British Moths
Alcea (Hollyhock)
Achillea
Agapanthus
Agastache
Aquilegia
Arctotis
Astrantia
Buddliea
Buddliea Altternifolia
Butterfly Weed
Catananche caerulea
Canna Lily
Carnation
Coreopsis
Delphinium
Echinacea
Echinops
Eryngium
Geranium
Gerbera
Geum
Gypsophila
Helenium
Herbs
Hosta
Iris
Lantana
Leucanthemum
Lupins
Monarda
Penstemon
Peonies
Phlox
Polemonium
Rudbeckia
Sidalcea
Tanacetum (Pyrethrum)
Thalictrum
Trollius
Verbena
Veronica
If disturbed the moth displays its orange hindwings with blue-black
spots and can produce a clear yellow fluid from two ducts just behind
the head.
The larvae can be seen from August to late the following June. The
larvae are hairy and known as the "Woolly Bear". They sometimes
feed and bask in sunshine and may be seen moving rapidly across
bare ground when fully grown. They pupate in a thin cocoon among
vegetation on or near the ground
Caterpillar Food Plants
A wide variety of herbaceous plants, including Common Nettle
Broad-leaved Dock and many garden plants.
Habitat
A wide range of generally rather open habitats, including gardens,
damp meadows, fens, riverbanks, sand-dunes and open woodland.
Distribution
Countries – England, Wales, Scotland
Garden Tiger
Flies by day, particularly in warm or sunny conditions.
They overwinter as pupae in plant debris. The larvae can be found
from late June to mid August in the south, or early July to early
September further north, feeding between spun leaves
Caterpillar Food Plants
Birch, Bog Myrtle, also occasionally on sallow.
Habitat
Coppiced deciduous woodland, boggy moorland and on one site in
the Somerset Levels
Distribution
Countries – England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
Nationally Scarce B. Widely distributed in western Scotland, and
perhaps overlooked in some areas, with scattered sites in north
Wales, northern England, the West Midlands and now very locally in
southern England
Argent & Sable
The caterpillar is a dark brown-ish green, with bright yellow spots
along the body and a red horn above the tail, usually only seen in
years of high influxes.
The moth overwinters as a pupa, usually unsuccessfully in the UK
(probably due to high rainfall).
Caterpillar Food Plants
Bedstraws (Galium spp), Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion
angustifolium), madders and fuchsias.
Habitat
Coastal, breeding on sand dunes, though can be found inland on
waste ground
Distribution
Countries - England, Scotland and Wales
Bedstraw Hawk-moth
Brimstone Moth
An unmistakable yellow moth with chestnut-brown markings on the
tips and along the leading edge of the forewings. They also have a
white crescent or dash near to the leading forewing edge.
They can frequently be seen on the wing just before dusk and they
are regularly attracted to light. Some overwinter as part-grown larvae
on the foodplant but others as pupae in cocoons on the plant, in
debris below it or in a crack in a wall.
Caterpillar Food Plants
A range of trees and bushes including Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa),
Hawthorn, and Rowan.
Habitat
Hedgerows, garden, scrub and woodland.
Distribution
Countries – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
Bee Hawk-moths are more agile than the bumble-bees they
resemble. They feed when flying, have long clubbed antennae and
are much larger than the superficially similar bee-flies.
The Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth has reddish-brown bands on
the wings and abdomen but this may appear black as the hairs wear
off. Active in late-morning and early-afternoon sunshine, feeding on
nectar of Honeysuckle in particular, but also Bugle, Ragged Robin,
Rhododendron, louseworts and Aubretia
Caterpillar Food Plants
Wild Honeysuckle,but also occasionally on cultivated honeysuckles
and Snowberry.
Habitat
Prefers foodplants in shrubby habitats, particularly in woodland and
heathland.
Distribution
Countries – England, Wales
Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth
Cinnabar
This species is so named due to the colour of the hindwings and the
markings on the forewings which make it unmistakeable. There is
little variation although on rare occasions the pinkish markings are
replaced with yellow, or the forewing is red with a black border or the
wings are completely black. Easily disturbed by day and flies in
sunshine. Also flies after dark.
Caterpillar Food Plants
Feeds on the leaves and flowers of Common Ragwort (Senecio
jacobaea). Occasionally found on other ragworts and groundsels.
