Marvellous moths

Have you noticed more moths in your garden recently? We certainly have here at The Lodge.

Our wildlife experts are getting more requests for help to identify different moths, many of which are most commonly seen on summer nights.

Here's a short guide to some of the more common examples you may see flitting around your garden at this time of year.

Moths are often seen as drab compared to their more colourful lepidopteran cousins, butterflies.

In fact, they're amazingly diverse in shape, size and design, with 2,500 species in the UK alone and an estimated 160,000 worldwide - many of which have yet to be formally identified.

So, don’t be too disheartened if the moth you spot is not featured below!

Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae)

• This medium-sized moth can be seen throughout Britain, except northern Scotland, from May to July.
• It’s so named thanks to distinctive black-and-red markings on its forewings, which make it relatively easy to spot.
• Its caterpillar, which can be seen in July and August, is also brightly coloured, and can be identified by its tiger-like black-and-gold stripes.

Small magpie moth (Eurrhypara hortulata)

• The small magpie moth can be seen from June to August throughout Britain, except in the far north.
• It gets its name from the stylish black-and-white markings on its wings.
• Its caterpillar, which can be found feeding inside rolled stinging nettle leaves during August and September, is a fetching pale green with bold, black spots and a rusty line down its sides.

Hummingbird hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)

• The hummingbird hawk-moth, as its name suggests, resembles a hummingbird as it hovers, probing flowers for nectar with its long proboscis.
• It’s hairy with a dark white-spotted abdomen, mousey-grey forewings and golden-orange hindwings.
• Hummingbird hawk-moths fly throughout the day and can be seen throughout lowland Britain in the summer. However, they cannot survive the British winter so migrate to and from southern Europe in autumn and spring.

Poplar hawk moth (Laothoe populi)

• Probably the most common of our hawk-moths, the large poplar hawk-moth feeds and mates at night.
• If you’re lucky, you may spot one resting on a tree trunk during the day, where it’s perfectly camouflaged thanks to grey-brown wings.
• When resting, it positions itself strangely, with the hindwings held in front of the forewings, and its abdomen curved upwards at the rear.

Garden tiger moth (Arctia caja)

• The garden tiger moth is widespread throughout the UK.
• Its chocolatey-brown forewings feature cream patterns, in contrast to its hindwings, which are orangey-red with black spots.
• Its brown and black and exceedingly hairy caterpillar is often called a ‘woolly bear’. The hairs are an irritant and are designed to protect it from predators, so be very careful if you pick one up!

Tell us what you see

As the above species show, moths are amazingly diverse in terms of their colour, size and shape. But they also provide a huge number of ecological benefits, from pollinating plants to feeding birds, bats and even people.

We’d love to hear more about the moths you see! Please leave a comment below or send us a tweet.

There are also a number of ways you can help give these marvellous mini-beasties a home, like growing food for moths or starting a wildflower meadow.

PS If you want to see which moths live in your garden, just leave the bathroom window open and a light on after dark. Alternatively, shine a torch on a white sheet at dusk and enjoy the show.

Happy hunting!