THE CARPETS 



such as bedstravv and grass. It may be sought for from 

 August to April, and is a hibernating larva. The imago 

 is silvery-grey on all four wings, with darker markings 

 on the front pair. 



Garden Carpet. — {Xanthorhoe Jluctuata.) This well- 

 distributed species (Fig. 36) is at least double-brooded, 

 and may be discovered almost throughout the year. 

 It haunts gardens, as its name implies, and the larva 

 feeds on various plants in the flower, fruit, and vegetable 

 garden. The larva may be almost any colour from dark 

 grey to indistinct green, but is invariably lighter beneath. 

 It is blotched down the back with pale colour, and is 

 spotted with black on the central segments. The imago 



F1J0&. 



is greyish-brown, with dark markings on the forewings, 

 and lighter self-colour on the hind ones. 



Common Carpet. — {Xanthorhoe (Epirrhoe) sociata.) This 

 pretty little moth is of common occurrence through- 

 out our island, but is particularly plentiful in the Southern 

 Counties. It flies in May and June, and, later, in 

 August and September. The larva is fond of bedstraw, 

 and should be sought for where that wild plant flourishes. 

 In colour the larva varies, light fawn, brownish, and 

 both bright and dark green, being represented in dif- 

 ferent specimens, and there are dots and freckles of white, 



one black and two white lines down the back, with a 



83 



