70.049 Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet)
fw: 13-16mm; bi-trivoltine Apr-Oct; various Brassicacaea; common throughout GB
Xanthorhoe fluctuata (Garden Carpet) §4 male
ID: Polymorphic and variable but generally readily identified from its three black/blackish forewing marks - basal fascia 'confluent' with black thorax; central cross-band well-marked in costal half but poorly marked in dorsal half; small mark on costa near apex.
Form costovata has the central cross-band reduced to a small spot on the costa. Form thules has a darker ground colour so that the black markings contrast less and the subterminal wavy white line contrasts more.
Examples with an entire central cross-band may be similar to Epirrhoe galiata (Galium Carpet) which has a more obviously concave costa and usually has narrow brown bands at both the proximal and distal margins of the cross-band; and the portion of termen distal to the 'twin-spots' is also usually marked brown. X.montanata (Silver-ground Carpet) has brown rather than black markings, has a less well-marked basal fascia and white thorax; lacks any significant mark on the costa near the apex; and its central cross-band usually well-marked in the dorsal half.
Form costovata has the central cross-band reduced to a small spot on the costa. Form thules has a darker ground colour so that the black markings contrast less and the subterminal wavy white line contrasts more.
Examples with an entire central cross-band may be similar to Epirrhoe galiata (Galium Carpet) which has a more obviously concave costa and usually has narrow brown bands at both the proximal and distal margins of the cross-band; and the portion of termen distal to the 'twin-spots' is also usually marked brown. X.montanata (Silver-ground Carpet) has brown rather than black markings, has a less well-marked basal fascia and white thorax; lacks any significant mark on the costa near the apex; and its central cross-band usually well-marked in the dorsal half.
§1 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 07/05/2007
§2 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 06/06/2010
§3 Galmpton, Devon; 27/07/2010; male
§4 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 22/04/2011; male
§5 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 29/06/2013; female
§6 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 01/06/2018; female; fw 12.9mm
§7 Housel Bay (Lizard), Cornwall; 22/09/2020; female; fw 12.6mm
§8 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 06/11/2022; male; fw 13.6mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 06/06/2010
§3 Galmpton, Devon; 27/07/2010; male
§4 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 22/04/2011; male
§5 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 29/06/2013; female
§6 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 01/06/2018; female; fw 12.9mm
§7 Housel Bay (Lizard), Cornwall; 22/09/2020; female; fw 12.6mm
§8 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 06/11/2022; male; fw 13.6mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 07/04/2013 (§1-4) | §5 added 12/07/2013 | §6 added 11/03/2019 | §7 added 14/11/2020 | §8 added 27/11/2022
