Copper

A migrant to the UK, it has been recorded less than four hundred times, most often at light from coastal counties of England but numbers are increasing, possibly supported by transitory breeding. Easily recognised by large metallic silver 'dog-leg' mark in the centre of a pinkish-brown bar on the forewing.

In mainland Europe, it is widely distributed and expanding its range westwards since the end of the 19th Century. Can be found on the continent from spring to late autumn in two broods, sometimes seen flying by day. Spends the winter as a young caterpillar.

This stripy moth that can be found in a variety of colour forms, is widespread and common in most parts of the UK and is on the wing from March until May.

Dog rose and other wild roses are the foodplants for caterpillars of this moth, although they are unobtrusive and won’t cause any noticeable damage, so the species can be found in gardens, hedgerows and woodland.

Flight Season

There is one generation that flies from March through to late May.

The large copper butterfly has wings of a bright coppery-orange, fringed with black. The undersides are silvery-blue with black spots.

Emerging in July, the adult butterflies lays eggs on the leaves of great water dock. The caterpillars feed until September, on the undersides of the leaves; creating a characteristic 'window' since the upper part of the leaf is not eaten. They over the winter in this stage among the old leaves of the dock before resume feeding in the spring and then pupate in June.

This species is very similar to the more common Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing although it usually has a broader black border on the upper side of the forewing that extends along the leading edge.  It has only been regarded as a distinct species since 1991.

Very little is known about their life-cycle in the UK.

Flight Times

It flies from July to September

Size and Family

• Family – Darts, yellow underwings, clays and allies (Noctuinae)

• Small-sized

This micro moth has a forewing length of just 4mm and is bright orange with white chevron markings. It is one of the ‘leaf miner’ moths which means its larvae feed within the leaves of the foodplant, leaving characteristic blotches and patterns. Since it was first recorded in 1989 it has spread across most of the British Isles.

The larvae feed on the upperside of the leaf, forming a thin, silvery blister. This species usually has several generations and the larvae from the autumn generation will overwinter in the mine. They also pupate within the mine.

This micro moth has a forewing length of just 3-5mm and is reddish-brown with white and black bands. It is one of the ‘leaf miner’ moths which means its larvae feed within the leaves of their foodplant, leaving characteristic blotches. It was first discovered near Macedonia in the 1980s and since then has quickly spread across Europe, reaching Britain in 2002. The larvae can cause serious defoliation of Horse Chestnut trees, however, this does not appear to do any long-lasting damage.

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 the 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.