About a month ago my neighbour calls round (he hit 80 this year and is as fit as a fiddle), and in the palm of his hand he had this little critter. He wondered what it was (he really has an interest in wildlife), and he thought it had fell from a bush he had cut back. I identified it as the larva for the moth the Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda).
Later he came around again with another he had found on his apple tree. They feed on a large variety of deciduous trees and shrubs, and I was quite amazed to discover, like paint, they come in a variety colours, from yellow, green, to orange, pink and red. Don’t think they do any shades of blue though.
Below is the familar adult, which I have featured before, which is also quite an odd yet interesting character. Who would have thought that, that would turn into that, eh?
In case you was wondering, the caterpillars where put back safe and sound to continue their feedathon.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) – taken August 2005
It was when I purchased my first digital camera back in 2005, a Sony Cybershot compact camera, that my love for nature and the side of the natural world, that is not always often seen but is always there to be found, became rekindled. My interest in moths – ‘moth mania’ I call it – began from a young age when I used to stay up a little at night with my older brother Steve, looking out for these nocturnal insects. In those days I used to paint and draw them, especially those with vivid patterns and colours like the Garden Tiger, which has sadly declined over the years since, and I have not yet seen one here to photograph.
Red Underwing (Catocala nupta) – taken August 2006
Scorched WingPlagodis dolabraria – taken June 2007
So since 2005, I have photographed over 250 (and still counting with lots of past images still to go through and positively identify) species of moth and have uploaded them to this site. 250 is small fraction of the 2,500 or more species of moth to be found throughout Britain. Not all are attracted to light. Some are attracted to feromones or sugar. Some are day-fying moths, and some are rare and localised to different areas of the country.
The Vapourer (Orgyia antiqua) – taken September 2008
Common Marbled Carpet (Dysstroma truncata) – taken May 2009
Oddly enough, in the year 2010 I apparently did not take one single moth photo, but a year later moth mania hit me again and I photographed over 150 different species of moth!
Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) – taken July 2011
Shaded Broad-bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata) – taken October 2012
Scarce Silver-lines (Bena bicolorana) – taken July 2013
After buying different compact cameras over the years, it was in 2014 I purchased my first DSLR camera the Nikon D3200.
Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) – taken March 2014
Common Yellow Conch (Agapeta hamana) – taken July 2015
Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) – taken July 2016
2016 was the year I upgraded my camera to the Nikon D7200 (which I still use to this day) , and in 2017 it was another year the moth mania got to me. It was a very bountiful year for moths.
Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) – taken September 2017
The thing with moths is that they can be seen all year round, even during the winter months where most other insects are hibernating.
Sycamore Piercer (Pammene aurita)– taken June 2018
Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) -taken July 2019
Azalea Leaf Miner (Caloptilia azaleella) – taken May 2020
Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria) – taken July 2021
There are two very similar ‘dagger’ species in Britain, the Grey Dagger (Acronicta psi) and the Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens). The adults cannot be accurately identified visually without genital dissection and microscopic scrutiny – but I don’t like to harm them so this adult would be recorded as an aggregate species Acronicta psi/tridens. The adult is readily attracted to light, and is seen in June and August in most habitats, including woodland, hedgerows and gardens. Sadly its numbers have significantly decreased in recent decades.
The caterpillar is quite an odd thing, and on first discovery I thought it had been parasitised! But the long and prounced ‘hump’ or fleshy projection is one of its defining characteristics and which visually separtes it from the Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens) which has a shorter ‘hump’. A visually striking moth larva with long hairs and a yellow or white dorsal strip. The orange side patches offer quite a contrast in colouration. It feeds on a large range of broad-leaved trees and shrubs, and overwinters as a pupa amongst bark, in rotten wood or in the ground.
This is Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa), and its is quite an extraordinary looking moth. Very distinctively shaped and patterned which make it resemble a withered leaf. It rests with its wings folded in an unusual fashion.
