Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)

Status: Common throughout Britain.

'Yellow-flow, Mountain-shaped'

(Xantho = yellow + rhoe = flow: Latin, montanata = mountain-shaped: Latin).

Look closely at this moth's wings to see the 'snowy mountain peaks' mentioned in its specific name 'montanata'.
Easily disturbed from vegetation during the day, the Silver-ground Carpet also flies at night.
There is considerable colour variation in this moth but the Silver-ground Carpet can be distinguished from similar species by its silver ground colour (though the dark central bar may be various shades of brown, black and grey).






Flight Period: Mid May to late July.

Foodplants: A variety of low-growing plants including Bedstraw (Galium).