A Blog for moth recorders in Bucks, Berks and Oxon
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Sunday, 10 November 2024
Common Marbled Carpet?
This carpet was attracted to my actinic garden light on Friday night. I think it must be one of the many forms of Common Marbled Carpet, but a second opinion would be welcome.
Hi Steve, although there are some similarities to Common Marbled Carpet, there are clear differences also (such as the more uniform colouration and the less extensive projections on the outer edge of the central band) - making this one of the Thera species, Grey Pine Carpet or Spruce Carpet. Unfortunately these species are not easy to distinguish (even genitalia) and to me your specimen doesn't show any strong wing features that would sway me to favour one or the other (e.g., the overall brownish colour is more like GPC but there is some white edging of the band which is a bit more like SC). One criterion that has been used for identification is the detailed shape of the antennae but this demands a very close (almost microscopic) look, that I don't find easy : see the difficult species guide at https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/uploads1/Difficult_species_guide_page_28.pdf
Hi Steve, although there are some similarities to Common Marbled Carpet, there are clear differences also (such as the more uniform colouration and the less extensive projections on the outer edge of the central band) - making this one of the Thera species, Grey Pine Carpet or Spruce Carpet. Unfortunately these species are not easy to distinguish (even genitalia) and to me your specimen doesn't show any strong wing features that would sway me to favour one or the other (e.g., the overall brownish colour is more like GPC but there is some white edging of the band which is a bit more like SC). One criterion that has been used for identification is the detailed shape of the antennae but this demands a very close (almost microscopic) look, that I don't find easy : see the difficult species guide at
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Thanks John. I had a feeling the id might not be clear cut. I have retained the moth for closer inspection.
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