Garden Carpet Moth

Garden moths love a combination of safe places to shelter and a decent buffet so creating a moth friendly garden is all about planting a mixture of caterpillar foodplants nectar rich plants and shrubs or trees.

Garden carpet moth.

It is an abundant and familiar species across its huge range which covers the whole palearctic region from ireland to japan and including the near east and north africa. With a body about 5mm long and a wingspan of about 14 18mm. The garden carpet xanthorhoe fluctuata is a moth of the family geometridae. In terms of shelter delay cutting back old plants in autumn and leave some piles of fallen leaves.

A common species throughout the british isles this moth shows a preference for suburban habitats but can be found almost anywhere. British insect in the family geometridae the geometer moths id. Carpet moths are buff coloured with forewings that usually have three distinct dots. First recorded in 1924.

Xanthorhoe fluctuata garden carpet 4 male id. Polymorphic and variable but generally readily identified from its three black blackish forewing marks basal fascia confluent with black thorax. Last recorded in 2020. The hind wings are smaller in comparison and lighter coloured.

Recorded in 66 96 of 69 10k squares. Egb3yy rm dotted carpet alcis jubata adult moth resting on the bark of a tree. Identifying a carpet moth the carpet moth is smaller than a common house moth. The garden carpet is a common moth over most of europe north africa and asia through to the far east.

Darker forms of the moth found in the northern isles northern scotland and urban parts of london resemble the striped twin spot carpet but the dark band on the forewings is darker on the leading half in the garden carpet. Small mark on costa near apex. A preference for suburban habitats but can be found almost anywhere. Water carpet lampropteryx suffumata moth id.

Garden carpet moth xanthorhoe fluctuata. They fly from dusk. The adults can be found at rest on walls and fences during the day and is readily disturbed. Central cross band well marked in costal half but poorly marked in dorsal half.

Garden carpet xanthorhoe fluctuata linnaeus 1758 wingspan 18 25 mm.