Macro moths: L
MACRO MOTHS
List of Macros (L) :
Large Emerald moth
Geometra papilionaria
This isn't the only true green moth seen in the UK but, when it turns up, it is a beauty to gladden the heart. Unlike the smaller Emerald moths which tend to fade with time, the Large Emerald seems to maintain its solid colour throughout its lifespan. There is little colour variation within the species although the white crosslines may appear faint or even be absent in some specimens. With an open wingspan of up to 60mm this is a big moth.
Date
Sighting
The single generation flies from June to August and is widespread throughout the UK. Eggs are laid in September on birch, alder, hazel or sometimes beech. Immature green caterpillars gradually develop small brown 'warts' which provide excellent camouflage. As they mature their body colour progressively turns to brown. They will feed until leaf fall and then hibernate on the branches and twigs through the winter months. They awaken when leaves start to open and continue feeding until May when they will then pupate in leaf litter beneath the food plant.
Attracted to lighted window.
23.07.2009
Large Yellow Underwing moth
Noctua pronuba
The upper image is by way of an explanation for the common name. The yellow underwing is rarely visible except for short glimpses while in flight. This image was taken shortly after emerging from pupation while the wings were being stretched and extended for the first time. The normal 'at rest' wing presentation is with wings slightly overlapped as in the second and third images.
Date
Sighting
17.06.2006
There are several members of the 'yellow underwing' group and classic differentiation of the species usually relies on the shape and disposition of the dark markings on the underwings.
These images are of the male and female wing patterns and coloration (male on the left, female on the right). Again, the image of the male, taken shortly after emergence from the pupa, shows colouring and markings rather more accentuated than will be seen after it has flown in and out of the usual hiding places in long grass. As with all moths the tiny wing scales get rubbed off and they gradually become paler and take on a 'washed out' appearance with age. The image of the female is more representative of the norm. The moths have quite a long flight period from June to September and are often disturbed from rest in long grass during the day.
21.06.2010
04.04.2007
Large green larva found on short grass at night.
Two males emerged from pupation and released.
Many rising from grass in the evening.
40mm dormant brown larva found submerged in saturated grass paddock.
Moths attracted to light.
Adult moth attracted to light.
28.09.2010
22.06.2007
Larvae will be about from September but, hiding during the day at the base of grass stems, are not often seen. They come in both green and brown forms. During the winter they will retreat to the grass roots and feed there. When the ground is frozen or saturated their metabolism will slow down and they will ride out the worst conditions in a state of dormancy. Having fed from September to March they can grow to a good size, the green one seen here being 45mm long.
Come March and April their appetites slow down and they will enter a lethargic 'diapause' period while their bodies prepare for pupation. The body usually contracts and changes to a muddy brown colour. They may still feed but without any apparent enthusiasm.
Pupation may take place either in grass roots or in loose soil during April and May. Initially the pupa case will be a rich, almost ruby red but, with time, will gradually change to a dark brown. Emergence from the hard pupal case is remarkably quick but stretching the compacted wings can talke a little while. The wings are stretched by pumping fluid through the wing veins and then allowing the wings to stiffen. At this stage excess body fluid will be released to lighten the flight payload.
03.09.2014
06.06 -
Adult moth attracted to light.
22.01.2008
16.06.2007
One female emerged from pupation and released.
11.03.2007
First of the brown larvae has pupated.
06.03.2007
Three brown larvae found in grass roots.
While both the male and the female will have a paler streak running down the wing leading edge, the males have a 'marbled appearance' and mature females may seem almost uniformly coloured mid-brown or grey-brown. The one constant feature is a small black tick mark near the trailing corner of the wing.
Latticed Heath moth
Chiasmia clathrata
When seen day flying, as this one was, one could easily mistake a Latticed Heath for a butterfly. It will often fold its wings vertically and flex them open in a typical butterfly manner. Forewing length 11 - 15mm.
In bright sunshine, the latticed tracery appears distinctly warm brown but, in shade it takes on a much darker, almost black, appearance. This one led me a merry chase along a roadside verge always settling just out of camera range.
Date
Sighting
Although the wing patterning of this sub-species might look quite distinctive, there are four other discrete sub-species with less clear markings. While they are less common, they could never the less cause confusion.
There can be two generations flying May/June and July/September. They tend to favour areas of calcareous (chalk or limestone) grassland where the larvae feed on clovers, trefoils and lucerne.
24.07 - 04.08.2009
Attracted to light.
11.06.2007
Day flying along a broad roadside verge at 15.00hrs.
Attracted to light.
20.07 - 22.08.2010
Attracted to light.
18 - 22.06.2014
Least Yellow Underwing moth
Noctua interjecta
Initially, I found this moth hard to identify. With no oval and kidney marks visible on the wings, it seemed to be a very nondescript species. Until, quite by chance, it dropped its guard on one occasion and opened its wings slightly to reveal the yellow under wing - and that narrowed the options down considerably.
Date
Sighting
I now see that it shares the same two fine dark dotted lines towards the rear of the wings like it's bigger relative, the Lesser Yellow Underwing and fortunately the wing colour seems to be fairly consistent in all the specimens that I see so, it is no longer the mystery that it once was.
Measuring about 20mm long it is, as it's common name suggests, the smallest of the 'Yellow Underwings'. It is a single generation species, flying in July and August and I find that it is a regular visitor to lighted windows.
Attracted to light.
21.07.2010
Attracted to light.
30.07 - 09.09.2014
Attracted to light.
11.09.2010
The larvae feed nocturnally from September through to the following May, on Mallow, Meadowsweet and grasses in the Autumn and on hawthorn ans sallows in the Spring. During the day and their winter sleep period, they retreat to the safety of ground leaf litter and will eventually pupate underground.
The UK population is biased towards the south. It is widespread and frequent in the Channel Islands, common in the southern half of England, less so in northern England and infrequent in Scotland.
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing moth
Noctua janthe
Like the larger Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, this 20mm species tends to rest with its wings closed and parallel and although much darker has similar banded wing markings. Often, the only clue to the position of the oval and kidney marks is the faint white speckling that outlines them.
Date
Sighting
One unique feature that is usually very noticeable is the lichen-green collar on the front edge of the thorax just above the head. This does not show up too well in these overhead images but is very prominent in a head-on view and is an excellent identification feature.The only other moth likely to be confused with this one is Langmaid's Yellow Underwing, a rare visitor from the continent to the English south coast. Only microscopic examination can separate these two.
13.09.2009
Attracted to light.
17 - 30.07.2014
Like all the Yellow Underwings, the underwings are rarely visible when the moth is at rest and the only opportunity to see them is usually immediately after the moth has landed from flight and 'stops for a breath before tucking itself up'.
01.08.2010
Attracted to light.
Attracted to light.
07.09.2010
Attracted to light.
The moths are common throughout the UK, fly from late July to early September and the larvae, which overwinter from September to May, have the same diverse dietary habits of others in this family, feeding on herbaceous plants in the autumn and on hawthorn, blackthorn and sallows in the spring.
Lesser Yellow Underwing moth
Noctua comes
While the Large Yellow Underwing, is a big substantial moth some 30mm long, the Lesser Yellow Underwing is about 25mm long and that 5mm difference is surprisingly obvious when they are seen in the wild. Although the moth does not normally display its yellow underwings at rest, if you do get a glimpse of the them in flight it helps considerably to narrow down the identification options.
Date
Sighting
As the images suggest, the coloration of this species varies quite a bit from a pale warm brown to cool grey brown and noticeably darker forms are found in northern regions. The kidney and oval marks on the wing are usually edged in a paler colour and, just behind the kidney mark, there are two fine equi-distant lines that I find are a helpful identification feature.
It is a single generation species, flying from June through into October. Larvae are usually found from August onwards and will overwinter in leaf litter. In the autumn they tend to feed on nettles, docks and foxglove but, in spring are known to feed on hawthorn, brambles, sallows and broom before pupating underground in May.
It is common throughout the UK and Ireland.
31.08.2010
07.09.2010
Attracted to light.
Attracted to light.
31.08 - 01.10.2014
Attracted to light.
Light Emerald moth
Campaea margaritata
There are several 'Emeralds' in the family. The Light Emerald is distinguished by the straight two tone lines which continue across the pale, delicate blue-green fore and rear wings. These cross-lines on the other Emeralds tend to be noticeably curved. And, if your eyesight is really good, there are tiny little orange ticks at the corner of the trailing edge of the wingtip which the other Emeralds do not have.
Date
Sighting
It is double brooded, the first generation flying from May to August, and the second (only in southern Britain) flying from July to September. The autumn generation over-wintering as caterpillars. The main food sources are deciduous trees such as Hawthorn, Birch, Ash, Horse Chestnut, sallows, etc.
17.07.2003
Home.
Attracted to light.
02.07.2007
01 - 19.07.2009
Attracted to light.
Attracted to light.
26.06.2014
Lime Hawkmoth
Mimas tiliae
The Lime Hawkmoth's wing markings and coloration are quite distinctive. The dark patches on the wings may vary from brown to dark olive green and can be affected by ambient lighting conditions. It is variable in size, the forewing can be anything between 23mm to 39mm in length. A less common variation is pinkish in colour with brick red markings. The only other hawkmoth that it might be confused with is the smaller, grey Willowherb Hawkmoth, generally regarded as an uncommon immigrant.
Date
10.06.2010
Sighting
The Lime Hawkmoth is a widely distributed resident, but not usually in great numbers, in England as far north as Yorkshire and Cumbria and is also found in Wales. It flies nocturnally between May and July and does not feed.
Eggs are laid on the larval foodplants, lime, elm, birch or alder and the caterpillars will feed from June to September. Pupation takes place in leaf litter beneath the foodplant where it will overwinter until the following May.
Attracted to lighted window.
Eupithecia centaureata
Moths with narrow outstretched wings are 'usually' Pug moths, members of the Eupithecia family. But it is quite a large family and many look very similar.
However, the Lime-speck Pug is the exception. With its lime white wings and large dark 'speck' on the leading edge there is little to confuse it with.
Date
01.08.2006
Sighting
25.05.2014
Lime-speck Pug moth
In the north of the UK a single generation flies from May to August. In the south two overlapping generations fly from April to October.
The larvae feed on the flowers of a wide range of herbaceous plants and are therefore found in a wide range of habitats and overwinter as pupae in loose ground litter.
Attracted to lighted window.
Attracted to lighted window.
Lunar Underwing moth
Omphaloscelis lunosa
The Lunar Underwing comes in a range of colours from a pale straw brown through rich dark brown to almost dark grey. However, the veining on the wings remains constant and can be in striking contrast to the background.
Date
Sighting
One weary specimen, found caught up in spiders web, afforded the opportunity to see the lunar, crescent moon shaped mark on the upper side of the hindwing. (Lower image)
Moths attracted to light at night.
21.09.2006
Attracted to light at night.
Three specimens, all very similar, attracted to light at night.
22.09.2007
Attracted indoors to light at night, conveniently stayed overnight for a daylight photo session.
21 - 25.09.2008
Both are single generation species with slightly different flight seasons. The Lunar Underwing flies from August to October and the Beaded Chestnut from September to November - but the significant overlap and seasonal fluctuations are obviously of little aid to identification.
And, while the Lunar Underwing larvae favour a range of grasses, the Beaded Chestnut larvae favour buttercups, clovers, etc. - which means that both species are likely to be found in very similar habitats.
14.09.2005
Five specimens, all very similar, attracted to light at night.
17.09 - 15.10.2014
Unfortunately, the Beaded Chestnut moth has very similar markings and some caution is required to positively identify these two species. The defining differences are that the Lunar Underwing has a more rounded wing tip (fine, if you have the two side by side for comparison) and a dark crescent shaped (lunar) mark on the pale grey hindwing (which is not usually visible at rest). The forewing length of both is of the order of 17mm.