Common Carpet

Common Carpet moth, Epirrhoe alternata alternata,
at High Elms Country Park, 22 August 2011.

Some moths that do not naturally fly by day can still be seen then, because they are easily disturbed. This is one.

The carpet moths are all highly patterned, and when they are fresh they are often brightly coloured, too. For example, the Green Carpet I saw at Sevenoaks on 14th August.

Like all moths, they fade quickly. The Common Carpet shown on the right is slightly duller than when it was fresh. The specimen below is brighter.

To identify a moth, it is useful to have a photo like the one below, which shows the top view, in this case with wings fully spread. But pictures like the one on the right are much more dramatic and more satisfying to take.

However, a moth in that position is just about to take off, so you can't move around and have several tries at the best angle. I wanted to get under that near wing .. but it was gone in a flash. Being easy to disturb also means that it won't wait.

Common Carpet moth, Epirrhoe alternata alternata.  Burnt Gorse, High Elms Country Park, 30 July 2011.