A Guide to Moths and Their Caterpillars (Scotland)

There are over Tips for looking for different2,500 moth species in the UK moths and caterpillars with 1,500 Here are some tips to increase your chances of found in A white moth with black Scotland finding what you are looking for... spots on its forewings, which is found in most • Different species of moth like different habitats. habitats including gardens and hedgerows. In Scotland Check in a book before you set your trap to the white wing colour can Identify moths and their caterpillars choose which area to try. sometimes be more creamy or brown in colour. The hairy There are over 100 day-flying moths in the UK, but far more only come out at night so to see them White Ermine caterpillars can be found • Larger moths tend to come out later in the feeding on Nettles and Docks requires some detective work! You could build a moth trap using the instructions on our website, or you summer than many smaller moths. Try setting a between July and September. could hang up a white sheet with a bright torch shining on it. Many moth caterpillars can be found during trap in July or August to catch hawk-moths. the daytime, most commonly from May to September. You can also try looking in your garden with a torch • Moth traps need to be placed in a on mild winter nights when some moth caterpillars come out to feed. sheltered spot. Make sure there is a cover to stop rain getting in or hitting the bulb. Find out more • Many day-flying moths like to live in grassy meadows, go for a walk on a about moths... warm, still day to have the best chance If you have enjoyed looking for the moths on this sheet and of seeing them. want to find out more about moths, butterflies and their caterpillars there are lots of places to go for more information. • Caterpillars can be found low down There is also a lot you can do to help butterflies and moths, on plants or among leaf litter as well whether you want to make your garden more moth-friendly, as higher up in bushes and trees, send us records of caterpillars you have found or take part in Brimstone Moth Emperor Moth remember to search all through the a national survey to help our conservation efforts. vegetation. This is a common moth and the adults These moths are early fliers, flying in April and May in moorland can be found from April to October, depending and open country. Both males and females have large eye Munching Caterpillars spots on their wings, but only the males have bright orange • Use a guide to help identify any moths on the habitat and location. The caterpillars www.munchingcaterpillars.org feed on a range of trees and bushes, including underwings. Caterpillars feed on Heather and Bramble. or caterpillars you find. Hawthorn and Blackthorn. Butterfly Conservation • If you’re not sure what species you have www.butterfly-conservation.org found, try to take a picture and upload it on our website for us to identify. The Big Butterfly Count www.bigbutterflycount.org

UK Moths www.ukmoths.org.uk Photos by kind permission of Robert Thompson, John Bebbington, David Green, Mark Parsons, Paul Pugh, James Peat, James Peat, Paul Pugh, Mark Parsons, Green, David Bebbington, John Thompson, kind permission of RobertPhotos by Wasley. Roger Thomas, Jim Black and Kelly Lorna Blackmore, Iain Leach, Hill, David Leverton, Roy Shane Farrell, The National Moth Recording Scheme www.mothscount.org Visit our Most adult moths feed on nectar, but Poplar Hawk-moth Humming-bird Hawk-moth Website to find Wild About Gardens some have no mouth out more! www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk parts so they can only This is probably our commonest Hawk-moth This moth gets its name from the way it visits flowers live a few days and has a distinctive shape when at rest, holding to feed on nectar, hovering in front of them like a its hind wings forward of its front wings. The Hummingbird. It flies in the daytime, especially on sunny caterpillars feed on Poplar, Aspen and Willow. days, and can often be seen feeding on garden flowers such as Fuchsia, while its caterpillars feed on Bedstraw.

Butterfly Conservation: Butterfly Conservation: Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Tel: 01929 400 209 Tel: 01929 400 209 Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268) Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268) www.munchingcaterpillars.org www.munchingcaterpillars.org Elephant Hawk-moth Canary-shouldered Thorn This is one of our most beautiful and recognisable moths with its pink and green This moth flies from July to October, colouring. Its caterpillar feeds mostly on Puss Moth Garden Tiger frequenting woodlands, parks and gardens. Rosebay Willowherb and Fuchsia and it is the It gets its name from the bright yellow caterpillar that gives it its name, due to its This beautiful moth was once common colour of its fluffy–looking thorax. This fluffy white moth has one of the resemblance to an elephant’s trunk. across Britain but has declined over the last most bizarre caterpillars found in Britain! few years. The caterpillars, known as ‘woolly It feeds on Aspen, Poplar and Willow, and bears’, feed on a wide range of plants, the adult can be seen flying from May to July. including Nettles and Docks. The Moth caterpillarGoat Cinnabar eats wood and because it is so hard to digest it can take This is a fairly widespread moth that can often be seen in the daytime from May four years to reach to July. Its distinctive black and yellow its full size caterpillars feed on Ragwort; sometimes Ruby Tiger there are so many caterpillars on each plant that they completely strip all the leaves!

This moth can be found flying between May and July, sometimes during the day. It gets its name from its ruby red colour. The species becomes less red the Large Emerald further north you travel in the UK. The very hairy caterpillars This attractive moth, as its name suggests, is pale feed on various plants, such as green in colour and the adults rest with their wings

Dandelion, Docks fully open, like a butterfly. The caterpillars can be Six-spot Burnet and Heather. found feeding on Birch and Hazel trees in woodland, Silver Y hedgerows and parks. This impressive day-flying moth is similar in colouration to the Cinnabar moth but with six Named after the pale Y-shaped markings crimson spots on each forewing. Caterpillars on the wings, this moth is very common mainly eat Bird’s-foot Trefoil and adults can be and can be seen during the day as well as at found flying in grasslands, woodland rides and night. Its caterpillars are not fussy eaters and roadside verges during July and August feeding will feed on nearly any kind of plant. on the nectar of Thistles and Scabious. Buff-tip This amazing moth looks just like a snapped twig of Silver Birch when it is resting with its wings closed. It is quite common, especially in southern Angle Shades Britain, and its caterpillars can feed on a wide This is a distinctive moth which is well range of broad-leaved trees. camouflaged among dead leaves. It can be Did you know? Did you found throughout Britain in any month of Most moths fly at know that bats the year but most commonly flies from May Magpie Moth to October. The caterpillars feed on a wide night but there are are the biggest range of plants including Docks and Nettles. some that come out in the daytime This pretty speckled moth flies in July and August and predator of is quite common in Britain, although it is declining in many areas. The caterpillar likes to feed on Currant and moths? Gooseberry bushes so can be encouraged into gardens.