Identify Moths and Their Caterpillars Find out More About Moths... Tips

There are over Tips for looking for 2,500 kinds of different moths and caterpillars found in mothsBritain. There could be species living in Here are some tips to increase your chances 100 of finding what you are looking for... your back garden! • Different species of moth like different habitats. Check in a book before you set This is a pretty moth that Identify moths and their caterpillars your trap to choose which area to try. looks very furry. It flies from May to July and will often Buff Ermine visit moth traps or outdoor There are over 100 day-flying moths in the UK, but far more only come out at night so to • Larger moths tend to come out later in lights. The hairy brown see them requires some detective work! You could build a moth trap using the instructions caterpillars feed on many the summer than many smaller moths. Try different herbaceous plants. on our website, or you could hang up a white sheet with a bright torch shining on it. Many setting a trap in July or August to catch moth caterpillars can be found during the daytime, most commonly from May to September. hawk-moths. You can also try looking in your garden with a torch on mild winter nights when some moth • Moth traps need to be placed in a caterpillars come out to feed. sheltered spot. Make sure there is a cover to stop rain getting in or Find out more about hitting the bulb. moths... • Many day-flying moths like to live in grassy meadows, go for a walk If you have enjoyed looking for the moths on this sheet on a warm, still day to have the and want to find out more about moths, butterflies best chance of seeing them. and their caterpillars there are lots of places to go for more information. There is also a lot you can do to • Caterpillars can be found low help butterflies and moths, whether you want to make down on plants or among leaf your garden more moth-friendly, send us records of Brimstone Moth Privet Hawk-moth litter as well as higher up in bushes caterpillars you have found or take part in a national and trees, remember to search all This is our largest resident hawk-moth and it survey to help our conservation efforts. This is a common moth and the adults through the vegetation. can be found from April to October, is usually found in woodland and gardens. As depending on the habitat and location. its name suggests, the caterpillars feed on Wild Munching Caterpillars The caterpillars feed on a range of trees and Privet, but they will also eat Lilac and Ash. • Use a guide to help identify any www.munchingcaterpillars.org bushes, including Hawthorn and Blackthorn. moths or caterpillars you find. Butterfly Conservation • If you’re not sure what species you www.butterfly-conservation.org have found, try to take a picture and upload it on our website for us The Big Butterfly Count to identify. www.bigbutterflycount.org The United Kingdom Butterfly Monitoring Scheme

Photos by kind permission of Robert Thompson, John Bebbington, David Green, Mark Parsons, Green, Robert Thompson, John Bebbington, David Photos by kind permission of Neil Sherman, Roy Leverton and Chris Manley. Shane Farrell, Paul Pugh, James Peat, www.ukbms.org

The National Moth Recording Scheme Visit our Most adult moths www.mothscount.org feed on nectar, but Website to find some have no mouth Poplar Hawk-moth Humming-bird Hawk-moth Wild About Gardens parts so they can only out more! live a few days This is probably our commonest hawk-moth This moth gets its name from the way it visits www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk and has a distinctive shape when at rest, holding flowers to feed on nectar, hovering in front of its hind wings forward of its front wings. The them like a Hummingbird. It flies in the daytime, caterpillars feed on Poplar, Aspen and Willow. especially on sunny 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 Eyed Hawk-moth This is one of our most beautiful and recognisable moths with its pink and green This is a well camouflaged moth when colouring. Its caterpillar feeds mostly on Puss Moth Garden Tiger resting, but if it is disturbed it will flash its Rosebay Willowherb and Fuchsia and it is hind wings which are marked with striking the caterpillar that gives it its name, due to blue and pink ‘eyes’ to scare predators This beautiful moth was once common its resemblance to an elephant’s trunk. This fluffy white moth has one of the across Britain but has declined over the last away. The caterpillars feed on several most bizarre caterpillars found in Britain! It trees including sallow and apple. few years. The caterpillars, known as ‘woolly feeds on Aspen, Poplar and Willow, and the bears’, feed on a wide range of plants, adult can be seen flying from May to July. including nettles and docks.

The Goat Moth caterpillar Cinnabar eats wood and because it is so hard This is a fairly widespread moth that can to digest it can take often be seen in the daytime from May four years to reach to July. Its distinctive black and yellow caterpillars feed on Ragwort; sometimes its full size. there are so many caterpillars on each plant Jersey Tiger that they completely strip all the leaves!

This moth was once restricted to the Channel Islands but is now found all along the south coast and its range is expanding northwards. It flies during the Mullein day and at night from July to September, and its caterpillars eat a wide range of plants This moth is more commonly seen as a caterpillar including nettles. than an adult, feeding on Mullein (as the name suggests) or Buddleia in gardens. They are found Scarlet Tiger all over England and Wales, and the adults fly Silver Y from April to May. The Scarlet Tiger is common in southern parts of England and Wales and flies during Named after the pale Y-shaped markings the day in May and June. Its caterpillars are on the wings, this moth is very common not too fussy and will eat many plants, but and can be seen during the day as well as at they especially like Common Comfrey. night. Its caterpillars are not fussy eaters and will feed on nearly any kind of plant.

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 Britain, Angle Shades and its caterpillars can feed on a wide range of

This is a distinctive moth which is well broad-leaved trees. camouflaged among dead leaves. It can be Did you know? Did you found throughout Britain in any month of the year but most commonly flies from May Most moths fly at know that bats to October. The caterpillars feed on a wide night but there are Magpie Moth are thebiggest 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 moths? many areas. The caterpillar likes to feed on currant and gooseberry bushes so can be encouraged into gardens.

