Species Details

ABH: 70.043

BF: 1731

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Larentiinae

Taxon: Scotopteryx bipunctaria

=Scotopteryx bipunctaria cretata

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Chalk Carpet

Account: Nationally scarce (Nb) on calcareous grassland, sea cliffs and quarries inland in southern England, discontinuously to Yorkshire and North Wales, a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Distinctive in an understated way. Larva feeds on Bird's-foot Trefoil, Hare's-foot Clover, White Clover, Red Clover and Vetch.

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: 32 — 38 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 27 Jun (2009) — 6 Sep (1996)

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

Foodplant: Lotus corniculatus (Common Bird's-foot-trefoil), Lotus sp. (a bird's-foot-trefoil), Trifolium sp.

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

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP: 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/scotopteryx-bipunctaria/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 228

Individuals: 345

Earliest Year: 1882

Latest Year: 2024

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