There are lots of great resources to help you identify moths, including the Museum ' s own identification services and handy guides provided by UK moths and Butterfly Conservation. If you have access to a garden or open space, why not build a light trap and see which insects come to visit? Your best chance of spotting this moth in the UK might be finding freshly emerged adults on willow trunks on summer mornings. 'When they hatch, the caterpillars burrow into the trees, feeding on the lower trunk and upper roots.' 'They frequent fens, open woodland, heaths and scrubby places, laying their eggs on the bark of the larval foodplants such as goat willow, grey willow and poplars. Elephant hawkmoth ( Deilephila elpenor)Īlessandro says, 'Lunar hornet moths are very elusive, flying in July and August but rarely seen. So why not see if you can identify a colourful moth or caterpillar in a garden or on a walk? 1. Many of the species listed below can be spotted across most of Britain and Ireland. 'Not all moth species feed as adults, but those that do feed, do so on nectar, sap and sugary liquids from plants and fruits.' Nine colourful and distinctive UK moths Their food supply can be a good starting point when looking for moths and caterpillars, with each species preferring certain plants and flowers.Īlessandro says, 'More than 90% of moth caterpillars are vegetarian, eating leaves, roots, seeds and fruits. Alessandro says, 'Moths pollinate a wide variety of plants, including wildflowers and some crops, as they search for nectar.' What do moths eat? Their predators include birds, mammals and spiders. Moths, like all insects, provide vital ecological services, including as food sources for other organisms. In contrast, he says, 'The dull colours of nocturnal moths help camouflage them as they rest during the day.' Moths' roles in nature Alessandro Giusti, Lepidoptera Curator at the Museum, explains that brilliantly coloured moths are often day-flying species or those keen to display their distastefulness to predators.
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