Yorkshire Status: Uncommon and fairly widespread resident.

This is a moth of damp woodland where at times it can turn up in good numbers in late spring, eg 47 at Wykeham Causeway on 30/3/2021, though it is not common in gardens in much of the county. As pointed out in Sutton and Beaumont, it became more frequent in the late 1970s, and the Atlas paints a rosy picture regarding increased numbers. These figures of course are based on Rothamsted traps of which Yorkshire currently (2024) has precisely zero, and numbers in fact are more likely to be slowly declining. Late claims of this species are usually the second brood of Devon Carpet. Take care not to confuse these two species, as the first brood of Devon Carpet overlaps with Water Carpet. Water Carpet has two main forms but occasionally the rare and beautiful black and white ab. porrittii turnes up. Two of these were netted in the south of VC63 in 2011.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Appears to have become more frequent around 1978 and is now quite widespread in all five vice-counties. It may often be seen at dusk but is relatively infrequent at MV light, although most records are from this source.

Recorded in 137 (69%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1847. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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