Silver-ground Carpet

Taxobox
name = Silver-ground Carpet


image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Geometridae
genus = "Xanthorhoe"
species = "X. montanata"
binomial = "Xanthorhoe montanata"
binomial_authority = Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775The Silver-ground Carpet "(Xanthorhoe montanata)" is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is common throughout the Palearctic region, the Near East and North Africa.

The wingspan is 29-33 mm although some northern races may be smaller. The forewings are white with a broad shaded band which varies from pale grey to almost black. The hindwings are also white with pale fascia and a small black discal spot. The species flies from May to July ref|flight_season, usually at dusk. It will come to light but is not strongly attracted.

The larva is grey with a purplish-brown back. It has been recorded feeding on bedstraw, "Corydalis", globeflower, hemlock and primrose and probably feeds on other low-growing plants. The species overwinters as a larva.

#Note|flight_season"The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range."

Subspecies

*"X. m. iberica"
*"X. m. lapponica"
*"X. m. montanata"
*"X. m. shetlandica"

External links

* [http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/geometroidea/geometridae/larentiinae/xanthorhoe/index.html#montanata Silver-ground Carpet at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera pages]

References

Chinery, Michael "Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe" 1986 (Reprinted 1991)

Skinner, Bernard "Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles" 1984