Freshly emerged Elephant Hawk Moth
Elephant Hawk Moths are usually seen from May to July, and the caterpillars are usually seen from July until September. The caterpillars feed on Willowherbs, Bedstraw and Fuscia plants. The adult moths feed on nectar. Towards the end of August - September the caterpillars are fully grown. At this stage they come down to the ground and leave their feeding plants. They now wander off looking for dry leaves, bark, loose soil and low vegetation to hide and pupate in. Here they will stay until the following May when they will emerge as an adult moth. Once buried in loose soil and leaves the caterpillar secretes a sticky fluid through its skin, as seen in the bottom-left image above. This quickly hardens and within a few days becomes a hardened pupa. The bottom-right image above shows the pupa just a few days after the caterpillar left its feeding plants. It already resembles a moth inside the cocoon.
Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar
Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar
Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar - Green variety
82mm Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar - Green variety. Shown on finger for size comparison.
Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar - Green variety, feeding on Fuchsia Plant
A mating pair of 6-Spot Burnet Moths, photographed in a wildflower meadow along a railway line in Kent 21/07/2019
Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar
Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar feeding on Ragwort
Knott Grass Moth caterpillar (Acronicta rumicis)
Knott Grass Moth - (Acronicta rumicis)
A common moth across the UK with a wing-span of around 30-35mm. Caterpillars grow to 40mm in length and can be found feeding on a wide variety of herbaceous plants during the day. The first caterpillars can be seen in May, having overwintered, emerging from cocoons found amongst leaf litter.
40mm Jersey Tiger Moth Caterpillar
Despite the number of Tiger Moths declining significantly in the UK over recent years the Jersey Tiger Moth has managed to expand its range and has increased in numbers in parts of Southern England.
Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar
Garden Tiger Moth (Arctia caja)
The caterpillars of the Garden Tiger Moth are often referred to as "Woolly Bear Caterpillars". Woolly Bear Caterpillars grow to around 6cm when fully developed and prefer to feed on Lambs Quarters, Violets and Clovers. They will also eat Dandelions, Nettles, Sunflower, Burdock and Yellow & Curly Docks. They are not a specialist feeder and feed on most wild plants and occasionally also eat garden plants including Spinach, Cabbage, Greens and Herbs.
27mm White Ermine Moth caterpillar found crossing a garden path in SE London, 6th August 2020.
White Ermine Moth (Spilosoma lubricipeda)
The White Ermine Moth is a medium sized moth from the same family as the Tiger Moths. They have white fore-wings with a varying number of black spots and a wing-span of around 34-48mm. Further north in England and in Scotland cream coloured specimens occur and occasionally brown specimens too. Adults are usually seen flying from May to July and sometimes later in the south of the England.
Caterpillars feed on a range of herbaceous plants including nettles and can be found from July until September before they pupate and overwinter amidst plant debris. White Ermine Moths are common across the UK in rural and urban environments including parks and gardens.
50mm Fox Moth caterpillar (Macrothylacia rubi) found on brambles in sand dunes at Horsey Gap, Great Yarmouth, September 2019.
Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi)
The Fox Moth is a fairly large moth with a typical wing-span of 44-62mm and sometimes 70mm . It gets its name from the colouration of the male which tends to be a beautiful orange brown. Specimens from the north of the country tend to be less orange and females tend to be even less colourful with many specimens appearing grey across the UK. The females are slightly larger with longer forewings. Females also lack the feathery antennae found on the males. The caterpillars are large and grow to around 70mm before pupating. Caterpillars start off black with bright orange bands but as they age the colour changes from black to reddish grey / brown with long grey hairs. The caterpillars can be found on heathland and coastal grassland feeding on brambles and heather from July until winter when they hibernate. Caterpillars emerge again in the spring and continue to bask on sunny days before pupating in April. In some areas the Fox Moth can be found on moors and open woodland too.
Adults can be found from May until early July. Female specimens only fly at night unless disturbed but male specimens can also be observed flying low to the ground during the afternoon as they search for a female to mate with.
