It was difficult to resist saying something about a moth ‘from’ Devon appearing in Scotland! The facts are that this moth, common in Devon and Cornwall, has expanded up the western side of the UK through West Wales and Lancashire to reach D&G by 2013. Even in Cumbria there are only a few records pre 2000. Now we have over 28 records, the first ones from Wigtownshire then more from Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire with new records every year. At the moment the moth has not been found outside D&G but may continue spreading northwards. A recent analysis by SNH has shown that there are 21 macro moths which, like this one, have expanded into Scotland since 2000!
This is a typical carpet (quite like the larger and earlier emerging Water Carpet) but with a broad, dark, central band which has distinct, rounded projections on the outer edge. It is known to be double brooded with a first generation in May and June then a second in August and September with the maximum number of records from the end of August. The eggs are laid on the food plants Marsh Bedstraw, a common scrambling species found in many wet places including wet, willow woodland where this moth has mainly been found. The mature caterpillar is plump, dull brown looper caterpillar with a fine white dorsal line on the thorax and a similar black line on the tail segments. In between, each segment has buff chevrons dorsally with rings of small, dark tubercles on the central segments. It overwinters as a pupa.
