Geometridae : Larentiinae
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Grey Pine Carpet
Thera obeliscata

(Hübner, 1787) 1768 / 70.081
Photo © Andy Nunn,  Killin Scotland

Immature stages

Similar Yorkshire Species
Pine Carpet
Pennithera firmata
Spruce Carpet
Thera britannica
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Express Record Grey Pine Carpet

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Yorkshire Status: Fairly common and fairly widespread resident.

This used to be much a commoner moth in the county than Spruce Carpet but since the turn of the century, the roles have reversed, and numbers of Grey Pine Carpet have slowly reduced in recent years. The Atlas tells us that much of the national decline "has occurred in the last ten years" ie up to 2016. Porritt described it as "not uncommon in fir woods" in 1883, and it was evidently common when Sutton and Beaumont was written in 1989. The larvae feed mainly on Scots Pine but will utilise other conifers. It is usually fairly easy to separate this species from Spruce Carpet as it is a drabber plainer-looking moth, but occasionally specimens turn up which are really tricky to ascribe to the correct species. It is often a good idea to let these "accidentally fly away". See comments under Spruce Carpet.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Common almost everywhere that Scots pine grows in all five vice-counties. This species may be confused with T. firmata (Hubner) and T. britannica (Turner), but it is almost certainly the commonest of the three by far in Yorkshire.

Recorded in 152 (76%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1883.
Last Recorded in 2023.
Additional Stats

< Spruce Carpet  |  Juniper Carpet >
Forewing: 13-17mm
Flight: May - July, September - November
Foodplant:   Coniferous trees including pines, spruces, and cypresses
Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 1
List Species Records   [Show All Latest]
Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
28/10/2023162SE65 - York (E)
27/10/2023362SE58 - Rievaulx
25/10/2023162NZ61 - Guisborough
25/10/2023162SE65 - York (E)
24/10/2023+63SD95 - Skipton / Gargrave
  Immature   Adult   [Show Flight Weeks]
Show Details | 1990 to 2023 | 2000 to 2023 | Graph Key
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