Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Juniper Carpet
Thera juniperata (Linnaeus, 1758)


Family: Geometridae
Subfamily: Larentiinae
Identification: Adult: forewing light brownish-gray with slightly darker median band composed of several adjoining patches that resemble smooth stones; dark diagonal apical dash touches -- or nearly touches -- the largest of the "stones"; hindwing pale gray, unmarked except for dark-dotted terminal line; at rest often holds wings vertically over its back like a butterfly, at which time the underside of the wings show a speckled grayish surface with dark discal dot and dark curved PM line
Wing Span:
Life History:
Flight: October-November
Caterpillar Hosts: Juniper (Juniperus spp.)
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: across southern Canada (but apparently missing from Manitoba) and northern United States
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs: