| Gallery: Garden moths |  |
An amazingly diverse group of often very beautiful animals; yet their largely nocturnal habits mean they remain a mystery to many gardeners.
Pictures
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A beautiful Hornet moth (Sesia apiformis) photographed by Dan close to some poplar trees in his Suffolk garden. This conservation status of this moth is Nationally Scarce (B) and it just underlines that interesting animals can turn up in gardens.
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The large yellow underwing moth(Noctua pronuba) is a common moth of gardens and elsewhere. The rather drab brown forewings conceal brilliantly yellow hindwings which can be seen when the moth is disturbed from daytime roosts amongst grass and other plants. The male, pictured here, is darker than the female.
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A fantastic image of the hummingbird hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) hovering at a butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii).
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A hummingbird hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) hovering at dwarf petunias.
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A great shot of a hummingbird hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) here feeding in typical fashion at a buddleia (Buddleja davidii).
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Hummingbird hawkmoths (Macroglossum stellatarum) appear to be more and more frequently seen here in Britain - perhaps as a result of climate change. Normally these day-flying moths are encountered hovering at flowers - they don't alight to feed. This shot shows the moth in a much less often seen pose: at rest (here on a washing line). The moth looks completely different here - the bright orange hind-wings and striking markings on the margins of the abdomen are hidden by the resting fore-wings. You would not necessarily recognise this as the same moth.
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Red valerian (Centranthus ruber) seems to be the absolute favourite food plant of adult hummingbird hawkmoths (Macroglossum stellatarum) here in Britain. This excellent picture shows the moth in typical pose at the plant.
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A close-up image of the hummingbird hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum).
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The summer of 2003 was a bumper one for hummingbird hawkmoths (Macroglossum stellatarum) in the UK. This migrant is normally a scarce visitor to our shores, but in common with many other moths and butterflies, the warm summer of 2003 led them to visit us in large numbers. They are diurnal (active during daylight) and their habit of hovering conspicuously in front of nectar rich plants meant that they were seen by many people. | | Click to enlarge | |
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Close up view of the amazing hummingbird hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) which many people mistake for a true humming-bird. | | Click to enlarge | |
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Another view of the handsome hummingbird hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum). | | Click to enlarge | |
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The green silver-lines (Pseudoips prasinana britannica) is a beautiful and distinctive moth often attracted to light.
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I found this chrysalis (pupae) of an elephant hawkmoth (Deilephila elpenor) in my garden and not knowing what it was I decided to keep it until the adult emerged.
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An elephant hawkmoth (Deilephila elpenor). This specimen was raised in captivity from a chrysalis found in the garden. It is a relatively common hawkmoth of the garden. The larval foodplants include willowherbs and bedstraws but it will also use fuschia in the garden.
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An elephant hawkmoth (Deilephila elpenor), surely one of the most beautiful animals likely to be encountered in the garden.
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The dark arches (Apamea monoglypha), a common moth in gardens, is variable in colouration, but a constant characteristic is the 'W' shaped mark at the outer edge of the wing.
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The cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) is a familiar day-flying moth which may sometimes wander into gardens. It favours grassy places where the foodplant of its larvae, common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) grows.
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Burnet moths, like the similar looking (but unrelated) cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae), are common day-flying moths. The narrow-bordered five-spot burnet (Zygaena lonicerae) may be found in gardens which are close to suitable (grassy) habitats.
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Female buff ermine (Spilosoma luteum). The male is buffer in colouration.
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A brimstone moth (Opisthograptis luteolata). A common and unmistakable garden moth. Larval foodplants include hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).
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The angle shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) is quite a common moth of gardens with very distinctive (as well as beautiful) markings and colouration.
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