ID Parade
September – Moth caterpillars
This month we look at moth caterpillars and adults. Closely related to butterflies (both are in the family Lepidoptera), there are thought to be between 150,000 and 250,000 species of moth. Unfortunately there’s not enough room for all these on this page, but here are a few interesting, common ones to look out for. Many of the larvae are active between June and September.
 Poplar Hawkmoth Laothoe populi A common species. The larvae can be found on poplar, aspen and willow at this time of year. They can be difficult to spot as they have the appearance of a dead leaf. All four wings are greyish-brown. The caterpillar of this moth often has a bluish tinge with a horn tipped with red. They are active from June to September. If you see an adult during September, it is likely that this is from a second brood.
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 Eyed Hawkmoth Smerinthus ocellata These larvae are found commonly on the willow and apple tree between June and September. Unlike most caterpillars, it normally rests upside-down with a body around 75mm long. The adult blends very well with the bark on which it rests, moving its body up and down to scare birds and other predators. The name comes from the large eye patterns on its hindwings which are revealed when it lifts its forewings.
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Spurge Hawkmoth Hyles euphorbiae Very similar to the bedstraw hawkmoth, the spurge hawkmoth larvae are found on spurge, as the name suggests. It is a rare summer visitor and flies between May and September. Spurge hawkmoth is a European hawkmoth and has been successfully used as a biological pest control to tackle leafy spurge, which is a noxious weed. The caterpillar is black, smooth with countless white dots.
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 Elephant Hawkmoth Deiphila elpenor Common in most of Britain. Look for larvae on rosebay, willowherb, bedstraw, bogbean and fuchsia. This hawkmoth gets its name from the caterpillar’s slender, trunk-like ‘snout’. Active between June and September, this caterpillar rears up in a menacing way when threatened by a predator. Look out for it on garden fuscias – a favourite snack! |
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Pine Hawkmoth Hyloicus pinastri The larvae of the pine hawkmoth feed on Scots pine and Norway needles in coniferous forests in southern and eastern England. The larva is considerably more colourful than the adult which is rather nondescript and grey in appearance. Look out for yellow longitudinal strips with yellow stripes on the sides of the head. |
 Privet Hawkmoth Spinx ligustri As the name suggests, the larvae of this hawkmoth are found on the leaves of privet. Also found on lilac and ash. The moth larva is common and found in most places in the UK. It has a distinctive appearance with a bright green body and purple and white stripes on its flanks. It often adopts a “sphinx” stance whilst at rest – hence the Latin name.
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 Death’s Head Hawkmoth Acherontia atropos Often found on potato foliage, the death’s head hawkmoth is one of the largest found in the British Isles. It is normally yellow with blue stripes although some individuals are brown. One main distinguishing feature is its rough, curled tail-horn. The larva “squeaks” if prodded and the adult sometimes enters beehives for honey; possibly by imitating the queen bee in appearance and sound.
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White Ermine - Spilosoma lubricipeda Both adults and larvae can be seen in September, the larvae are feeding on a wide variety of wild and garden plants, and it then over winters as a pupa. The larvae are very hairy, blackish brown with numerous small black warts on which hairs are growing. On the back is an orange or reddish dorsal line. In autumn greyish black cocoons are woven in which pupation takes place. The cocoons can be found among leaf litter and other plant debris
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 Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi This unassuming species gets its English name not from the adult moth, but from the remarkable crustacean-like appearance of the larvae. The larvae develops even more of an odd appearance with a large head, long thoracic legs, raised humps on the fourth to seventh segments and a greatly swollen anal segment that has the claspers modified into long thin structures. The general colour is reddish brown. It is mainly distributed in woodland habitats, but is not especially common
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 Pale Tussock Dasychira pudibunda The larvae are found between July and October the caterpillars eat oak, birch, lime and hop leaves in woods, parks and gardens. The hairy green and yellow caterpillars have a black band around each body segment, and a tuft of red-brown hair at the tail end. The brightly coloured hairs protect them from birds, and other predators. The caterpillars were known as 'hop dogs' by hop pickers who frequently found them among the crops. They're less likely to be found in hop fields these days due to the use of pesticides.
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Puss Moth Cerura vinula Named after the cat-like appearance of the adult moth, this species is fairly common throughout most of Britain. The larvae taper towards then end which has two long tails which it waves when disturbed. The body is bright green with a dark saddle-shape band across the back. Towards the head there is a small pointed stump which is marked with black. They feed in September on Aspen as well as poplar and willow, until they pupate in cocoons of tough silk and chewed tree bark |
Don’t forget to send us any records of your spring sightings, along with any photos or stories