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 Did you know? Tips for looking for There are around 60 species butterflies and butterfly found in of caterpillars... the UK Here are some tips to increase your chances of finding what you are looking for... This is the palest of the blue Identify butterflies and their caterpillars butterflies and can often be seen flying high up among the • Different species of butterfly Holly Blue bushes. As its name suggests the Butterflies like to fly when it is warm and still so choose a sunny day with very little wind to go like different habitats. Check caterpillars like to eat Holly, but out looking for them. Caterpillars can most commonly be found from April to September, but they will also eat Ivy. in a book before you go out to if it is very hot, very cold or very wet they will probably be hiding! choose which area to look in.

• Many also fly at different times of year. You will need to look for different species in May to those you can find in September. Find out more about • Grassy meadows are very butterflies... popular with a large variety of If you have enjoyed looking for the butterflies on this butterflies. sheet and want to find out more about butterflies, moths • Caterpillars can be found low and their caterpillars there are lots of places to go for down on plants or among leaf more information. There is also a lot you can do to help Small Tortoiseshell Red Admiral litter as well as higher up in butterflies and moths, whether you want to make your The Small Tortoiseshell is one of our most bushes and trees, remember garden more butterfly-friendly, send us records of moths widespread butterfly species. It hibernates in The big, bold and beautiful Red Admiral the UK and can be seen from early spring to to search all through the you have caught or take part in a national survey to help is a common site in summer gardens. It is autumn, making it a popular garden visitor. usually migratory but can hibernate over The caterpillars feed on nettles, preferably winter as an adult in sheds or garages. vegetation. our conservation efforts. growing in a sunny spot. The caterpillars love to feed on nettles. • Take a guide to help identify Munching Caterpillars any butterflies or caterpillars www.munchingcaterpillars.org you find. Butterfly Conservation • If you’re not sure what species www.butterfly-conservation.org you have found, try to take a The Big Butterfly Count picture and upload it on our www.bigbutterflycount.org website for us to identify. The United Kingdom Butterfly Monitoring Scheme Photos by kind permission of David Dennis, Matt Berry, Keith Warmington, Peter Eeles, Ken Wilmott, Ken Peter Eeles, Warmington, Keith Berry, Dennis, Matt David Photos by kind permission of Lawson. and Andrew Thomas, Martin Warren Kelly Jim Asher, Green, David www.ukbms.org

The National Moth Recording Scheme Visit our Butterflies can Painted Lady www.mothscount.org live in the adult stage Peacock Website to find from anything from The Painted Lady is a migrant that flies all Wild About Gardens one week to one year The Peacock is one of our most out more! the way from Europe and North Africa. The depending on the recognisable butterflies with red www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk caterpillars’ favourite foodplants are thistles. species wings and bright eyespots to scare off predators. Its caterpillar is another that loves to feed on nettles.

The delicate yellow Brimstone looks just like This beautiful orange butterfly has a a leaf when its wings are folded together. Marbled White very distinctive shape as the wings have It rests in this position to avoid being seen Meadow Brown wavy edges. It has a white comma mark by birds that want to eat it. The caterpillars on the underside of its wings and its feed on Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. The Marbled White is most often found caterpillars like to eat nettles. They will The Meadow Brown is one of the most in flowery grassland but it may also visit common and widespread butterflies in also feed on hops, elms, currants gardens. Its black and white chequered and willows. Britain. It is another species that prefers pattern is very distinctive and its caterpillars grassland, as its caterpillars feed on several feed on several species of grasses, grass species. The adults can often be seen particularly Red Fescue. flying in dull weather when most other A butterfly’s species would stay hidden away.

life cycle is Gatekeeper made up of four parts, egg, The Gatekeeper gets its name because it caterpillar, likes to live in hedgerows, so it can often be spotted around gates. The caterpillars feed chrysalis and on many different grass species and so this Large White butterfly can often be found at the edges adult of fields and along woodland rides.

The dark black wing tips distinguish this butterfly from its smaller cousin the Small White. Only the females have these spots on the wings, the male Orange-tip has plain white wings apart from the black wing tips. They are Only the males have the bright orange wing also known as cabbage whites tips, but both the male and female have a because the caterpillars love to mottled grey-green underwing that can help Ringlet Common Blue eat cabbages! distinguish this species from the Small White. Orange-tip caterpillars feed on Cuckooflower and Garlic Mustard. It can be easy to confuse the Ringlet Only the male Common Blue is really blue. with the similar Meadow Brown as they The female is brown with just a dusting are both mostly brown and like to fly in of blue near her body. It prefers open grassy meadows where the caterpillars grassland and the caterpillars feed on can feed on grasses. If you look closely Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil. the ringlet has small circles on the underwing which give it its name.

Small White

The black markings on the wings are not as dark as they are on the Large White, but these butterflies can be Small Copper confused with Green-veined Whites. Caterpillars Butterflies have The caterpillars feed on cabbages have six true legs This butterfly may be small, but it is four wings covered and Nasturtium. but may have several perfectly formed! The beautiful orange in tiny scales, they Speckled Wood pairs of ‘prolegs’ along wings with tiny black spots really stand often have brightly their abdomen to help out on a sunny day. Its caterpillars feed on Common Sorrel and Sheep’s Sorrel. coloured patterns The pale speckles on its brown wings and its habit of staying them move along near shady woods and hedgerows give this pretty butterfly leaves or twigs its name. It is a territorial butterfly and the caterpillars like to eat many different types of grasses.