Devon Carpet reappears in Berkshire

Post date: Jun 12, 2010 4:25:22 PM

Last August, Peter Hall suggested we should be watching out for Devon Carpet in Berks, following its discovery in Bucks. That prediction has been fulfilled. I had a phone call today from Paul Black, who has found Devon Carpet on four occasions from 26 May-11 June, at Snelsmore Common in west Berkshire. I understand that one of the specimens has been confirmed by Norman Hall. These are the first Berks records since the first confirmed county record, from Aldermaston in 1985 (Peter Silver and Brian Baker). Paul has an unusual trapping technique, by parking his car and leaving the lights turned on, netting the moths in the light beams.

Peter Hall recommends carefully checking for Devon Carpet among any apparent Small Phoenix's with an unbroken central band. See Peter's photo here (a Bucks specimen I believe). Devon Carpet has two broods, flying in mid-May to June, and then early August to mid-September.