It is often seen during the day resting on walls, fences and foliage.
No it’s not my new pet, and it is not a new rug, either … it is a moth which looks like it has a bull’s head. It is called the Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda, and they are very much attracted to light sources. The adults are sexually dimorphic, with the females being generally larger and plainer than the males.
Anania coronata – This has to be one of my favourite micro-moths with its beautiful pearlescent markings. Another one that was attracted to the outside garage light, despite the continuing rain.
Orthosia cruda – This is a common spring species here, so its flight time has now come and gone. This small moth has a plain appearance with light colouration, but has fairly distinct kidney-shaped markings on the forewings.
Craniophora ligustri – This is the first time I have seen this beautifully coloured and patterned moth. It appears to be a nice fresh specimen expressing olive hues, which I intially found resting on my garage wall. It is widely distributed across most of Britain, but it is not a common species.
Rose Leaf Miner(Stigmella anomalella) – The rose cuttings again … this little wiggly shape in the leaf are caused by the tiny larva of a micro-moth as they feed on the tisse within.
Callitearapudibunda – This is an unusual moth as moths go, quite a bundle of fur which will happily sit on your finger for very long periods if you allowed it to. I have always thought it has quite a charming scientific name which kind of rolls off the tongue.
Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) – You hear them first coming out of the dark like a quickening purring without any sense of direction. You then feel them as the air from their rapidly moving wings wafts around you as they circle. Then you see them, then you don’t, for they are so, so very quick and powerful in flight you can lose track of them quite easily. They are the supersonic jets of the moth world. And these are big with a wingspan of up to 90 mm (3 1/2 in). Yet in the light of day they are like daft kittens, and they will happily sit on the end of your finger, even your nose if you wanted to take things that far. The cover of night is their world, and they are masters of it. It is just they have a thing for our artificial lights. They are bedazzled and befuddled by them, sitting hoplessly in a trance-like state beneath their glare, sometimes for many hours until daybreak. Double-click image to enlarge.
Epirrhoe alternata – And another moth that adores my garage light. This is a Geometer moth, so called because the caterpillar, called an inchworm, appears to measure the earth as it crawls along, arching and ‘looping’ its body. That is why they are also known as ‘loopers’. They are the 2nd largest family of macro-moths in the UK, with around 300 species – over 20,000 worldwide. Double-click image to enlarge.
Caloptilia azaleella – This is a tiny moth which loves my garage light. There were a few hanging around it, mesmerised by its glow. It is a naturalised adventive species which is steadily spreading northwards, and was probably introduced with azalea and rhodedendron plants. It is around 5mm (1/4in) long, and I could barely see it with the naked eye, so didn’t know what I had got until I saw it on the big screen. Double-click images for a closer look.
Opisthograptis luteolata – Another insect mesmerised by the garage light. I find at least one of these in the morning, They are quite common at the moment. Double-click image to get closer.
Adela reaumurella – This is a female … the males antennae are a lot, lot longer than hers – three times the length of the forewing! I found her basking in the sunshine, flashing her shiny scales. Double-click image to enlarge.
Lomaspilis marginata – Yep … it’s a moth and not a butterfly, believe it or not. Quite a delicate looking moth with brown markings which can be quite variable.
Acronicta psi – This moth gets it name from the black dagger-like markings on its forewings. It is not possible to tell apart from the Dark Dagger (A. tridens), without genitalia dissection (which is not my thing) and is normally recorded as an aggregate species. It is found in most habitats, including woodland, hedgerows and gardens.
Alcis repandata – This was the one that nearly got away, but thankfully landed and rested on the side of the garden shed at the time. Quite an attractive moth beauty this, which can be extremely variable. A regular visitor to light sources.
Lasiocampa quercus – I came across this striking hairy caterpillar as it crawled over a sea wall when I was on a visit to Llandudno, Wales. They do not feed on oak as the English name leads us to believe, but its cocoon looks much like an acorn. The hairs may cause skin irritation, which is the caterpillar’s defense mechanism. They can grow up to 80mm (3 -1/8in) long.
