Species Details

ABH: 70.004

BF: 1699

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Sterrhinae

Taxon: Idaea rusticata

=Idaea rusticata atrosignaria

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Least Carpet

Account: Local in gardens, roadside verges, hedgerows, scrub, downland and embankments throughout much of southern England. First recorded in 1831 in the London area, since when has slowly spread up the Thames Valley, and into Essex and Kent, thence along the south coast as far as Scilly and northwards to Cheshire Fairly unmistakable. Larva feeds on various herbaceous plants, including Ivy and Traveller's-joy.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 19 — 21 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 1 Jun (2008) — 10 Nov (2015)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Alyssum saxatile, Clematis sp., Hedera sp.

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/idaea-rusticata/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 871

Individuals: 522

Earliest Year: 1954

Latest Year: 2025

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