Elegant Carpet
Common NameElegant Carpet
Scientific NamePlemyria rubiginata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyLarentiinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, white, yellow
HabitatWoodlands, heathlands, fens, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host Plantsalder, birch, sallow, hawthorn, cherry
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are green with a pale stripe, feeding on various deciduous trees and shrubs. They pupate in a cocoon on the ground or in leaf litter, with adults emerging in summer.
Identification TipsKey identification features include the mottled brown and grey forewings contrasted with the distinctive plain yellow hindwings, which are often visible at rest.
Description
A medium-sized moth with cryptically patterned forewings in shades of brown, grey, and white, often with a darker central band. The hindwings are a striking plain yellow or orange-yellow.
