Red Twin Spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia)

You do not only see moths at night. Some, a very small number, prefer to fly by day. Others are just light sleepers and it does not take a lot to disturb them. If you do wake one and it flutters to another spot to go back to sleep then following can prove pretty tricky as the find a way of hiding very quickly!

If you are fortunate enough to follow it then it is an ideal time to get a good look.

The Red Twin Spot Carpet is quite common and is one that you frequently disturb during the day from bushes and hedges. Indeed, it easier to see them that way as they are not overly attracted to light. They have two broods here in the south, the first flying from May to June and their off-spring are on the wing from Mid July until the end of August.

The 'Geometridae' moths are generally known as carpet moths, not because the larvae infest your carpet, but because they rest with their wings open and hove lovely intircate designs, a bit like an Axminster carpet!

This one give the distinct appearance of being primarily red in colour and it has two twin spots on the outer corner of each wing. That is why it is the Red Twin Spot Carpet moth!

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