"A Nature Observer′s Scrapbook"
Macro Moths, page 2
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Currant Clearwing
Synanthedon tipuliformis
That's not a moth! Its a wasp.
Despite its deceptive appearance, the Currant clearwing is a moth with only a few scales on its wings. It is quite small, only about 10mm long, and can be found flying between May and July around red and black currant bushes.
The larvae is considered to be a pest by fruit growers because between the months of August and May, it burrows into the soft pithy core of the stems of currant bushes.
The female has three yellow body rings whereas the male has four. The abdomen is terminated by a thick tuft of hairs which can form a shallow dihedral 'vee' shape. This particular moth had fringes of white hairs which accentuated the effect.
| Date | Sighting |
| 18.06.2003 | In the garden, on the blackcurrant bushes. |
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Mullein moth
Shargacucullia verbasci
One sees the striking caterpillar more often than the moth. In this area the larvae favour Water figwort (Scrofularia aquatica), a member of the Mullein family, which grows readily in damp roadside ditches. It seems perverse that its brilliant colouring which attracts the eye, is presumably designed to deter predators.
The pupa over-winters in the topsoil in a cocoon of silk interwoven with crumbs of soil - beginning to learn about camouflage.
The moth, which flies early from April to mid June, is well camouflaged naturally, and at rest would be very difficult to detect.
A good image of the Mullein moth is to be seen here at the UK Moths website.
There is a very similar species, the Water Betony. Positive species identification of the adult moths can only be determined by disection and even the larvae need close examination to separate them. However, this is a rare species, only two having been found since 1949, both in Dorset.
| Date | Sighting |
| 15.06.2003 | Roadside ditch, east of meadow. |
| 06.06.2004 | Early caterpillars found on ditch growing Water figwort. |
| 22.06.2005 | Caterpillar found on Water figwort opposite front door. |
| 28.06.2006 | Caterpillar found on Water figwort in roadside ditch by meadow gate. |
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Privet Hawkmoth
Sphinx ligustri
The Privet Hawkmoth is the second largest of the UK moths. Only the Death's Head Hawkmoth is bigger. When attracted to light and it flies into a room - even when you know that it is 'only a moth', there is a definite tendency to stay out of its way as it clatters off walls and ceiling! But, when it settles it is a beauty to behold.
With wings outstretched, as in the upper image, it can have a wingspan of some 100mm, 4 inches. In a more relaxed pose the wings will be held close against the body and will obscure the abdominal markings. Most of the hawkmoths can be quite placid and this one nonchalantly walked onto my finger when I touched its 'nose'.
They fly from late May through to July and are only 'common' southwards from the English midlands, frequent in the Channel Islands and widespread on the continent. The larvae feed on wild and garden privet and saplings of Ash, Lilac and Guelder rose.
The large caterpillars, rather more strikingly marked than the Poplar hawkmoth below, are normally green, with pink and white 'slash' markings, but as they prepare to pupate they take on a brown tint. They then make their way to ground level where they burrow deep into the leaf litter for over wintering protection.
| Date | Sighting |
| 30.06.2006 | Attracted to light, flew in through open door. |
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Poplar Hawkmoth
Laothoe populi
This is a big caterpillar. As big as ones little finger. To see one is to be impressed. They feed on poplar, aspen, sallow and willow leaves.
The adult moth is perhaps, the most common of the British hawk-moths flying in open country, after dark, from May to August. It's continental range extends to the Arctic circle.
The specimen shown had a forewing length of 45mm. At rest it is normal for the hind wing to protrude in front of the forewing and if disturbed, the hind wing can be flicked further forward to reveal a bright mark. But, it has to be said, that like most of the hawkmoths, they tend to be very placid and are not easily frightened.
This particular moth was found late at night but 12 hours later was still patiently sitting, quite exposed, on the patio wall.
The pupa over-winters in topsoil below the food plant.
| Date | Sighting |
| 30.08.1999 | Benniworth Springs, by the southern reservoir. |
| 30.07.2006 | Adult moth came to conservatory window late at night and remained on the patio wall for over 12 hours. |
| 05.08.2007 | Attracted to light. Flew indoors and quickly settled. |
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Hummingbird Hawkmoth
Macroglossam stellatarum
Although the Hummingbird Hawkmoth is not rare it always causes a bit of a stir when it visits the garden. I do not see it every year in the garden but it is probably more common than I give it credit for because it wastes no time flitting about. It does the rounds of its favourite flowers (Phlox, Honeysuckle, Petunia and Buddleia) feeding on the wing like the Hummingbird, and then it is gone.
