Silver-ground Carpet
Xanthorhoe montanata
This record describes Xanthorhoe montanata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 24-28 mm. Displaying a wide range of differing depths of colour, although all forms have the distinctive whitish ground colour. In woodlands, clearings and similar habitats. The adults fly from May into July and it can often be disturbed during the day from low vegetation. . However its main flight time is at night when it is a regular visitor to light traps. Low plants such as Bedstraw are the foodplants in the larval stage. A common species throughout Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Xanthorhoe
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
In woodlands, clearings and similar habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly from May into July and it can often be disturbed during the day from low vegetation. . However its main flight time is at night when it is a regular visitor to light traps.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Low plants such as Bedstraw are the foodplants in the larval stage.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A common species throughout Britain. 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 Xanthorhoe montanata. 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 Silver-ground Carpet (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Silver-ground Carpet
What is Silver-ground Carpet?
Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Silver-ground Carpet found?
Habitat: In woodlands, clearings and similar habitats.
When is Silver-ground Carpet active?
Silver-ground Carpet: seasonal activity - The adults fly from May into July and it can often be disturbed during the day from low vegetation. . However its main flight time is at night when it is a regular visitor to light traps..
What is the life cycle of a Silver-ground Carpet?
Low plants such as Bedstraw are the foodplants in the larval stage.