Garden Carpet

Leaving the windows and doors open in warm weather inevitably invites in some of the garden wildlife. Some of it is unwelcome like the occasional wasp and the all too frequent bluebottle. Among the moths that tend to find their way indoors are two very common species - the Large Yellow Underwing and this one, the Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata).



On the wing from April to October it has two or three generations during the year. It can be found throughout the British Isles and is frequent to abundant everywhere, inhabiting a wide variety of habitats from gardens to woodland, open coastal areas to rough ground of all sorts. Its caterpillars feed on plants of the cabbage family including Shepherd's Purse, Garlic Mustard, Alyssum, and cultivated Brassicas.