Description of Species Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles Family: Hepialidae Gold Swift 16 Hepialus hecta Linnaeus This family is a member of the Exoporia, a primitive Plate 1: 13-15 suborder of Lepidoptera, comprising many medium- to Imago. 26-32 mm. Resident. Both sexes come sparingly large-sized species, of which five are found in the British to light. The males appear commonly at dusk and emit Isles. a scent likened to that of ripe pineapple. In favourable The adults are characterized by their elongate wings and conditions there is a strong dawn flight with the females very short antennae. The main flight is from a short time predominating. Single-brooded, flying from mid-June to before dusk until dark, although some individuals mid-July, frequenting a variety of habitats such as continue to fly intermittently throughout the night. Both woodland rides, parkland, commons and heathland. sexes are attracted to light. Local, but not uncommon over much of the British Isles; The eggs are broadcast by the female as she flies just occurring in Scotland as far north as Caithness and above the vegetation. Sutherland and as far west as the Inner Hebrides. The long, cylindrical and whitish larvae feed on the roots Larva. July to June of the third year on the stems and of various plants and pupate in the ground. roots of bracken and other plants; feeding internally until the final instar. Ghost Moth 14 Overwinters twice as a larva. Hepialus humuli humuli Linnaeus Plate 1: 9-10 Common Swift 17 Imago. 44-60 mm. Resident. Both sexes come regularly Hepialus lupulinus Linnaeus to light. The males are often seen in groups from dusk Plate 1: 16-19 onwards hovering and pendulating a few feet above the Variation. Unicolorous forms with the colour of the grass; it is stated that the purpose of this curious display, forewing ranging from whitish-buff to greyish-brown '!eking' as it is sometimes called, is to attract the attention occur frequently in both sexes. of a passing female. The males are also said to emit a Imago. 25-40 mm. Resident. Flies mainly at dusk when goatish scent. Single-brooded, flying in June and July, it is attracted to light. Single-brooded, flying from mid­ inhabiting hillsides, waste ground and other grassy May to mid-July and sometimes later. Widespread places. Widespread and generally common throughout throughout the British Isles; common in much of England the British Isles including Orkney and the Hebrides. and Wales, less frequent in Ireland and rather local in H. humuli thulensis Newman, pl. 1: 11-12. Ground Scotland. colour of male forewing ranging from white to ochreous Larva. July to April, on the roots of grasses and a wide buff, with the brownish markings, normally found in the range of wild and cultivated plants; frequently an female, varying in extent and intensity. The female is agricultural and horticultural pest. darker and less ochreous than the typical form. Overwinters as a larva. Widespread and not uncommon in Shetland. Larva. August to May on the roots of grasses and a Map-winged Swift 18 wide variety of wild and cultivated plants such as dock, Hepialus fusconebulosa De Geer burdock, nettle, hop and strawberry. Plate 1: 23-25 Overwinters, probably twice, as a larva. Variation. Ab. gallicus Lederer (figs 24-25) is a uniformly brown form occurring with varying frequency Orange Swift 15 over much of its range. Some specimens from Shetland Hepialus sylvina Linnaeus are brighter and more variegated than the typical form Plate 1: 20-22 and refer to ab. shetlandicus Viette. Imago. 32-48 mm. Resident. Both sexes come freely Imago. 32-50 mm. Resident. Ries from dusk onwards to light. Single-brooded, flying from late June to early and is attracted to light. Single-brooded, flying from late September, inhabiting moorland, gardens, waste ground, May to early July; a little later in northern Britain. etc. Generally distributed and common in England and Widespread, but local, throughout the British Isles, Wales. Less frequent, but widespread in Scotland as far inhabiting open woodland and moorland. north as Sutherland. Larva. July to May of the third year on the stems and Larva. September to May of the third year on the roots roots of bracken and probably other plants. of bracken, dock, dandelion, viper's-bugloss and other Overwinters twice as a larva. herbaceous plants. Overwinters twice as a larva. 12 .