Common Carpet Moth
Common NameCommon Carpet Moth
Scientific NameEpirrhoe alternata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyLarentiinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsbrown, white, black, grey
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, gardens, heathland, open country
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host PlantsGalium mollugo, Galium verum, Galium aparine
Flight PeriodMay to September (two or three broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plants. Larvae are 'loopers' that feed on bedstraws, typically green or brown. Pupation occurs in the soil or leaf litter, with the moth overwintering as a pupa.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic wavy banding pattern on the forewings, particularly the broad dark central band and the pale, often jagged, subterminal line. The overall coloration can vary but the pattern is consistent.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with forewings displaying a distinctive pattern of alternating wavy bands in shades of dark brown, black, and creamy white or pale grey, often with a prominent dark central band. The hindwings are paler with fainter banding.