Swallow-Tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)
The Swallow-Tailed Moth is a large and unmistakable species with a wing-span of 44-60mm across. Newly emerged moths have yellow wings which fade to white in older specimens. These moths are strictly nocturnal unless disturbed during the daytime. At night they fly at great speed around woodland, parks and gardens. The caterpillars feed on a variety of woody broadleaves including Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder and Horse Chestnut. They are usually seen in flight from June to August. Caterpillars overwinter in loose tree bark.
Light Emerald Moth (Campaea margaritata) found in my garden in SE London, 27th August 2017.
Light Emerald Moth (Campaea margaritata)
The Light Emerald Moth is a common and widespread medium sized species with a wing-span of 36-52mm. They are found across the UK around deciduous woodland, parks and gardens. The larvae are long, thin and brown and can resemble a twig. They have a distinctive fringe of hairs that run the length of their underside and they feed on the leaves of deciduous trees and bushes from August to the following June. The larvae overwinter laying flat to the stem of the host plant. Adults can be seen flying from June to August and a second generation is often seen from August to September. Some adult specimens fade as they age and can be so pale they appear almost white in colour.
Small Magpie Moth (Anania hortulata)
25mm Yellow Shell Moth (Camptogramma bilineata), one of many found in my garden in SE London 22nd August 2019
The Yellow Shell Moth is highly variable in shades and patterning. This is one of the less common variations of the species.
Leaf Litter Moth (Oegoconia Species) that flew into my house in SE London, 2nd July 2020
Leaf Litter Moth (Oegoconia Species)
A small micro-moth with a wing-span of 11-17mm. Usually flies from June to August. Larvae feed on leaf litter and decaying plant matter. There are three indistinguishable species in Britain that can only be separated by microscopic examination: Oegoconia quadripuncta, Oegoconia caradjai and O. deauratella.
Poplar Hawk Moth - (Laothoe populi)
Box-Tree Moth - (Cydalima perspectalis)
Box-Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis)
The Box-Tree Moth is an invasive species of moth from Asia. It was first recorded in the UK in 2007 as an adult and 2011 as a caterpillar. It has a wing-span of around 40mm and its wings have an iridescent sheen which can vary in colour from purple, gold, and green depending on how the sun's light is reflected.
Unfortunately the caterpillars of this moth are so destructive that the Royal Horticultural Society has ranked this moth as the top garden pest in the UK! At the moment sightings were confined to the South-East of England but they are now spreading across all of England and the RHS has been asking for records of all sightings to be submitted since 2018:
Report Sightings HereThe caterpillars are dangerous because they have no natural predators due to the toxins in their skin making them inedible to birds and other insects in the UK.
Box-Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) - Moving the light-source around shows the different shades and colours created by the iridescent sheen on the moth.
Box-Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) - Lighter morph.
The Box-Tree Moth comes in two variations or morphs. The lighter morph that appears almost white with a brown boarder, and the darker morph which is brown / purple. Both have a pearlescent sheen.
25mm Box-Tree Moth caterpillar (Cydalima perspectalis). Photographed in SE London garden in mid August 2019
Box-Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) - Back-lit against my kitchen window.
28mm Riband Wave Moth (Idaea aversata). Found in my suburban garden in SE London in July 17th 2020
Small Dusty Wave Moth (Idaea seriata) found on my dining-room window in SE London, 26th May 2020
Small Dusty Wave Moth (Idaea seriata)
The Small Dusty Wave Moth is a small and rather plain looking nocturnal moth with an average wing-span of 19-21mm. It is commonly found in woodlands, wasteland and gardens and seems to have a preference for resting on walls and windows of houses. Adult forms are found across the UK, usually from June to July. In the south of England a second brood can usually be seen from August to September. The caterpillars feed on a variety of herbaceous plants including ivy.
42mm male Willow Beauty Moth (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) that visited our bathroom one evening on 29th June 2020.
