Geometridae: Larentiinae

1728 (ABH70.049) Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata, (Linnaeus, 1758)

KR08256

Great Staughton
Great Staughton
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Great Staughton
 Photo © Peter Bissell
 pre-2000
 2000-2009
 2010-2019
 2020-onwards
Great Staughton
Great Staughton
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Earith
Earith
 Photo © David Griffiths
Aberration, Great Staughton
Aberration, Great Staughton
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Hemingford Grey
Hemingford Grey
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Hemingford Grey
Hemingford Grey
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Great Staughton
Great Staughton
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Hemingford Grey, April 2007.
Hemingford Grey, April 2007.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
on Honesty, Great Staughton, July 2011
on Honesty, Great Staughton, July 2011
 Photo © Peter Bissell
on Honesty, Great Staughton, July 2011
on Honesty, Great Staughton, July 2011
 Photo © Peter Bissell


General Information

This moth has a grey or light-grey ground colour (sometimes buff-coloured) with distinct dark grey patches on forewing. The thorax is dark and the abdomen is usually white. The central cross-band usually fades towards the trailing edge. The cross-band varies in thickness and sometimes is just a small blotch at the leading edge (f. costovata). A melanic form (f. thules) is sometimes so dark that the central band is indistinct from the ground colour.

 

Pupates in loose soil.

Overwinters as Overwinters as a pupa.
Both sexes readily come to light, sometimes in numbers.

Forewing length: 13-16mm.
Foodplant(s): Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Wild Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta), Yellow Alyssum (Alyssum alyssoides), White Alyssum (Lobalaria maritima), crucifers (Cruciferae), herbaceous plants
Flying: Two/three overlapping generations, April-October
UK Presence: Resident
National status: Common

Habitat

Gardens, allotments and rough ground in urban areas. Also woodland and open coastal areas.

Regional Information

Recorded in 122 (45.2%) of the 270 2km squares of Huntingdonshire.

Last recorded in May 2066

Recorded date range (Adult): 31 March to 14 November

Recorded date range (Larva/Leafmine): 01 July to 12 July

Similar Species
Great Staughton
Great Staughton
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
 Photo © Martin Lovell
Galium Carpet Epirrhoe galiata
 Photo © Barry Dickerson
Twin-spot Carpet Mesotype didymata (=Perizoma)


Larva/Leafmine:
Larva Type:
Smooth
Colours:
Green, brown, black, yellow
No. of Proleg Pairs:
2