If disturbed the moth displays its orange hindwings with blue-black spots and can produce a clear yellow fluid from two ducts just behind the head.
The larvae can be seen from August to late the following June. The larvae are hairy and known as the "Woolly Bear". They sometimes feed and bask in sunshine and may be seen moving rapidly across bare ground when fully grown. They pupate in a thin cocoon among vegetation on or near the ground.
The Scarce Vapourer is superficially similar to the commoner Vapourer, but can be distinguished on wing colour, that species being a more uniform orange-brown and without white marks near the wing-tips. The grey female is almost wingless with a swollen abdomen.
The male flies by day in sunshine. The female is flightless and found in association with the cocoon from which it emerged.
The English name of this moth is most appropriate for those found in southern England. In northern England and Ireland, the forewings are darker with some blackish tints on the hindwings. One or two small spots are present on the forewings, these can be connected forming a crescent.
Can be found in flight by day, particularly in sunshine. Mating sometimes occurs in mid-afternoon. Also flies from dusk and into the night.
Sometimes with dark brown bands on the forewings, sometimes just freckles, or the bands are merged or absent. The male has feathery antennae. Usually rests with its wings held flat. Superficially similar to the Latticed Heath, although that species usually rests with it wings held closed over its back. In the Highlands of Scotland, the Netted Mountain Moth can occur in similar habitats, although that species is generally slightly smaller and darker.
Often found near common bird's-foot trefoil and kidney vetch. Coastal. The male sometimes flies in the afternoon sunshine, whilst both sexes can often be found at rest on fence posts, dry plant stems etc. The male also flies from early evening.
The larvae can be seen from May to July. The overwinter as pupae just below the ground.
The female is larger than the male with slightly different markings, has a paler colour and does not have feathered antennae (unlike the male). Northern or upland examples are more intensely coloured, with the female bluish-grey. The adult females fly at night when they occasionally come to light, usually early in the night.
The Small Copper is usually seen in ones and twos, but in some years large numbers may be found at good sites. Males are territorial, often choosing a piece of bare ground or a stone on which to bask and await passing females. They behave aggressively towards any passing insects, returning to the same spot when the chase is over.
Though it remains a common and widespread species, the Small Copper declined throughout its range during the twentieth century. Widespread through Britain and Ireland, and occasionally visits gardens.
The Small Heath is an inconspicuous butterfly that flies only in sunshine and rarely settles more than a metre above the ground. Its wings are always kept closed when at rest. Underside of forewing has eyespot at tip. Hindwing banded with brown, grey and cream. The number of broods and the flight periods are variable and adults may be seen continuously from late April to September on some sites in southern England.