Willow Beauty Moth (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)
The Willow Beauty is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan of around 30-48mm. Willow Beauties are one of several very similar Beauty Moths that can be tricky to distinguish, but the Willow Beauty is the most common and widespread. Ironically the Beauty Moths are all fairly dull in appearance. Although usually brownish in colour Willow Beauty has a grey variation (f. perfumaria) and a dark melanic variation (f. rebeli).
This species is often found in woodland, parks and gardens in July and August and again in September in the south of England. The caterpillar larvae feed on Hawthorn, Ivy Privet, Honeysuckle and various broadleaved deciduous trees.
40mm male Willow Beauty Moth caught in a moth trap in my garden in SE London, 2nd August 2020.
Large Yellow Underwing Moth - (Noctua pronuba)
Large Yellow Underwing Moth (Noctua pronuba)
A large and common moth found throughout Britain, with a wing-span of 45-55mm. It's possibly the most commonly encountered of the UK's larger moths in July - September. This dull brown / grey moth reveals it's subtle beauty when it flashes its bright yellow / orange underwings. The yellow / light brown caterpillars feed on a variety of herbaceous plants and grasses.
Large Yellow Underwing Moth larvae - (Noctua pronuba)
This specimen measured 48mm in length and was found in my garden in SE London under a tuft of grass 8th September 2019. The caterpillar of this moth is extremely similar in appearance to that of the Heart & Dart Moth (Agrotis exclamationis).
Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)
Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)
A common moth found throughout Britain, Europe and North Africa, with a wing-span of 40mm. Adult moths fly from May to October. The Cabbage Moth is considered a pest and is highly destructive to many crops especially vegetables. Moths lay 2 or 3 broods of eggs each year and caterpillars can be found throughout the year. Late broods overwinter as pupae in the soil.
Adult moths can resemble other species but can always be distinguished by a curved spur on the tibia of the foreleg if examined closely.
Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae) late phase.
The eggs are pale green in colour but develop dark centres within a few days of being laid. The eggs hatch after about 7 days and caterpillars are fully grown at 40mm in length after a further 30 days. They then pupate in soil and emerge as moths after 14-21 days. These caterpillars change appearance 4 times as they develop and can vary considerably with different shades of green and brown.
38mm female Gypsy Moth cocoon
This large cocoon was found in my garden tool shed in late July. I kept it in an indoor tank for two weeks until it emerged as a female Gypsy Moth.
Female Gypsy Moth with a wingspan of around 60mm
Male Gypsy Moth with a wingspan of around 40mm
Female Gypsy Moth with two competing males.
After photographing the freshly emerged female Gypsy Moth I placed it at the bottom of my garden on the trunk of a large Sycamore Tree. Within just three minutes three male specimens had arrived on the scene attracted by the powerful pheromones released by the female. The males have large and prominent feather-like antennae which are used to detect the faintest trace of the female's pheromones. Once on the scene it really was just a case of "first come, first served" as two of the males both tried to get into a mating position with the female. As soon as a male had attached himself to the female the other males immediately lost interest and I suspect at that point the female had stopped releasing her pheromones.
Female Gypsy Moth sitting over her egg mass, which will hatch in the following spring.
After mating the female walked to the sheltered rear of the tree and laid her egg mass on the bark. Here she remained for the two next weeks sitting on top of her eggs, looking worn and battered by the weather.
Silver Y Moth (Autographa gamma)
Silver Y Moth (Autographa gamma)
The Silver Y Moth can vary considerably in colour but it gets its name from the characteristic "Y" always present on the fore-wings. This moth is an immigrant species coming to the whole of the UK from Europe, anywhere from spring to autumn. It can often be seen flying in both day and night. This is a medium-sized moth with a wing-span of 35-40mm. Caterpillars are green in colour and feed on a variety of low plants. Numbers of adults can vary each year but on occasion this species can be very numerous in the south and SE of England.
Toadflax Moth (Calophasia lunula)
Toadflax Brocade Moth (Calophasia lunula)
The Toadflax Brocade Moth is a medium-sized nocturnal species with a wing-span of 26-38mm. This species has been resident in the UK since 1950 and is now found in Southeast and Central England. The colourful caterpillars grow to 35mm and feed on Toadflax, as the name suggests. Caterpillars are often found on brownfield sites, road verges, gardens, wasteland, shingle beaches or anywhere else that Toadflax grows. This species is native to Continental Europe and North America.
