Silver-ground Carpet
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
| Silver-ground Carpet | ||||||||||||||
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| Xanthorhoe montanata Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 |
The Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is common throughout the Palearctic region, the Near East and North Africa.
The wingspan is 29-33 mm although some northern races may be smaller. The forewings are white with a broad shaded band which varies from pale grey to almost black. The hindwings are also white with pale fascia and a small black discal spot. The species flies from May to July, usually at dusk. It will come to light but is not strongly attracted.
The larva is grey with a purplish-brown back. It has been recorded feeding on bedstraw, Corydalis, globeflower and primrose and probably feeds on other low-growing plants. The species overwinters as a larva.
Subspecies
- X. m. iberica
- X. m. lapponica
- X. m. montanata
- X. m. shetlandica
External Link
Silver-ground Carpet at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera pages (http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/geometroidea/geometridae/larentiinae/xanthorhoe/index.html#montanata)
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
