Garden Carpet vs Meal Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Garden Carpet | Meal Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xanthorhoe fluctuata | Pyralis farinalis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Geometridae | Pyralidae |
| Size | 22-28 mm wingspan | 10-14 mm body; 18-30 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Gardens | Indoors |
| Diet | Herbivores | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Worldwide |
| 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.
Meal Moth
A distinctive moth with olive and reddish-brown banded wings that infests stored grain and flour. Larvae live in silken tubes within infested food products.
Did You Know?
Its larval silk tubes can form dense mats in stored grain, binding the product into solid masses.