Geometridae

70.097 Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata truncata (Hufnagel, 1767)

Common

Arran Carpet Dysstroma truncata concinnata (Stephens, 1831)

Notable A Hebrides

Similar species: Dark Marbled Carpet Dysstroma citrata has an angled shape to the area inside the main cross-band, a projection on the outer side of the cross-band that curves inwards from the leading edge of the wing and strongly interrupts the zig-zag outer cross-line and a pointed central line on the underside of the hindwing (rather than rounded).

Forewing: 14 to 19mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland, parkland, scrub, hedgerows, calcareous grassland scrub, highland glens, moorland, heathland, marshes, fens, coastal sand-dunes and gardens. The Arran Carpet is found mainly on moorland.

Habits: The moth visits Ivy and over-ripe blackberries. It also comes to light and occasionally sugar.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on sallows, Bilberry, docks, Silver Birch, Downy Birch, Bramble, Heather, Wild Privet, Hawthorn and other species. It pupates in a flimsy cocoon amongst spun leaves on the foodplant. The Arran Carpet feeds on Heather and Bilberry and in captivity Garden Strawberry.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Honeysuckle, Fly Honeysuckle, Bird Cherry, Alder, Rowan and Virginia Creeper.