Chalk Carpet (Scotopteryx bipunctaria) | Species | ||||||||||||||||
 Taken at Hackpen Hill, Oxon., on August 9th 2023. (1/640th sec at f13. © David Hastings) DescriptionFamily: Geometridae Wing span: 30 - 36mm This is the only British species with a quite pointed fore-wing, which is pale grey with numerous finely scalloped grey and brownish cross-lines and bands, and has two small black central dots. It is locally frequent in southern and south-eastern England, and along the south coast of Wales. It is also found on coastal chalk in Yorkshire and County Durham, and on carboniferous limestone in the Peak District. It may also be an immigrant. Habitats are unimproved chalk and limestone grassland, cliffs and quarries, both coastal and inland. There is one generation in July and August. It over-winters as a partly-grown larva. Larvae feed on Bird's-foot Trefoil and other trefoils, clovers and vetches. It is easily disturbed by day. It also comes to light. It is regarded as nationally scarce. Sightings
| |||||||||||||||||