Western White-Ribboned Carpet

Description:

The Western White-Ribboned Carpet is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae. This small brown and white day flying moth is a harbinger of spring here in the Pacific Northwest.

Habitat:

Spotted in tall grass next to mixed forest.

Notes:

Range: California to Colorado, north to southern BC and Alberta. They can sometimes be seen taking nectar from Erythronium lilies. The eggs are laid singly on the leaves or buds of Blackberry Rubus discolor or Thimbleberry R. parviflora. The caterpillars hatch within ten days or so and they pupate after a further three weeks. The moths emerge the following spring.