Editing Autumnal moth (section)

{{short description|Species of moth}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Autumnal moth
| image = Epirrita autumnata.jpg
| image2 = Epirrita autumnata, Autumnal Moth, Trawscoed, North Wales, Oct 2006 (20921883668).jpg
| taxon = Epirrita autumnata
| authority = ([[Moritz Balthasar Borkhausen|Borkhausen]], 1794)
}}

The '''autumnal moth''' (''Epirrita autumnata'') is a [[moth]] of the family [[Geometridae]]. The species was [[Species description|first described]] by [[Moritz Balthasar Borkhausen]] in 1794. It is found throughout the [[Palearctic]] region and the [[Near East]] and has a much wider distribution than its two close relatives (see below). In [[Sápmi]] (Lapland), in some years, the numerous autumnal moth [[larva]]e defoliate square miles of birch forests on mountains.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Haukioja, Erkki |author2=Hanhimäki, Sinikka |year=1985 |title=Rapid wound-induced resistance in white birch (''Betula pubescens'') foliage to the geometrid ''Epirrita autumnata'': a comparison of trees and moths within and outside the outbreak range of the moth |journal=Oecologia |volume=65 |issue=2 |pages=223–232 |doi=10.1007/BF00379221 }}</ref>