Moths: Those Fly by Night Creatures That Laothoe Populi (Sphingidae) Common Emerald Come in All Shapes and Sizes
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Moths: those fly by night creatures that Laothoe populi (Sphingidae) Common Emerald come in all shapes and sizes. The grey and light brown pattern is rather dull, but Hemithea aestivaria (Geometridae) when at rest the shape is unmistakable with the Moths and Butterflies are in the scientific Order under-wings staying forward. It comes frequently Lepidoptera, meaning ‘scaly-wings’. The to light, males usually after midnight and females separation between moths and butterflies is earlier. Perhaps the most common Hawkmoth. artificial, but in general moths fly mostly at night Food plants for the larvae are Poplars, including and unlike butterflies, they do not have a club- Aspen, White and Black Poplar. shaped thickening at the end of their antennae. Span: 60 - 90mm. Flight: May - early August Moths are further divided into two groups (also Eyed Hawkmoth (see the front cover) Of the ‘Emerald’ moths, only the Common artificially): ‘macro’ and ‘micro’. There is no Smerinthus ocellata (Sphingidae) Emerald has a brown body, also the combination biological reason for these divisions, and is mainly The eye spots are on the pink hind wing. These of chequered wing margins and all wings coming for convenience of naming and identification. ‘eyes’ are exposed when the moth is disturbed, to a single point at the extremity. ‘Macros’ are usually over 20mm span, but and it rocks to and fro in an attempt to frighten a Larval food plants: woody shrubs e.g. Hawthorn confusingly, a few of the largest ‘micros’ are little potential predator. The colour of the forewing can Span: 30 - 35mm. Flight: Late June – late July bigger than the smallest ‘macros’. The moths in vary a little from light to dark brown. this leaflet are all ‘macros’. Food plants for the larvae are wild and cultivated Mottled Beauty willows, also ornamental and wild crab apple. Alcis repandata (Geometridae) The Life Cycle of a Moth Span: 75 - 90mm. Flight: early May - mid July Rather variable and little difficult to identify, but Moths lay their eggs on the leaves of their food one consistent feature is the dark wavy line across plant. When the eggs hatch, the caterpillar (or larva) just eats and eats, until it gains the Scarlet Tiger the forewing which is distinctively curved in the necessary weight to produce the adult moth. As it Callimorpha dominula (Arctiidae) front half of the wing. grows, the caterpillar will shed its skin up to four This spectacular moth is a recent additional find Larval food plants: woody shrubs times before reaching the pupa stage. by Shotover Wildlife, to the list of Shotover moths. Forewing 40 - 55mm. Flight: June - mid August Pupation is a ‘resting’, in which a spectacular It flies by day and night and is often seen resting transformation takes place, and at the end of which on leaves in the marshes and damp places. Heart and Dart an adult moth emerges. Shortly after emergence, Agrotis exclamationis (Noctuidae) the wings expand and dry, and the moth is ready to Larval food plants include a wide range of wild and fly off, find a mate and start the cycle once again. cultivated herbaceous plants. Span 30 - 40mm. Flight: mid May - late August. On Shotover, 226 species of ‘macro’ moth and 72 About Names ‘micros’ have been recorded over the past 20-30 For all things in nature, Latin has been the years (making a total of almost 300 species). language of science because it was internationally Current moth recording by Shotover Wildlife, in understood. So if Macroglossum stellatarum was collaboration with regional specialists, is updating recorded on the Continent or in your garden, both our knowledge of the moth diversity on Shotover. would be the Hummingbird Hawkmoth, but the So where are they all? In addition to their The forewing is a beautiful iridescent black/green descriptive English name would only mean something to speakers of English: hence the Latin. nocturnal habits, some have perfect camouflage, with white and yellow spots. The hind wing is red. which maybe why we notice so few. Starting with Like the ‘Heart and Dart’ and the ‘Silver Y’, Larval food plants are wide ranging, but there is a many of the English names come from the patterns some of the biggest, the Hawkmoths, here are a preference for common Comfrey and Nettle. and shapes on the moth’s wings and bodies. selection that might be seen during the day. Span: 45 - 60mm. Flight: June- July. The Poplar Hawkmoth 0 Six Spot Burnet Recording and Identifying Moths Zygaenidae filipendulae (Zygaenidae) 1 Most moths can be identified without This is another killing them. Light trapping is the most moth that can be effective technique for recording night flying seen during the 2 moths. The best lamps are those which emit day, and is the only part of their output as ultra-violet light. British Burnet with 3 Mercury vapour lamps and fluorescent tubes six red spots on are often used in light traps. In order to each forewing. The 4 compile a full site inventory, day-flying moths underwings are red. would also have to be recorded. Useful 5 equipment is a ‘butterfly’ net and a digital This distinctive moth can be seen in the summer Moths camera. visiting thistles and knapweeds in Slade Camp With a good magnifying glass, a good Field and the meadows near Brasenose Wood. 6 picture book and a little patience, it is possible Larvae feed on Birds-foot Trefoils. to identify most macro moths. Span: 30 - 40mm. Flight: late June – August. 7 The ‘micros’, being so small, are very difficult to identify and generally require on SHOTOVER A spectacular visitor to garden flowers is the 8 specialist knowledge and equipment. Hummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum (Sphingidae) 9 This moth resembles a small hummingbird as it flits rapidly from flower to flower, Shotover Wildlife is a voluntary hovering to get nectar with its very long 10 organisation founded to research and tongue. The orange underwing, which can be M communicate the importance of e a Shotover Hill for wildlife seen even when it is hovering, helps to s u r i separate it from the two scarce but similar n g Chair: Ivan Wright s ‘bee hawkmoths’. c a Tel: 01865 874423 l e i n [email protected] The larvae feed on Bedstraws and Wild c e n t i Madder, and eggs are laid on Red Valerian m e Related leaflet titles: t Span: 40-50mm. Flight: Day or night in most r e weather conditions. Most are immigrants s Butterflies Trees from Europe/Africa arriving April - November. Geology Habitats Those that have over wintered here can be Heathland Flowers seen flying from January on warmer days. Woodland Flowers The moth is reputed to be one of the fastest of flying insects (50kph), and in Europe, is Cover: The Eyed Hawkmoth thought to be a messenger of good news. A small swarm was reported flying north across Leaflet written and illustrated by Dave Powney the English Channel on D-Day! © Shotover Wildlife November 2005.