Page 508 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Geometridae
DISTRIBUTION Across northern Europe into western Siberia
HABITAT Woodlands, woodland margins, grasslands, bogs, and uplands
HOST PLANTS Low-growing plants such as bedstraw (Galium spp.), knotgrass
(Polygonium spp.), and Vaccinium spp.

NOTE Camou aged, twiglike caterpillar that has a looping movement
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN

¾–1⅓ in (20–26 mm)

CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1–1 ⁄ in (25–30 mm)
XANTHORHOE SPADICEARIA
RED TWIN-SPOT CARPET
506
(DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER, 1775)

The caterpillars of the Red Twin-spot Carpet moth hatch from
creamy-yellow, oval eggs laid on the underside of leaves either
singly or in small clusters. The larvae, which mature quite
quickly, feed on leaves and then crawl to the ground to pupate,
where they spin a silky cocoon among the leaf litter. The pupa
is red brown in color.

The moths may be seen during the day but are most active
at dusk. There are usually two generations a year, with the
moths on the wing from early May to June and July to August.
The pupae of the second generation overwinter. In the more

northerly parts of the range, there is a single generation ying
from June to July. The adult moth, which has two dark spots
close to the outer edge of each forewing, is very similar in
appearance to the closely related Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet
(Xanthorhoe ferrugata).

Actual size The Red Twin-spot Carpet caterpillar is long
and slender with a twiglike appearance. It is
dark brown with several pale lines running the
length of the body. Dorsally, there is a series of
orange-and-black diamond shapes surrounded
by white dots. Short hairs cover the body.