70.1 BF1776

Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria

(Knoch, 1781)

Wingspan 22-27 mm.

The bright green colour of this moth when freshly emerged soon fades to a yellowish-brown or whitish.

It inhabits a range of habitats, including heaths, mosses and woodland, and is generally common throughout most of Britain.

Like many of its congeners, the main foodplant is bedstraw (Galium).

There are two generations in southern Britain, with adults at large from May to early July and again in August and September. Further north there is just one generation, the moths appearing from June to August.