Garden Carpet vs Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Garden Carpet | Arctic Woolly Bear Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xanthorhoe fluctuata | Gynaephora groenlandica |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Geometridae | Erebidae |
| Size | 22-28 mm wingspan | 30-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Gardens | Heathland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Ellesmere Island |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Garden Carpet
A very common garden moth with variable grey and white patterning. Double-brooded with adults flying from April to October. Larvae feed on various cruciferous plants including garlic mustard.
Did You Know?
One of the most frequently recorded moths in garden moth traps across Britain.
Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
A medium-sized moth whose caterpillar is famous for its extremely long development. Adults are gray-brown with hairy bodies. The densely hairy caterpillar is dark brown to black and curls into a tight ball when disturbed.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar can take up to 14 years to complete development, spending most of each year frozen solid and thawing for only a few weeks of feeding each summer.