Habitat
Frequent in open grassy habitats including waste ground, railway
banks, gardens and woodland rides but perhaps most frequent on
well drained rabbit-grazed grassland, mature sand-dunes and
heathland.
Distribution
Countries – England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
Clouded Buff
The clear differences between the male and female of this moth led
them to be originally described as separate species. The female is
smaller than the male with orange-red veins on the forewing and
usually a greater degree of black on the hindwing.
The male flies in sunshine and is easily disturbed by day. The
female is sometimes found at rest on vegetation by day but seems to
fly very infrequently. Both sexes are active at night. The caterpillars
can be found from July to the following April or May.
Caterpillar Food Plants
Heathers and other herbs including Sheep’s Sorrel (Rumex
acetosella), Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis), Common Dog-
violet (Viola riviniana) and plantains.
Habitat
Favours heathland and moorland but occasionally found on chalk
and limestone grassland, and in open woodland areas.
Distribution
Countries – England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
Similar in appearance to the Lunar Hornet Moth it can be
distinguished by the yellow patches on the head and shoulder and a
black collar. The adults can be found resting on poplar trunks after
they have emerged in June.
They overwinter at least twice as larvae for the first and sometimes
second winter and as fully grown larvae in cocoons for the second or
third winter. They mainly feed on the wood just below the bark
surface near ground level and emerge from a hole near the base of
the trunk
Caterpillar Food Plants
Black-poplar, Aspen, and other poplars
Habitat
Parks, hedgerows, golf courses, quarries, fens, pond edges and pits,
particularly where there are trees in open habitats.
Distribution
Countries – England and Wales
Hornet Moth
This moth can be distinguished from the Large Red-belted and Red-
tipped Clearwings by the absence of any red markings on the
forewings.
The adults are occasionally seen flying around apple trees in the
afternoon. The caterpillars can be found feeding underneath the bark
of the foodplant from August to the following May, overwintering as
larvae.
Caterpillar Food Plants
Apple, including Crab Apple and also Pear, Hawthorn, Almond
(Prunus dulcis) and Rowan
Habitat
Well established orchards and gardens, hedgerows, open woodland
and mature scrub
Distribution
Countries – Southern England and Wales
Red-belted Clearwing
Scarlet Tiger
This tropical-looking moth is very distinctive. Rarely, individuals with
yellow hindwings or yellow spots on the forewings occur, and in
some forms the hindwings may be extensively black.
Frequently flies in sunshine, particularly in late afternoon and early
evening for the males. Can also be found during the day resting on
leaves. Also flies at night
.
Caterpillar Food Plants
Common Comfrey, Hemp Agrimony and Hound’s Tongue. When
larger the caterpillars are often found feeding on Common Nettle,
Bramble, sallows, Honeysuckle and Meadowsweet.
Habitat
Frequents a variety of wetland and coastal habitats, including fens,
riverine habitats, floodplains and the upper parts of beaches. The
species can also occur in gardens, woodland and along ditches.
Distribution
Countries – Southern England, Wales
A very scarce immigrant from southern Europe with only a handful of
recent records. In the 19th century, it bred several times on the south
coast of England, most often on Spurge.
The adult resembles the more frequent Bedstraw Hawk-moth (Hyles
gallii), but has a distinctive rosy tinge to the underside, as well as
more solid markings on the upperwing. The appearance of the
caterpillars varies
Caterpillar Food Plants
Perennial herbaceous spurges; larvae rarely found in Britain, though
did breed several times on the south coast in 19th century, usually on
Spurge.
Habitat
Breeds abroad in sunny habitats, such as field margins and coastal
sand dunes.
Distribution
South of England only
Spurge Hawk-moth
This species has an annual life cycle. It flies by day in a spinning
motion that can be difficult to follow. Adults are seen in May, June
and into July, but has been recorded in late April, August and
September. The caterpillar feeds from July until autumn on the
leaves and flowers of the foodplant, goldenrod, inhabiting a slight
silken web under the lower leaves.
It is found in south-east woodlands in Kent, Sussex and Surrey,
otherwise recently recorded from several sites in north-west England
Caterpillar Food Plants
Caterpillars feed on the flowers and leaves of Goldenrod and
occasionally dyer's greenweed.
Habitat
Can be found in woodland glades and margins, also rough hillsides
and cliffs, particularly on limestone.
Distribution
Countries – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
White-spotted Sable
