70.004 BF1699  –  Geometridae –  Sterrhinae – Idaea rusticata – Least Carpet – (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Adult Macro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro   >>  Geometridae  >> Sterrhinae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
ID pointers: A small carpet moth and due to the position of the dark brown markings on the forewing, it is fairly distinctive. They form a central band and extend along the leading wing edge to the thorax.
Distribution:  (Last record: 31 July 2024 at Cromford )  –  Probably a new species for Derbyshire – possible immigrant – This specimen found on herbage next to moth trap on the morning of 16th July 2017 in a Sandiacre garden. A species that seems to be very much on the increase and moving northwards from the main populations in southern England. Two trapped in my garden August 2nd-3rd 2020. Recorded each year to 2024.
Flight Period: June /  July /  August /  –  On the wing – July – August.Mainly one generation. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Ian Viles, Tony Davison  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Forewing: 9-11mm Food Plant: Ivy, Traveller’s-joy.
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Clive Ashton
Last Recorded General Area – Cromford

Selected Images:  Sandiacre, Derbyshire – July 16th 2017 – photo by Ian Viles © – Melbourne, Derbyshire 2nd – 3rd August 2020 – Tony Davison ©

 
 


 

Distribution Map for Idaea rusticata

Found 37 records
    ↳ 14 from After 2025
    ↳ 22 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 1 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Idaea rusticata

⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.


Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however, the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Idaea rusticata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Idaea rusticata
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Idaea rusticata
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required

Recordings By Year: Idaea rusticata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Idaea rusticata
AGR: 10.87%   |   Total % Change: 85.7%


CUSUM Analysis: Idaea rusticata
About this chart: CUSUM (Cumulative Sum) charts track long-term trends in moth populations [ filtered by 'Adult' and 'Mine' life stages ] by showing whether each year’s counts are above or below the historical average. Even small shifts build up over time, making trends of growth, stability, or decline easier to see. CUSUM highlights trend-consistency — asking: “Across the years, have moth counts mostly stayed above or below average?”
The data sample has 19 gap year/s here (zero records) between 2000 and 2025. The moth may have been present in those gap years, but no data was available. Too many year-gaps may exaggerate or skew the chart.

Counts for the current year (2025) are pro-rated based on data available up to month 8 (August) to provide a full-year equivalent.

Purple line rises = years better than average; falls = years worse than average.
Peak (best year) Trough (worst year) Growth periods Decline periods
Population peaked around 2025, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2024, showing a significant decline.

What the Y-axis "Cumulative Deviation" means: Cumulative Deviation shows the running total of how each year’s moth population count differs from the long-term average. i

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Idaea rusticata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Idaea rusticata
( data includes Adult Stage only )

Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2025.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Idaea rusticata – 37 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X01/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A04/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U10/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway, Derbys.SK32A08/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y14/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X13/07/20256adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A11/07/20255adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A13/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Aston-on-Trent, DerbyshireSK43A17/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A17/07/20253adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T03/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T11/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway, Derbys.SK32A23/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway, Derbys.SK32A30/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Sandiacre GardenSK43T01/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X19/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
SandiacreSK43S23/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Mickleover gardenSK33C24/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y30/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y31/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Clover Close, ElvastonSK43B29/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Sandiacre GardenSK43T30/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
King's NewtonSK32Y29/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Froggatt, Hope ValleySK27N09/09/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Froggatt, Hope ValleySK27N09/09/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Long Eaton, Marlborough RoadSK43X07/07/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lower Cromford GardenSK25Y17/07/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R19/07/20222Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Allestree, DerbySK33P22/07/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A18/07/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
SandiacreSK43T19/07/20222adultvc57_irecords_extract
CrichSK35M24/07/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X02/08/20202adultvc57_irecords_extract
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X07/08/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y14/07/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R30/06/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F29/07/20191adultvc57_irecords_extract

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