Moths

Moths in the garden

Silver-Y moth Autographa gamma or Silver-Y moth

Pyrausta Moth Pyrausta aurata

The 2 moths above are regular day-time visitors to my garden in significant numbers. The Pyrausta aurata likes Marjoram and Helichrysum; the Autographa gamma likes Buddleia and Red Valerian.

 

Particularly in 2003, my garden had visits from Hummingbird Hawk-moths (Macroglossum stellatarum). I have yet to get a good photo. They like Verbena.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum or Hummingbird Hawk-moth

Sorry about the blurred image - they move fast & don't stay long. The long feeding tube means that they hover well above the flower. The Hummingbird Hawk-moth and the Silver-Y moth are immigrants from Europe and so the numbers can vary considerably each year.

 

I have also seen Angle Shades, Lime Hawkmoth, Swallowtail, Brimstone, Magpie, Buff Tip, Cinnabar, Buff Ermine and White Ermine Moths on my patch.

Moths in the Countryside

Cinnabar and Burnet Moths are day-flying, brightly-coloured (black and red) moths that are frequently seen in the countryside.

Six-Spot Burnet moth Zygaena filipendulae or Six-Spot Burnet moth

Image of Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae or Cinnabar moth

Image of Cinnabar moth caterpillar Cinnabar moth caterpillar on Ragwort

 

This page last updated June 16, 2004