Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Other insects, spiders, etc.
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 Carpet Moth?
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| Larry Shone |
Posted on 13-10-2011 13:20
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 Member Location: Darlington UK Posts: 187 Joined: 08.05.10 |
I saw this yesterday on the outside of our kitchen window and set my camera up with the flash bracket for some shots. From in the kitchen, showing the underside:  and from outside-you can see some of the moth's 'tiles' have come off onto the window pane lower left:  |
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| ChrisR |
Posted on 13-10-2011 13:32
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 Administrator Location: Reading, England Posts: 7699 Joined: 12.07.04 |
When identifying moths you must start by knowing that colour is much less important than the shape & position of the patterns on the wing. The different shapes and relative intensities of light & dark areas is likely to be stable but the actual colour and brightness of patterns often varies between individuals of the same species. I'd recommend you get hold of a copy of the concise version of the "Field Guide to Moths of Great Britain & Ireland" by Waring, Townsend & Lewington  It's hard to judge the size of the moth in these photos ... I think in Facebook you mentioned that it was about an inch across, which made me think it might be a Common Marbled Carpet but looking harder at the books it looks much more like the smaller Juniper Carpet, which is also a late season moth. So, I am a bit confused - needs an expert to look at it and you might find it easier on a site like iSpot
Edited by ChrisR on 13-10-2011 13:32 Manager of the UK Species Inventory in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity at the Natural History Museum, London. |
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| Larry Shone |
Posted on 13-10-2011 14:26
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Member Location: Darlington UK Posts: 187 Joined: 08.05.10 |
Thanks Chris , I could use that book! I used to have a Collins Gem guide to moths, it was brill but I lost it! |
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| ChrisR |
Posted on 13-10-2011 14:33
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Administrator Location: Reading, England Posts: 7699 Joined: 12.07.04 |
Any of the Collins Guides will not be comprehensive - so if you are serious about finding the correct name you need to start with books that have all the species in them (like the Waring, Townsend & Lewington book) 
Manager of the UK Species Inventory in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity at the Natural History Museum, London. |
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| Larry Shone |
Posted on 13-10-2011 14:50
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Member Location: Darlington UK Posts: 187 Joined: 08.05.10 |
ChrisR wrote: Any of the Collins Guides will not be comprehensive - so if you are serious about finding the correct name you need to start with books that have all the species in them (like the Waring, Townsend & Lewington book) Yea but I've just seen the price of that book!! Way out of my league!! Even on ebay, way too much! |
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| ChrisR |
Posted on 13-10-2011 15:26
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Administrator Location: Reading, England Posts: 7699 Joined: 12.07.04 |
Amazon has the Concise version (easier to use, ring-bound and with less descriptive text) for £11.60 with free delivery ... not bad for a comprehensive book with paintings of all the UK species
Manager of the UK Species Inventory in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity at the Natural History Museum, London. |
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| tristram |
Posted on 13-10-2011 17:54
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Member Location: Reading, UK Posts: 1333 Joined: 27.06.10 |
UKMoths is pretty good: http://ukmoths.or.... So is HantsMoths: http://www.hantsm.... |
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| Tony T |
Posted on 13-10-2011 19:05
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 Member Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 662 Joined: 08.02.07 |
A Juniper Carpet (Thera juniperata) |
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| Larry Shone |
Posted on 14-10-2011 01:00
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Member Location: Darlington UK Posts: 187 Joined: 08.05.10 |
Tony T wrote: A Juniper Carpet (Thera juniperata) Thanks, that does look a positive ID to me! |
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