17mm Bright-Line Brown-Eye Moth caterpillar (Lacanobia oleracea)
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BUTTERFLIES
Small White Butterfly in caterpillar form (Pieris rapae)
Large White caterpillars (Pieris brassicae) feeding on cabbage leaves in my garden
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly (Aglais urticae) feeding from a buddleia bush in my garden, 10th July 2020.
Buddleia is often referred to as the "butterfly bush" and it can attract a wide variety of butterfly species when in flower.
Fresh from hibernation, this Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly drinks from snowdrops in February.
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly
Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillar
Ringlet Butterfly
Ringlet Butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus)
A medium sized butterfly with a wingspan of 48mm for males and 52mm for females. Found in woodland clearings, meadows, hedgerows, country lanes. Not often seen in open ares without cover. The dark colouration of its wings enables it to warm up quickly and it is one of the few British species seen flying on dull overcast days.
Freshly emerged Red Admiral Butterfly, photographed in Great Yarmouth September 2019
Freshly emerged Red Admiral Butterfly, photographed in Great Yarmouth September 2019
Red Admiral Butterfly, photographed in Great Yarmouth September 2019
Marbled White Butterfly photographed early evening in Lullingstone, Kent 13/07/2019
Marbled White Butterfly photographed early evening in Lullingstone, Kent 13/07/2019
Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) photographed in SE London, August 27th 2019
Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) photographed in SE London, August 27th 2019
Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) photographed in Horsey, Great Yarmouth September 2019
Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) photographed in Horsey, Great Yarmouth September 2019
As a migrating species some specimens show considerable wear and tear after making their long journey to the UK from North Africa.
Peacock Butterfly Caterpillar
A weathered Comma Butterfly with missing legs and battered wings. Photographed in late July.
Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-album)
A medium-sized butterfly found across England and Wales with a wing-span of 50-64mm. Caterpillars usually feed on Common Nettles and Hops for around 5 weeks. This butterfly gets its name from the single white mark on its under-wings that resemble a comma.
Freshly emerged Comma Butterfly
Comma Butterfly in Great Yarmouth, September 2019
Gate Keeper Butterfly in my garden in SE London
Gate Keeper Butterfly in my garden in SE London
Green Hairstreak Butterfly perched on Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
Green Hairstreak Butterfly perched on Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
Green Hairstreak Butterfly perched on Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
Geranium Bronze Butterfly found in SE London / North Kent 11th September 2019
Geranium Bronze Butterfly / Pelargonium Butterfly (Cacyreus marshalli)
The Geranium Bronze Butterfly is a very small species native to South Africa. They have a wingspan of just 15-23mm. Its distinctive underside markings, chequered edges and long pointed tail are unique and unlike any other species in Europe.
This species was accidentally introduced to southern parts of Europe in 1990 has has been breeding in several European countries ever since. The Geranium Bronze Butterfly is not over-wintering in the UK but very occasionally caterpillar specimens do find their way into the UK hidden amidst Geranium plants, usually imported from Spain. This specimen above was found by Chris Rose in his Bexleyheath garden 11th September 2019 and is believed to be the first ever sighting in the Bexley Borough. Currently (Sept 2019) the NBN Atlas shows zero records of this species being sighted in the UK:
NBN Atlas
Geranium Bronze Butterfly found in SE London / North Kent 11th September 2019
Geranium Bronze Butterfly found in SE London / North Kent 11th September 2019
In European countries where this species has become naturalized, this tiny butterfly is considered not just a pest, but a serious threat to ecosystems, as the caterpillars feed on cultivated Geranium plants and are very destructive.
Small Skipper Butterfly (Thymelicus sylvestris)
Small Skipper Butterfly (Thymelicus sylvestris)
Green-veined White Butterflies mating
Green-veined White Butterflies mating
Green-veined White Butterfly photographed in my SE London Garden 13/07/2019