Bug FAQDotted Green Carpet
Asaphodes beata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
Also called: dotted green carpet moth
The Dotted Green Carpet moth has a wingspan of about one inch. Its forewings are olive-green instead of the usual bronzy brown, and the hindwings are white with a pale pink-brown edge. It lives in native forest, scrub, clearings and coastal areas of New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewings are olive-green rather than bronzy brown. The hindwings are white with a pale pink-brown outer border.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wings measure about one inch across.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in native forest or scrub habitats. It also occurs in forest clearings. Coastal habitats are another common location.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on watercress.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Full-grown larvae are dark brown on top and pale brown underneath.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are most common from October to March but can be seen in any month.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is endemic to New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It can be confused with Asaphodes adonis.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When are Dotted Green Carpet moths most likely to appear?
They are most common from October through March, though they have been observed year-round.
Source: Wikipedia
Where in New Zealand might I find this moth?
Look for it in native forest, scrub, forest clearings and coastal areas.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell this moth apart from similar species?
Its forewings are olive-green and the hindwings are white with a pale pink-brown border, unlike the bronzy brown forewings of similar moths.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria
Pale BeautyCampaea perlataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Lace-border MothScopula limboundataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Riband WaveIdaea aversata
Yellow Shell MothCamptogramma bilineata
Large Maple Spanworm MothProchoerodes lineolaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asaphodes_beata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.