Just before Dusk
That is when I saw it, though they fly well into the night too. It looked silvery in the moorland evening light, and then seemed to disappear when it landed, and though I carefully marked the spot where it settled, when I got to it there was no sign.
The Green Carpet is so well camouflaged in the heather leaves and stems. It is a small moth, but when I did finally get close, was so excited by its distinctive wing markings. The green is so green. It must have been a freshly emerged moth, as the brightness soon fades to yellowish brown, or whitish with age. As the green grows fainter, this clever moth finds vegetation of similar hue, to remain well concealed.
The caterpillar feeds on the mat-forming herb Heath Bedstraw which I’ve seen growing here. I watched this moth flitter and land, zig-zagging about, but remaining fairly close to one area, I suppose looking for a mate or laying eggs to start the cycle again.
4 Comments
beautiful moth.
I didn’t know what it was until I looked it up when I got home, and was sure I must have stumbled across something very rare, it is so exquisite, and I’d never seen it before – but actually it is apparently a very common moth!
I could grow old without complaining if I’d be blessed with regular sightings of this amazing beauty. I Googled the name and discovered a wide variety of photos. It’s not so uncommon after all and it doesn’t eat clothing or carpet. The little moths look like they’re outfitted in camouflage.
Thanks for teaching me one more thing I didn’t know but am glad to have learned.
You’re right, so very beautifully outfitted! And beautiful to see