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Photo: Jo Hobart |
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UK
Safari Tip:
Did you know there are more day-flying moths than there are butterflies?
You can use this illustrated chart to identify them - click
here
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Latin name: Arctia caja
Size: Wingspan approximately 65mm.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK.
Months seen: July and August. Often flies after midnight.
Habitat: Gardens, hedgerows, woodland edges, sand dunes.
Food: Caterpillars feed on dead nettles, dandelions, docks and
plantains.
Special features: The garden tiger moth is quite a common species. It
normally flies at night and is readily attracted to lights.
They get their name from the tiger-like stripes on their abdomen. The hind-wings are bright orange with black
spots while the forewings have a variable brown and white giraffe-like mosaic
pattern.
To deter predators the tiger moth can make a rasping noise by rubbing its wings together. If
that doesn't work it exudes a drop of bright yellow blood from its thorax.
 The
caterpillars, usually found in May and June, are covered in long white hair. On
the back they have short black hairs, and the sides have short orange hairs. The
head colour varies from black to orange-brown.
Recent Sightings
2011 - London E10 - Brenda Chanter
2011 - Portsmouth, Hants - Judith Mason
UK Safari Moth Section
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