Juniper Carpet Moth
Thera juniperata
This record describes Thera juniperata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Hydriomenini
- Genus
- Thera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
As the English name suggests, it feeds mainly on Juniper but more recently has adapted to other garden conifers.
Seasonal Activity
It flies in late autumn from October to November and is attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva mid-July to early September, having overwintered as an egg.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Once described as scarce, it is now spreading and becoming quite common from southern England to the Midlands. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Thera juniperata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Juniper Carpet Moth (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Juniper Carpet Moth
How big is Juniper Carpet Moth?
24mm to 30mm (0.94" to 1.18")
Where is Juniper Carpet Moth found?
Habitat: As the English name suggests, it feeds mainly on Juniper but more recently has adapted to other garden conifers.
When is Juniper Carpet Moth active?
Juniper Carpet Moth: seasonal activity - It flies in late autumn from October to November and is attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Juniper Carpet Moth?
Larva mid-July to early September, having overwintered as an egg.