I am pretty sure that this is a Galium Carpet, named after the Gallium plants or Bedstraws on which its caterpillars like to guzzle. It has a good choice in the UK: Lady's, Heath and Hedge; a three-course meal for any Galium caterpillar lucky enough to be brought up within a crawl of all of them.
I have talked recently about the lack of blue in moths but the Galium is one which has a touch of it - very subtle but nonetheless there in that lovely, jaggedy band across its wings. I will try to introduce it to my granddaughter next time we read The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Update: my wise commentor on this post is, however, correct. This is a Large Twin-spot Carpet, confirmed by Peter Hall on the Upper Thames Moths blog. So I will have to content myself with telling the GD about that, instead.
2 comments:
Hi Martin
As always, enjoying the blog, especially liked the jigsaw pyjamas idea a few posts ago.
Despite the much clearer blue on this one making it look very much Galium and despite me spending a good while considering Balsam, i'm not sure, but I think it's maybe a Large Twin-spot Carpet like your one from 13th June.
Hiya and many thanks once more. That's a very interesting thought. I will compare and puzzle - and prob send it off for a verdict from the UTB professors
all v best as ever
M
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