"A Nature Observer′s Scrapbook"
Macro Moths, page 6
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Buff Arches
Habrosyne pyritoides
The Buff Arches moth is regarded as a mainly southern species in the UK. It becomes less common in the north of England and is classified as rare in Scotland. The single generation is on the wing from June through to August but late individuals do occur in the autumn.
With a forewing length of up to 20mm (this crisp late summer specimen was 18mm), it is a medium sized moth but there is no denying that it is an eyecatching one. The wing colouring creates an almost 3D effect and there is simply no other species to confuse it with.
The larvae are to be found, late July to October, mainly on bramble growing in the shelter of hedges and trees. It then over-winters as a pupa underground.
| Date | Sighting |
| 08.07.2007 | Back garden 17.18hrs. |
Single-dotted Wave
Idaea dimidiata
This is one of the smaller macro moths with a forewing length of only 11mm maximum. I found it very common in the month of July 2007. The image on the right is of a well marked specimen. Older individuals can be quite faded and 'washed out' and less easy to identify.
The normal flight season is from June to August and it favours damp hedges and woods - the larvae feeding on Cow Parsley and Hedge Bedstraw and withered vegetation from August through the winter to May.
| Date | Sighting |
| 11.07.2007 | A regular visitor to lighted windows throughout the month of July. |
Mallow
Larentia clavaria
This is another of the easier moths to identify. It's long triangular forewings can be up to 22mm long and they have a characteristically slightly hooked tip.
The wing coloration is in four distinct bands, each separated by a thin white line and there is a faint white zigzag line close to the trailing edge. There is little variation between specimens.
The single generation flight period is from September to November. Although it is classed as common (in distribution throughout southern England), it is not seen in large numbers. When seen at all, it is usually attracted to light.
It over winters as an egg. The larvae feed on mallows (as the common name suggests) from April to June.
| Date | Sighting |
| 08.10.2007 | Attracted to light. |
Blue-bordered Carpet
Plemyria rubiginata rubiginata
In the southern UK sub-species of the Blue-bordered Carpet (as seen here) the shape of the contrasting markings is usually quite uniform. However, the coloration is subject to some variation. The dark browns in the accompanying image can be a lively golden brown in some cases. And the 'blue border' along the trailing edge of the wings can be much more marked than is seen here.
But, just to confuse things, there is a northern UK sub-species, P. r. plumbata that does not have the distinctive white markings.
The single generation flies from June to early August and occasionally comes to light.
It over winters as an egg and the larvae hatch in April to feed on a wide range of plants, Alder, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Birch, Plum and Apple.
| Date | Sighting |
| 02.07.2007 | Attracted to light. |
November Moth ?
Epirrita dilutata ?
There has to be room for uncertainty with the identification of this image - hence the question marks against the name. There are four different Epirrita species. All are approximately the same size, all look similar, all are subject to variation in intensity of markings and all occur in an overlapping flight window. Detailed microscopic examination is often required to separate them. Forewing length is between 15 to 20mm.
However, all the positively identified Epirrita sp. seen in the county at the time this one was sighted were found to be the E. dilutata species - so the odds are that this was the same.
The November Moth can be found on the wing from September in Northern UK but, generally in most of Britain, from October through November and overwinters as an egg on a twig. Larvae will be found from April to June on a wide range of deciduous trees prior to pupating underground.
| Date | Sighting |
| 07 - 10.10.2007 | Three slightly different specimens seen on three consecutive nights. |
Latticed Heath
Chiasmia clathrata clathrata
When seen day flying, as this one was, one could easily mistake a Latticed Heath for a butterfly. It will often fold its wings vertically and flex them open in a typical butterfly manner. Forewing length 11 - 15mm.
In bright sunshine, the latticed tracery appears distinctly warm brown but, in shade it takes on a much darker, almost black, appearance. This one led me a merry chase along a roadside verge always settling just out of camera range.
Although the wing patterning of this sub-species might look quite distinctive, there are four other discrete sub-species with less clear markings. While they are less common, they could never the less cause confusion.
