Bug FAQScorched Carpet
Ligdia adustata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
Source: Wikipedia
The Scorched Carpet moth has a wingspan of about 25 to 30 mm and shows glossy white to light brown wings with dark basal areas and wavy blue-grey and brown bands. It lives in many habitats such as shrubs, deciduous woods, thickets, parks and gardens across most of Europe and the Near East. Adults fly from April to May and again in July to August, mainly after dusk, while the species overwinters as a pupa and has two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The forewings are mostly glossy white, creamy or light brown, with a dark brown (sometimes bluish-grey) base and a wavy blue-grey and brown band near the outer edge. The hindwings are pale with faint brown wavy lines along the slightly undulating outer margin, and the underside of all wings has a reddish-brown tint.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures roughly 25 to 30 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on spindle (Euonymus species) and on barberry (Berberis species).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
It produces two generations each year and spends the winter as a pupa.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing in spring (April to May) and again in midsummer (July to August), with timing varying by location. Moths are active from dusk onward.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species occurs throughout most of Europe and extends into the Near East.
Source: Wikipedia
Questions people ask
Do Scorched Carpet moths damage garden plants?
Yes, their larvae feed on spindle and barberry shrubs, which can cause damage to those plants.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see adult Scorched Carpet moths?
Adults appear in two periods: spring (April to May) and midsummer (July to August), usually flying after dusk.
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/Ligdia_adustata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.