Juniper carpet
The juniper carpet (Thera juniperata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It is found throughout Europe and the Near East, but is rather uncommon and locally distributed, mainly due to its very specific larval food plant.
Caterpillar
| Juniper carpet | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Thera |
| Species: | T. juniperata |
| Binomial name | |
| Thera juniperata | |
The nominate race has a wingspan of 26–29 mm but smaller races occur in Ireland and Scotland. The forewings are light brown with a darker shaded band and a very distinctive black apical streak. The hindwings are pale buff. It is active at night from September to November, but rarely flies any great distance though it occasionally comes to light.
The larva feeds exclusively on junipers. The species overwinters as an egg.
- ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
References
- Chinery, Michael (1986, reprinted 1991). Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe.
- Skinner, Bernard (1984). The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles.
External links
- Kimber, Ian. "70.082 BF1771 Juniper Carpet Thera juniperata (Linnaeus, 1758)". UKMoths. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- Lepiforum e.V.
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