Common marbled carpet

The common marbled carpet (Dysstroma truncata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is sometimes placed in the genus Chloroclysta. It is very common throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1767.

This is one of the most variable of the geometrids both in size (wingspan 32–39 mm) and colour. The basal and terminal areas of the forewings are marked with fascia separated by a large plain area in the middle, but the colouration of all these areas is confusingly variable from white to black with various grey, brown and reddish tones in between. The hindwings, though, are always pale grey marked with faint fascia. Some forms closely resemble Dysstroma citrata.<ref>Prout, L. B. (1912–16). Geometridae. In A. Seitz (ed.) The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Palaearctic Geometridae, 4. 479 pp. Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart.pdf</ref><ref>Jaan Viidalepp and Axel Hausmann, 2013 In: Axel Hausmann (Hrsg.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe. 1. Auflage. Volume 3: Larentiinae I. Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2013, ISBN|978-90-04-26097-9 </ref>

One or two broods are produced each year and the adults can be seen in any month from May to November.^{{{#if:|{{{2}}}|[1]}}} The species flies at night and is attracted to light. It is also attracted to nectar-rich flowers and sugary foods which is fairly unusual for the family.

The larva is slender and green, usually with reddish stripes. It has been recorded feeding on a wide range of plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a larva.

File:Dysstroma.truncata5.-.lindsey.jpg

Caterpillar

File:Dysstroma truncata Larva (2).jpg

Larva on a strawberry plant. Note the match between the reddish stripe on the larva and on the petioles.

1. ^{{#if:| }} The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

Recorded food plants

• Alnus - alder
• Betula - birch
• Crataegus - hawthorn
• Fragaria - strawberry
• Ligustrum - privet
• Lonicera - honeysuckle
• Prunus - bird cherry
• Rosa - rose
• Rubus - bramble
• Rumex - dock
• Salix - willow
• Sorbus - rowan
• Vaccinium
• Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia creeper

References

• Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
• Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984

External links

• Common marbled carpet at UKMoths
• Lepiforum e.V.

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