When it does rest, it can be very difficult to detect as it's camouflage blends very effectively with walls, banks and wooden fencing. Although not a unique feature, the tufts of feathery hair around the end of the abdomen are quite distinctive.
The majority of those seen will be migrants from the continent although it is reputed to over winter in the South-west UK.
It normally flies from May to late July but early migrants may breed and give rise to a local second generation flying in August and September. The larvae feed principally on the bedstraw family of plants.
| Date | Sighting |
| 10.07.2006 | On Phlox, Delphinium and Honeysuckle in back garden. |
| 12.07.2006 | Two moths feeding exclusively on Delphinium - and ignoring Phlox. |
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Blood-vein
Timandra griseata
Easily recognised by what appears to be a continuous reddish line that runs from one wing-tip to the other and continues round the trailing edges of the wings. The general background colour of the wings range from creamy grey to reddish brown.
The image is of a pristine second generation specimen. Worn individuals can look very bland and threadbare but the prominent line between the wing tips gives the clue to their identity.
Usually double brooded, the larvae, hatching in May and late summer, will feed on dock, sorrel, knot-grass and goosefoot. Autumn caterpillars will pupate and hibernate all the way through to late April in fragile cocoons in hedge-bottom leaf litter.
| Date | Sighting |
| 28.07.2003 | Hay Meadow, western hedge. |
| 30.07.2006 | Strongly marked specimen seen at dusk in Hay Meadow, western hedge. |
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Light Emerald
Campaea margaritata
There are several 'Emeralds' in the family. The Light Emerald is distinguished by the straight two tone lines which continue across the pale, delicate blue-green fore and rear wings. These cross-lines on the other Emeralds tend to be noticeably curved. And, if your eyesight is really good, there are tiny little orange ticks at the corner of the trailing edge of the wingtip which the other Emeralds do not have.
It is double brooded, the first generation flying from May to August, and the second (only in southernBritain) flying from July to September. The autumn generation over-wintering as caterpillars. The main food sources are deciduous trees such as Hawthorn, Birch, Ash, Horse Chestnut, sallows, etc.
| Date | Sighting |
| 17.07.2003 | Home. |
| 02.07.2007 | Attracted to light. |
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Mottled Umber
Erannis defoliaria
The evening sunshine made this caterpillar hard to miss as it busily munched its way through the Hawthorn foliage. It was quite active, never finishing off one leaf before it was trying another. The caterpillars feed from April to July on a wide range of deciduous trees and sometimes reach pest proportions in orchards.
The male moths are on the wing from September through to December - but the females are wingless and on hatching from their pupae in the ground they are constrained to climb the chosen food plant to await a passing male. This is not an uncommon occurence in the 'Ennominae' sub-family of the Geometer moths.
An alphabetical search of the 'Common Index' at the following site here at http://www.leps.it/indexjs.htm shows that the colouration and patterning of the male's wings varies considerably, from heavily patterned to drab, from light to dark.
| Date | Sighting |
| 04.06.2003 | Hay Meadow, southern hedge. |
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Cinnabar moth
Tyria jacobaea
The Cinnabar moth always strikes me as looking rather sinister with its stark black satin wings and red markings. The hind wings are the same vivid red and show up well in flight. All of which seemingly alerts birds and other would be predators that these moths are toxic. There is only one annual generation, and they fly for three months from mid-May through to mid-August.
The only other black and red moths with which it might be confused are the Burnet moths but, that long red streak on the leading edge of the forewing is a sure identifying feature.
The equally easily recogniseable yellow and black banded caterpillars also flaunt their colours to warn birds that they are inedible.
The main foodplants of the caterpillars are ragwort and groundsel, both rich in alkaloid poisons. The larvae are immune to these toxins which are stored in their bodies and passed on through the pupa stage to the moth, making them the most poisonous moths in Britain.
