Common Carpet

Common Carpet
Common Carpet
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Epirrhoe
Species: E. alternata
Binomial name
Epirrhoe alternata
OF Müller, 1764

The Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East.

Epirrhoe.alternata.7126.jpg
Caterpillar

The wingspan is 27–30 mm. The forewings vary from grey to black, marked with white fascia, giving a striped appearance. The hindwings are paler grey with white fascia. Northern races tend to be paler overall. One or two broods are produced each year and the adults may be seen any time from May to September [1]. The species flies at night and is attracted to light.

The larva is generally brown or green but is very variable in its markings. It feeds on bedstraw. The species overwinters as a pupa.

  1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

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

External links

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