There can be two generations flying May/June and July/September. They tend to favour areas of calcareous (chalk or limestone) grassland where the larvae feed on clovers, trefoils and lucerne.
| Date | Sighting |
| 11.06.2007 | Day flying along a broad roadside verge at 15.00hrs. |
Brimstone moth
Opisthograptis luteolata
There can be two or three generations of Brimstones each year meaning that they can be found at any time between April and October. They range throughout the UK as far north as Orkney. The markings of this species are unmistakeable but, the colouring can vary. Young freshly emerged specimens can be an intense 'brimstone' yellow, while old worn moths can be quite drab with almost transparent wings where wing scales have been lost from fluttering through vegetation.
The larvae are of the thin 'looper' caterpillar type with the normal three pairs of thoracic legs at the front but only one pair of prolegs and a pair of 'claspers' at the rear. The larvae come in brown and green forms with a small spur or wart in the middle of the back. They feed on a variety of trees, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Plum and Wayfaring trees, etc. and, in the absence of these in Orkney, will also feed on Rowan.
As seen in the first larva image, at rest, the larvae tend to hold on to a stem using only their prolegs and claspers, holding their body motionless, away from contact with the stem. This creates the illusion of a twig and is very effective camouflage. Also seen here are the enlarged third pair of thoracic legs that are a characteristic identification feature. This larva was only 12.5mm long when found quite by accident.
The bottom image, of the same caterpillar, was taken only ten days later, by which time it had grown to 28mm and had changed colour slightly. At about that size it might be expected to enter pupation.
| Date | Sighting |
| 07.07.2006 | Found indoors at night, presumably attracted to light. |
| 30.08.2007 | Attracted to light. |
| 14.06.2008 | Attracted to light. |
| 26.05.2009 | Attracted to light. |
| 28.08.2009 | 12.5mm larva found on Hawthorn. |
| 07.09.2009 | Same larva now 28mm. |
Pale Brindled Beauty
Phigalia pilosaria
This is a single generation species, flying early in the year from January to March. There is considerable variation in colouring from almost plain pale grey through to an almost uniformly dark brown version.
The females are wingless and will only be found on the food source of the larvae. That said, the larvae feed on a wide range of broad leaved trees, such as Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Ash, Alder, Birch, Willow, Poplar and Lime. They feed from about April to June, before pupating underground for about 6 or 7 months. The greatest likelihood of spotting a female is as she climbs up the tree to a position where she can release her pheromones to attract a male.
The male therefore has to rely on large feathered antennae to locate the female's scent. Fortuitously, the males also feign death when disturbed and will lie motionless for several minutes at a time - allowing time for the camera to capture the lower image, before it flew off into the night to find a mate.
| Date | Sighting |
| 20.02.2007 | Male attracted to a lighted window. |
Vapourer moth
Orgyia antiqua
This is one of a group of moths known as 'Tussock moths' - because the larvae all have tufts of hair on their backs. Many of the larvae are colourful and can appear quite exotic.
The top image is of an immature Vapourer larva. A mature specimen would have four tufts of hair of uniform colour on its back. But all larvae develop five tufts of black hair, two just behind the head, two sprouting like wings from the sides of the body and one raised at an angle from its rear end - and they give it a unique appearance.
The middle image is of the male moth which is on the wing from July to October.
The female moth develops only rudimentary wings, cannot fly and leads a very sedentary, inactive life - apart from laying a mass of eggs on or close by the remains of her cocoon. These will over-winter to hatch in May.
Since the larvae will pupate on the foodplant (Hawthorn, Blackthorn and many other broadleaved trees and shrubs), the females will hatch on the foodplant and lay their eggs on the food plant - which all seems a very logical and uncomplicated life strategy.
With no wings, all the female can do to attract a mate is to emit powerful pheromones and hope that a passing male will be attracted. For his part, the male is equipped with very specialised pheromone sensing antennae and, in suitable weather conditions, can be found flying day or night looking for a female.
| Date | Sighting |
| 21.09.2007 | Larva found on a Potentilla shrub in garden. |
| 24.09.2008 | Male moth disturbed from Hawthorn in mid-afternoon. |
Pale Tussock
Calliteara pudibunda
The single generation of Pale Tussock moths can be found flying during May and June.
