Red-green carpet
The red-green carpet moth overwinters as an adult and can fly again in early spring, months after its autumn emergence, hiding through winter in sheds or evergreen cover.
| Where | Broadleaved woodland, hedgerows and gardens |
|---|---|
| Size | 30 to 36 mm wingspan |
| When | April to May and September to November |
The Red-green Carpet has greyish green forewings with a reddish tinge and a dark central band, though on some individuals the band breaks into a series of wavy dark lines. The hindwings are dark grey.
Adults emerge in autumn, fly in September and October, then hibernate and can reappear briefly in spring before dying. Caterpillars feed on deciduous trees, especially oak and rowan, in broadleaved woodland, hedgerows and gardens.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Green, Red, Grey
Active
Night
To people
Harmless to people; it hibernates as an adult and is sometimes found resting indoors in outbuildings over winter.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Larger at 34 to 40 mm wingspan and paler, usually lacking the reddish tinge on the forewings and with paler hindwings than the Red-green Carpet.
Questions
Is the Red-green carpet dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; it hibernates as an adult and is sometimes found resting indoors in outbuildings over winter.
When can you see the Red-green carpet?
The Red-green carpet can be seen from April to May and September to November, at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Geometer moths›Chloroclysta
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.