Friday 24 May
In the News: Amphibians in the U.S. declining at alarming rate

What’s the World’s Favourite Species?
Find out here.| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Geometridae |
| Genus | Scotopteryx (1) |
Adult Chalk Carpet moths are pale grey in colour with grey-brown markings, and have a darker central band with two black dots, one above the other in the pale central area of the band (3). The hindwings are grey, and lack the brown markings (3) (4). The caterpillar reaches up to 2.5 cm in length and is yellowish-grey in colour with dark lines along both the back and sides. It has a brown head with a yellowish tint (5).
Adults of this single-brooded moth fly at night (2) in July and August (1). Eggs are laid in August, and hatch in September. The caterpillars are active at night (5) between September and June feeding on legumes such as bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and various clovers (1). The caterpillars overwinter when they are still fairly small (5); they start feeding again the next spring and reach their maximum size in June (5). The pupal stage develops in the ground (2) at the base of the foodplant (5).
TopLargely confined to chalk and limestone areas, and is most common in southern England as a result. From the Midlands northwards and in Wales it has a more local distribution as far as Yorkshire and formerly County Durham (6). Outside of the UK, this moth is known throughout central and southern Europe and reaches Asia Minor (3).
TopInhabits unimproved calcareous grasslands, with a preference for sites with exposed rock and bare patches that are grazed short (2). Old quarries are often favoured (6).
TopClassified as Nationally Scarce in Great Britain (2).
TopThis species is thought to have declined, factors responsible include the loss of natural grassland to agriculture and housing, or to scrub following the abandonment of sheep-grazing. This has caused fragmentation of habitat (6).
TopA Species Action Plan has been produced for the Chalk Carpet moth under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP); this plan aims to maintain the current range of the species. Conservation work has been carried out on a number of occupied sites, which are nature reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or consist of land brought under agri-environment schemes(2).
TopThe species action plan for the Chalk Carpet is available on-line from:
http://www.ukbap.org.uk/
Further reading on moths:
Leverton, R. (2001) Enjoying Moths. Poyser, London.
Skinner, B. (1984) Moths of the British Isles. Penguin Books, Harmondsworth
Information authenticated by Roy Leverton.
TopMore »Related species
Image credit
© David Element
David Element
david.element@ukgateway.net
http://www.david.element.ukgateway.net
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