Bug FAQJuniper Carpet
Thera juniperata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
Also called: Juniper Carpet Moth
The Juniper Carpet moth has a wingspan of about 26 to 29 mm, but smaller forms occur in Ireland and Scotland. Its forewings are light brown with a darker band and a distinctive black streak at the tip, while the hindwings are pale buff. Adults are active at night from September to November, the species overwinters as an egg, and the larvae feed exclusively on junipers.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The hindwings are pale buff.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larva feeds exclusively on junipers.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species overwinters as an egg.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes most of Europe and the Near East.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 10 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Minnesota.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in United States; introduced in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see the Juniper Carpet moth?
Adults fly at night from September through November.
Source: Wikipedia
How big is this moth?
Its wingspan is typically 26 to 29 mm, though smaller individuals occur in Ireland and Scotland.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell it apart from similar moths?
Look for the light-brown forewings with a darker band and a distinctive black streak at the tip; the hindwings are pale buff, and experts can confirm identification if needed.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniper_carpet
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-28 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-28.