lepidoptera
- **Family:** Geometridae
- **Genus:** Perizoma

## Interesting facts

- Its fuzzy body helps it stay warm even on chilly nights, like wearing a tiny fur coat!
- Moths can taste with their feet to find the perfect spot for laying eggs!
- The caterpillars of this moth can look just like twigs, tricking hungry birds!
- This moth's name, 'costiguttata', means it has a spot on the leading edge of its wing!

## Special abilities

- **Stealth Cloak:** Perizoma costiguttata has dappled wing patterns that help them blend seamlessly with tree bark, avoiding sharp-eyed predators.
- **Scent Seeker:** Perizoma costiguttata can detect tiny scent particles because of special feathery antennae, helping them find mates.
- **Future Planter:** Perizoma costiguttata can lay tiny eggs on specific host plants, ensuring their caterpillars have food when they hatch.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 30-45 mm
- **Size:** 15-25 mm
- **Lifespan:** 10-25 days
- **Flight Speed:** 5-10 km/h
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Adult Perizoma costiguttata may sip flower nectar, while their caterpillars are plant eaters.

- **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) eat specific host plant leaves, while adults may sip nectar from flowers.
- **Primary Foods:** nectar, Euphrasia leaves, Rhinanthus leaves
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Eyebright (*Euphrasia officinalis*) — Its caterpillars munch on its leaves.
- **Eaten by:** Greater mouse-eared bat (*Myotis myotis*) — A tasty nighttime snack for bats.
- **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Young caterpillars are food for birds.
- **Pollinates:** [White Campion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-campion) (*Silene latifolia*) — Helps spread pollen for night flowers.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Moths are generally safe, but it's best to watch them from a distance.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Perizoma costiguttata?

Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Perizoma costiguttata's wingspan?

30-45 mm

### How big is Perizoma costiguttata?

15-25 mm

### How long does Perizoma costiguttata live?

10-25 days

### How fast can Perizoma costiguttata fly?

5-10 km/h

### What does Perizoma costiguttata eat?

Adult Perizoma costiguttata may sip flower nectar, while their caterpillars are plant eaters.

### Where is Perizoma costiguttata usually found?

Forests

### How does Perizoma costiguttata hunt?

Foraging

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Perizoma costiguttata: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/perizoma-costiguttata)