Geometridae

70.080 Fir Carpet Thera vetustata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

England

Similar species: A fairly distinctive moth, although both pale forms of Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata and Blue-bordered Carpet Plemyria rubiginata are superficially similar.

Forewing: 12 to 14mm

Habitats: On the European mainland it inhabits natural coniferous forests and plantations on high mountain slopes.

Habits: The moth comes to light. The first British record was on 9th October 2011 in Sussex with another the same month. There have been a couple of summer brood specimens recorded since. The moth is not normally a migrant and may have been accidental imports with trees, although the records are coastal and the originals in a period of migration.

Foodplant: The larva feeds mainly on European Silver Fir, but occasionally on Norway Spruce.