bent-lined carpet

not listed

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

not listed

Bent-lined carpet is a common, small, geometer moth. It occurs in the United States and southern Canada from the East Coast to the Great Plains and on the West Coast. It is common in Minnesota.

The larvae feed on knotweeds (Polygonum spp.), smartweeds (Persicaria spp.), and bugleweeds (Galium spp.). In Minnesota, adults are active from May to October, rarely earlier or later. They are found in both forested and open habitats, wherever their host species occur.

Adults have a ⅝″ to ⅞″ (17 to 23 mm) wingspan.

The forewings are broad and pale gray to pale reddish-brown. They are crossed by many fine scalloped lines. Some of the lines are dark brown or black, others are whitish, some are complete, others are broken or are represented by a row of dots. The basal line is dark brown with whitish shading below. The antemedial (AM) line is dark brown with whitish shading above. The postmedial (PM) line is dark brown with whitish shading below. It is straight or only slightly curved upward where it meets the leading edge (costal margin). The subterminal (ST) line is whitish and indistinct. The terminal line is represented by a series of thin, slightly crescent-shaped, black lines between the veins. The median area is crossed by five additional dark brown lines. Two of these lines define the borders of a median band. On the male, the median band is light gray, and the area between the band and the AM line is chocolate brown. There is a chocolate-brown band below the median band on the outer half of the wing. It narrows and fades out as it approaches the costal margin. On the female, the median band is dark gray or blackish, and the median area is darker brown. On both sexes there is a dark, wedge-shaped patch at the wingtip, and there is usually a dark shaded area at the outer margin near the center of the wing and another near the inner (anal) angle. The discal spot is tiny and black.

The hindwing is similar in coloration and markings but lacks the median band.

Wingspan: ⅝″ to ⅞″ (17 to 23 mm)

At least two generations per year: May to October

Adults are active at night and are attracted to lights. The wings are held flat and spread wide when at rest. The cryptic, bark-like coloration on both sets of wings makes the moth difficult to see when it rests on the trunk or branch of a tree.

Knotweeds (Polygonum spp.), smartweeds (Persicaria spp.), and bugleweeds (Galium spp.)

Sources

4, 21, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82, 83.

Common

Until recently this species was classified as Orthonama centrostrigaria. It was moved to the genus Costaconvexa in 1999.

Costaconvexa centrostrigaria (bent-lined carpet)

Costaconvexa centrostrigaria, bent lined carpet, on the door to the house, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., Wisconsin. Photo was taken on October 27, 2022.

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Costaconvexa centrostrigaria, bent lined carpet, on the door to the house, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., Wisconsin. Photo was taken on October 27, 2022.