Juniper Carpet

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iJuniper Carpet
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Geometridae Genus: Thera Species: T. juniperata
Binomial name
Thera juniperata Linnaeus, 1758

The Juniper Carpet (Thera juniperata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. 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.

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 ^[1] but rarely flies any great distance though it occasionally comes to light.

The larva feeds exclusively on junipers. The species overwinters as an egg.

1. ↑ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

[edit] 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