The larva can take a year to grow in the south, and two years further north where it is cooler. They feed quite rapidly and change appearance as they grow which can make them hard to identify compared to other Eggars. It feeds on a variety of plants, including heather and bramble.
Eupithecia abbreviata – This attractive moth must have been bedazzled by my garage light and I found it on the door the next morning. Like most pugs they are only small with a wingspan of around 22mm (7/8in). It is an early spring species, and usually inhabits deciduous woodland where the caterpillars feed on oak and hawthorn. Double-click to enlarge images.
Apamea monoglypha – This moth really like your house lights, and you certainly know when one is around because they whiz around you like crazy. Yet they are mostly well behaved during the light of day and will let you photograph them wthout flying off, which is good because there would be no point in this post otherwise. The ground colour of the forewings is quite changeable, but the distinctive pattern always remains more or less the same. Double-click to get closer.
Copyright: Peter Hillman Camera used: Nikon D7200 Date taken: 29th June 2019 Place: Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, Staffordshire
Crambus perlella – Out in the fresh summer fields I often disturb these moths and others of their kind from the grasses and low vegetation as I pass through. They don’t usually fly far and soon settle back into the growth. You do have to watch very carefully where they land as you can easily lose them.
Copyright: Peter Hillman Camera used: Nikon D7200 Date taken: 7th July 2019 Place: Local field, Staffordshire
At first glance these two fairly well-defined macro-moths from the family Erebidae – subfamily Herminiinae – look quite similar. But look more closely … see how their finely drawn lines are different? Double-click to peer closer …
The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis)Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis)
Copyright: Peter Hillman Camera used: Nikon D7200 Date taken: 6th July 2019 & 29th June 2019 Place: Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, Staffordshire
Cydia pomonella – Although the caterpillar of this small moth can be quite a pest to fruit trees, the adult has quite some fine detail over all, and a lovely coppery finish to the bottom end of the forewings. Double-click for a closer look.
Copyright: Peter Hillman Camera used: Nikon D7200 Date taken: 29th June 2019 Place: Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, Staffordshire
Triodia sylvina – This is from a primitive moth group called Hepialidae, which contains just 5 species found in the British Isles. The adults cannot feed for they have no functional proboscis. The images featured are that of the male. The sexes look quite different from one another.
Copyright: Peter Hillman Camera used: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Date taken: 2nd August 2011 Place: Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, Staffordshire
Yponomeuta rorrella – These small moths can be a fair challenge to photograph because of their pale and reflective scales, so best done out of direct sunlight with the exposure turned down a couple of clicks.
Copyright: Peter Hillman Camera used: Nikon D7200 Date taken: 18th July 2019 Place: Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, Staffordshire
Acleris variegana – An extremely variable micro-moth species in patterning and colouration. A melanic form also occurs. Like other similar species of Tortrix, it mimics bird-droppings to evade predation. The larvae feed on the leaves of a variety of trees and shrubs, including roses, brambles, hawthorns, cherries and apples.
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 23rd, 24th & 30th September 2017
Place: Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, Staffordshire
Mormo maura – You know when this one pays a visit because it is fairly large with a wingspan of up to 65mm (2 1/2in). Not one of the brightest of moths, but it has an interesting, fine-lined pattern.
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 26th August 2017
Place: Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, Staffordshire
Euzophera pinguis – Quite an unmistakable micro-moth with distinctive zig-zag markings. The larvae feed under the living bark of ash, which if becoming infested may kill the tree. This is a localised species in England.
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 20th July 2017
Place: Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, Staffordshire
Emmelina monodactyla – An odd-looking moth which often rests with its wings rolled tightly up. It is quite a weak flier, and will only travel a short distance before settling down again.
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 8th July 2017
Place: Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, Staffordshire
Nature Journeys 