- Garden Carpet
Taxobox
name = Garden Carpet
image_width = 240px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
classis =Insect a
ordo =Lepidoptera
familia =Geometridae
genus = "Xanthorhoe "
species = "X. fluctuata"
binomial = "Xanthorhoe fluctuata"
binomial_authority = Linneaus,1758 The Garden Carpet "(Xanthorhoe fluctuata)" is a
moth of the familyGeometridae . It is an abundant and familiar species across its huge range which covers the wholePalearctic region, theNear East and NorthAfrica .It has a wingspan of 27-31 mm. The wings are greyish-white with three irregular black blotches along the costa of the forewing, the largest in the middle. Occasionally, much darker (melanic) forms occur. The species has an exceptionally long flying season spanning two or three broods, and the adults can be seen any time from April to October ref|flight_season. It flies throughout the night and is attracted to light - it is one of the species most likely to be seen at lighted windows.
The
larva is grey or green with pale diamond-shaped markings along the back. It usually feeds on crucifers: both cultivatedbrassica s and wild species such asflixweed ,garlic mustard , perennial wall-rocket,wallflower andwild radish . It has also been recorded feeding on nasturtium. The species overwinters as apupa .Footnotes
# "The flight season refers to the
British Isles . This may vary in other parts of the range."References
*Chinery, Michael (1986). "Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe" (Reprinted 1991)
*Skinner, Bernard (1984). "Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles"
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