Larvae will start to appear late in June and will feed on a wide range of broadleaved plants through the summer into October. The 40mm specimen on the right was found on the ground late in September close to a Blackthorn hedge and was presumably seeking out a suitable pupation site in the leaf litter.
Care should be taken not to handle hairy caterpillars if one is susceptible to allergic reaction.
The adult moths rest in a range of different positions which can cause some confusion when trying to identify them. The image on the right is of a fairly conventional pose with the wings hugging the surface and forming an equisided triangle.
When the moth was found, on the ground under a lighted window, the wings were extended in an open fashion revealing the pale hind wings and, with the front legs and prominent antennae also extended, it gave a quite 'alert, aggressive, dominant' impression.
At the other end of the scale they can also rest with the wings tightly folded against the abdomen, creating a very slim outline.
The males are recognised by their deeply feathered antennae and have a forewing length of about 22mm. The females are larger, with a forewing length of up to 31mm, are more weakly marked and have simple unfeathered antennae.
The species is widely distributed throughout England, Wales and the Channel Islands but, less so in Scotland and Ireland.
| Date | Sighting |
| 29.09.2007 | Larva found on the ground close by Blackthorn hedge. |
| 29.05.2009 | Moth found at night on the ground under a lighted window, released next morning onto a crab apple tree. |
Flame
Axylia putris
The Flame is recognised by the long dark streak down the leading edge of the forewing and the dark reniform mark halfway down the wing - which is all very well if you happen to see it with its wings 'splayed out' in normal moth fashion. However, when at rest it tends to draw its wings in tightly round its body, even more exaggeratedly than seen in the image. This gives it a pronounced 'broad at the shoulders, narrow at the rear' appearance. And is great camouflage if at rest on a twig or plant stem when it could easily be mistaken for a piece of straw.
The single generation flies in June and July. Larvae feed at night from late July to October on Stinging Nettle, White Dead Nettle, Hedge Bedstraw and other common hedge growing plants and it will pupate through the winter, underground.
It is common throughout England, Wales and Ireland but tends to be localised in southern and south-western Scotland.
| Date | Sighting |
| 16.06.2007 | Attracted to lighted window at 22.12 hrs. |
Miller
Acronicta leporina f. grisea
I first saw this moth on the outside of a lighted window. As I moved closer to inspect it, it dropped to the ground onto a grey paving slab - where it was completely invisible. I only spotted it again when it fluttered. There are two other variations, an almost pure white form is found locally in Scotland and a darker grey form occurs in the English northern and midland counties.
The single generation flies from May to August and it has a forewing length of about 20mm.
The larvae feed from July to October on Birch, Alder, Grey Willow and Aspens and on maturing, prefer to pupate by burrowing into rotten wood.
| Date | Sighting |
| 20.06.2007 | Attracted to lighted window. |
Rustic Shoulder-knot
Apamea sordens
The Rustic Shoulder-knot is one of a group of very similar looking moths. One of its main diagnostic features, the dark streak at the base of the wing (the shoulder-knot), is not always as obvious as in this image. Consequently, positive identification can often be difficult. But, another feature that is rather more constant is the kidney shaped mark close to the wing leading edge. This is usually ringed in white and the inner area of the kidney tends to be dark.
The single generation flies from May to July and it is widely distributed throughout the Uk, with the possible exception of Orkney and Shetland. It is certainly more common than the Large Nutmeg with which it can be easily confused.
The larvae feed on grasses, mainly Cocksfoot, Common Couch and cereals. The larva seen here was found in February curled up in moss at the base of a fence post standing in coarse grass. The first abdominal segment behind the head was dark and shiny and a thin pale line extended down the middle of the back. It remained in a torpid, dormant state until pupating early in March and hatched in June.
| Date | Sighting |
| 04.06.2007 | Attracted to lighted window. |
| 17.02.2008 | Larva found in moss at base of fence post in thick grass. |
| 11.03.2008 | Larva has now pupated. |
| 05.06.2008 | Adult emerged from pupatation. |
| 07.06.2008 | Adult attracted to lighted window. |