About Scotopteryx moeniata (Scopoli, 1763)
Scotopteryx moeniata, commonly called the fortified carpet, is a moth species belonging to the family Geometridae. This species was first formally described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in his 1763 work Entomologia Carniolica. It can be found across most of Europe, excluding northern regions, and also occurs in the Near East. The species is no longer present in the Netherlands, and it is rare in Belgium. Historically, it was only recorded in southern Belgium, but a new population was recently discovered in Flanders. It is generally not considered present in Great Britain, though there are a few unconfirmed records: two from northern England dating to the late 19th century, and one from Jersey in 1973. This moth has a wingspan of 28 to 32 millimeters. Adult moths are active in flight from mid-July to the start of September. There is one new generation of the moth each year. The larvae of Scotopteryx moeniata feed on a variety of Cytisus plant species.
