
Common Swift
The adults have short antennae and have no functioning mouthparts so cannot feed. The caterpillars can be found from July to the following May, overwintering twice underground as larvae so the life cycle takes two years to complete.
Most often Bracken roots (Pteridium aquilinum) but also the roots of Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) where Bracken is absent.
Moorland, rough pasture, heathland and open woodland.
Map-winged Swift - Ben Sale
Ben Sale
Map-winged Swift - Tapio Kujala
Tapio Kujala
Map-winged Swift - Tapio Kujala
Tapio Kujala
Map-winged Swift - John Money
John Money
Map-winged Swift - Garry Barlow
Garry Barlow
Map-winged Swift - Ben Sale
Ben Sale
Map-winged Swift - Ben Sale
Ben Sale
Map-winged Swift - creaturesnapper
creaturesnapper