Beautiful Carpet - Mesoleuca albicillata

Wingspan 34-38 mm. It has very broad and rounded white or creamy white forewing, with a broad white central cross band. The wing has a dark basal area and blotch near the tip consisting of brown and purplish blue.

Mainly a species of woodland habitats.

The adults fly during June and July and are occasionally attracted to light.

The larva is green marked with orange-brown chevrons and feeds on Bramble, Raspberry and Wild Strawberry.

This attractive species can be found throughout mainland Britain northwards to southern Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.

Fairly frequent but not common in Leicestershire & Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = B (scarce resident or restricted distribution or regular migrant)