Since both adult and larvae have few predators, this should lead to huge larval populations but the caterpillars are so voracious that they tend to eat themselves out of a sustainable food supply. It is not uncommon to see patches of ragwort stripped bare (lower image) and caterpillars wandering around aimlessly looking for alternative sources. Therefore a large caterpillar population one year can lead to many not surviving to pupation due to a lack of sufficient food supply.
The larvae are feeding through the months of July to September and then pupate in a loose cocoon in leaf litter on the ground from September through the winter.
Since the poisons in ragwort are considered to be a danger to grazing animals, cinnabar caterpillars have been considered as a means of ragwort biological control.
| Date | Sighting |
| 30.07.1999 | Caterpillars, Benniworth Springs, small conservation pond. |
| 08.07.2005 | Moth in flight mid afternoon in north paddock. |
| 14.07.2005 | Two moths in flight, late afternoon in north paddock. |
| 02.07.2006 | Many, many caterpillars feeding on Ragwort at Whisby Nature Reserve. |
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Shoulder stripe
Anticlea badiata
This is one of the early moths, the single generation flying between March and May.
It is common throughout England and Wales, and in lowland Scotland as far north as Caithness , frequenting hedgerows, scrub and gardens.
The looper type larvae feed on rose species and overwinter as pupae in the soil. Since many caterpillars go through several different moults, they can look different as they stage through to maturity. This link at the habitas.org.uk website shows two different colour forms of the Shoulder Stripe larvae.
So, the best that can be said about the 25mm long caterpillar image shown here is that it is representative of what an immature Shoulder Stripe larva might look like. - At least it was feeding on garden rose and the moths do frequent the garden!
| Date | Sighting |
| 25.05.2004 | Caterpillar found on garden rose. |
| 26.03.2005 | Attracted to light late at night. |
| 18.04.2006 | Attracted to light late at night. |
| 11.04.2008 | Attracted to light late at night. |
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Common Carpet
Epirrhoe alternata alternata
There are two sub-species of the Common carpet. The one shown here (E. alternata alternata) is well distributed throughout the UK - with the exception of the Outer Hebrides, where E.a.obscurata is to be found.
In the south of England there may be three generations per year, resulting in the moth being seen continuously from May to October. Farther north, to Northumbria, will see two generations flying from May to June and July to September. And north of that will normally only have one generation flying in June to July.
It is found in a wide range of habitats with the larvae feeding on the bedstraw family of plants (e.g. Cleavers, seen in the image).
| Date | Sighting |
| 02.06.2003 | Hay meadow western hedge. |
| 24.05.2005 | Hay meadow western hedge. |
| July 2006 | Many specimens with subtle colour variations have been seen - generally brown rather than grey. |
Wood Carpet
Epirrhoe rivata
Comparing this image with the Common Carpet, above, it is easy to understand why they might be confused. The Wood Carpet has rather better defined light and dark wing banding, with no fine grey line running through the second broad white band. And it also lacks the fine lacey tracery of the trailing portion of the Common Carpet's wings.
The Wood Carpet is a single generation species, flying in June to August and its UK range extends roughly only as far northwards only as the rivers, Mersey and Humber.
The larvae feed on the bedstraw family of plants, which includes Cleavers, from July to September and then pupate throughout the winter in a cocoon at ground level.
| Date | Sighting |
| 14.06.2005 | Found on Cleavers growing through hawthorn hedge. |
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Water carpet
Lampropteryx suffumata
I have great difficulty in differentiating between many of the carpet moths but, fortunately, this one is quite distinctive. And another good guide is that the single generation is on the wing during April and May - which rules out some of the competition.
They are readily attracted to light as were the two pictured on the right. When released next day onto its larval food plant (cleavers or goosegrass), the upper one posed for the camera in the sun for some time before crawling off to hide.
Although the markings are quite consistent throughout the species there can be some variation in intensity of colouring. When light fell on the lower specimen at certain angles, areas appeared like burnished gold.
It is reported to be 'thinly distributed throughout the UK but may be under recorded due to its early flight period'.
| Date | Sighting |
| 13.04.2005 | Came late at night to light indoors |
| 26.04.2008 | Came late at night to a lighted window. |
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Green Carpet
Colostygia pectinataria
Isn't this magnificent. What a beauty. Unfortunately, the Green carpet only looks so stunning for a short time after hatching from the pupa. As it ages, so it starts to fade and the green coloration can become very washed out, as seen in the lower image. That said, the moth can still be identified by the distinctive arrangement of dark line and dot markings.
Whether by chance or design the moth appears to choose a background to suit its colouring. I must have walked past the moth in the upper image, half a dozen times before I spotted it against the jagged nettle leaves. The lower one I saw in flight before it it settled on ivy foliage but even then, against the shiny leaves, the camouflage proved very effective.
In southern Britain there are two generations a year (flying in May / June and August / September) and one in the north (flying in June / August).
The larval food plants include the bedstraw family and possibly white dead nettle.
| Date | Sighting |
| 11.08.2004 | Saw it in flight (13.06hrs) but had to hunt for it on the patio wall. |
| 25.05.2005 | Found on nettles on a ditch side bank. |
| 31.08.2005 | 2nd generation, somewhat smaller, flying around patio. |
| 01.06.2006 | Two flying by hawthorn hedge at 20.00hrs. |
| 13.06.2007 | Faded specimen of first generation on ditch side vegetation.. |
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Silver-ground carpet
Xanthorhoe montanata m.
This species can be quite variable in its wing markings and has beeen split into several sub-species. This image captures a reasonably 'classic' form (X. m. montanata). But the broad central dark band can be diminished to such an extent that only the outline of the band remains defined. The square pale 'neck yoke' appears to remain constant throughout the various sub-species.
This is a single generation species, flying from mid-May to late July and is usually found in sheltered woodland and hedges.
The larvae, from eggs hatched in July/August, live through the winter to the following May, when they pupate in a cocoon in loose earth. The larval foodplants are cleavers, hedge bedstraw and primroses.
| Date | Sighting |
| 06.06.2004 | Found on mixed vegetation at base of hay meadow hawthorn hedge. |
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Red Twin-spot Carpet
Xanthorhoe spadicearia
I had some difficulty identifying the upper image. But, I have it on good authority that a 'Red Twin-spot', this is. As can be seen, the colour and contrast variation within the species can be confusing.
This may be due to early and late generations or, freshly emerged and older specimens. The upper image is of a May specimen, while the lower image was taken in July.
The 'twin spot' reference in the common name relates to the two small dark marks in the trailing edge corner of the front wing.
The species is quite common in. In the southern half of England there are two generations a year, flying April - early June and July - August.
The larvae feed on a range of plants including Bedstraws, Ground ivy and Wild Carrot.
| Date | Sighting |
| 15.05.2005 | Hay Meadow western hedge |
| 17.07.2005 | Attracted to light indoors. |
| 15.05.2006 | Hay Meadow western hedge. Same date, same location as in 2005 |
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Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
The general similarity with the previous species is easy to see - and at first I thought they were one and the same.
However, the main distinguishing features of the Dark-barred Twin-spot are
a) the rather more sombre colouring and
b) the distinct vee shaped notch on the forward edge of the dark band near the outer edge of the wing.
This species also flies slightly later than the Red Twin-spot, in May and June and again in late July and August.
Larval foodplants are the Bedstraws, Ground-ivy and Docks.
| Date | Sighting |
| 28.07.2006 | Attracted to light. |
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Yellow Shell
Camptogramma bilineata
This moth comes in a wide range of colour forms, from bright yellow (more common in the south) through orange to a warm brown. But all forms carry the distinctive pattern of fine wavy lines. Coloration is significantly affected by lighting conditions, the moths appearing much brighter in full sunlight than they do in shade.
There is generally only one generation per year and the moths are seen on the wing, usually in the early evening, from late May to August, around hedgerows, meadows, etc.
The larvae, to be found from July through to May, overwinter low down on the foodplant - of which there is a rich variety; cleavers, docks, sorrels, dandelions, etc., and pupatation takes place underground.
| Date | Sighting |
| 25.07.2004 | Seen on western hedge of hay meadow at 19.40hrs. |
| 14.06.2005 | Seen on western hedge of hay meadow at 20.00hrs. |
| 18.06.2006 | Seen on hawthorn hedge by house at 16.00hrs. |