Lulworth Skipper ThYlIlcliclfs actctjl/ One of the 'golden skippers' (as are all the following species) which rest with their wings at 45. This is both the smallest (wingspan about 26mm) and the darkest of the group, and the females have a gold circle on the forewings (upper side). The undersides of the antennae tips are creamcoloured. Habitat Rough grassland, where Tor Grass or brames occur. Status and distribution Very restricted in UK, on the Dorset and Devon coasts. Widespread on the Continent fram N Germany southwards, rare in the north. Small Skipper ThYlIleliclfS syll'estris A small golden-brown butterfly, with few positive distinguishing features. Brighter than Lulworth (above) and lacking the golden circles; smaller and less boldly marked than Large Skipper (see below). Essex Skipper can only be satisfactorily separated by looking at the undersides of the antennae: black in Essex, orange in Small. Habitat Many kinds of rough grassy places with flowers. Food-plants include various coarse grasses. Status and distribution Common in S Britain, absent from Scotland; widespread on the Season 5-8. Essex Skipper ThYllleliws linco/a Resembles Small Skipper very closely. It can only be reliably distinguished by the black undersides to the antennae, though with experience the slightly paler colour and the slightly shorter sex brand on the male's forewing, which runs roughly parallel to the wing margin (angled slightly towards it in the Small Skipper) can be used. Habitat Found in rough grassy 1)1.11' including fens and the upper parts of ",11 marshes. Status and distribution Locally ("," mon in south-eastern parts of B";I."II absent elsewhere. Widespread through,,", N Europe. Season 5-8. Silver-spotted Skipper J!cs/Jcria C()lllJJ1Ll An attractive skipper; wingspan 30-3511\11I Its most distinctive feature is the und"1 sides of the wings, which are greeni\h brown marked with conspicuous whit" spots, brighter in females. The upper SUI faces are similar but less boldly marked, with more orange. Habitat Chalk grassland and sirnibr places with short grass and bare soil. Food plants include fescues and other fill,' grasses. Status and distribution Rare and declining in the UK, confined to S England. Widespread and locally frequent on the Season Large Skipper Och/odes l'c1zati/s 6-9 in Europe, 8-9 in UK. Rather similar to Small Skipper, but larger (to 36mrn), and with upper surfaces of wings distinctly marked with squarish orange patches towards the edges, separated by dark veins. The undersides are similar but less boldly marked, though distinct from the plain undersides of Small, Essex and Lulworth. Habitat Grassy, flowery places of all kinds. Food-plants include Cocksfoot and other coarse grasses. Status and distribution Increasingly common southwards in England and Wales; widespread and common on the I SO L E P I DO P TE R A
1\ Moths unimproved habitats, including gardcli', Nocturnal. The differences between moths and butterflies Status and distribution Widesprc~d are discussed on p.118. Moths and generally common throughout th. themselves constitute a very large group of area. insects, with over 3,000 species occurring in the area covered, and about 5,000 in Europe as a whole. Moths can be difficult to Common Swift H. lupulinus is slightly identify, partly because there are so many, smaller, with white markings on browil but also because there are many variants, wings. Common almost throughout. and individuals gradually lose their scales with age, causing the identification features Gold Swift H. hecto is as small as Com moil Swift, with white markings on gold. Wide. to become blurred. Within the moths, spread. some groups can be reasonably easily recognized, though as some groups may contain Goat Moth hundreds of species, this does not C()SSUS C()SSIIS really solve the identification problem. A large robust moth, with a wingspan of up Moths are often separated into the to almost 10cm in the larger females. The larger ('macro-') moths and the 'micromoths'. wings are greyish striped and mottled Many guides cover only the larger darker, and the stout body is striped. The moths, partly because micro-moths are difficult larvae are reddish-purple, and may reach to identify, and partly because there 80mm long when fully grown. are so many of them. The selection of Habitat The larvae live in dead wood more conspicuous micro-moths featured (taking several years to mature), and thc on pp. I96-20 I includes some that are adults may be seen almost anywhere. Nocturnal. most visible in their larval stage (such as some of the leaf-miners). Status and distribution Formerly widespread The macro-moths, which include virtually and moderately common, but all the familiar moths, are divided declining steeply due to loss of larval into 17 families, often grouped together habitat. into a smaller number of superfamilies. Some families are very small, others are difficult to characterize; but a few, such Leopard Moth as clearwings, hawk-moths and so on, are Zellzera!Jyrilla worth knowing and are briefly described Similar to the Goat Moth in shape, but in the text. much smaller (wingspan So-7Smm), with brighter white wings dotted with grey; the Macro-moths furry 'head' is white with 6 black dots. Habitat The larvae feed in the wood of Orange Swift deciduous trees; adults may be seen almost Hepia/us sy/villa anywhere with trees - woods, parks and A medium-sized moth; wingspan about gardens. Nocturnal. 30mm (male) to 4Smm (female). Males Status and distribution Local and orange-red, striped with white; females southern in the UK; widespread on the browner. Larvae live on roots. Habitat Widespread in many open and 152 LEPIDOPTERA
Burnets and Foresters, Family Zygaenidae Brightly coloured day-flying gregarious moths. Common Forester ildscil 1 SllIlicl's An attractive and conspicuous moth despite its small size (wingspan 25-30mm). Bright, slightly bluish, green, with black antennae; commonly seen at flowers. Habitat Rough, flowery grassland. The larvae feed on Common and Sheep's Sorrel. and locally common throughout, though declining. Cistus Forester A. geryon is sinailer (if same sexes are compared). It is local in dry, flowery habitats, mainly southern. Scarce Forester A. g/obu/ariae is the same size as Common, but the males have pointed not thickened antennae tips. Very local and southern, feeding mainly on knapweeds. 6-spot Burnet ZY);IIC1hl fili/ll'lldulac Burnets are very distinctive as a group, with black forewings dotted with red, and red hindwings with a narrow dark border. Wingspan 30-40mm. This species has 6 red spots on each forewing. The papery pupal cases are a common sight attached to grasses. Habitat Grassy, flowery places of all kinds. Status and distribution Common and widespread, throughout the area. Season 5-9. See the following two species. /'yg 1Clhl Iriffllii Very like 6-spot, though slightly smaller, with 5 red spots on each forewing, and a broad dark margin to the hindwing. Habitat Rough grassland, often slightly damp. The food-plants are Greater and Common Bird's-foot Trefoil. Status and distribution A southern species, extending northwards in the UK to the English Midlands; widespread on the Continent as far north as Denmark. Season 5--8. Narrow-bordered ~~ Narrow-bordered Z. /onicerae differs in that the hindwing dark border is very narrow, and the red forewing spots tend to be more separate. Occurs in all kinds of grassland, widespread but local, though often overlooked. Transparent Burnet Z )');'1('1111fiur/J//ralis Similar in size and general colour to the above, but the wings are thinly scaled and translucent; the forewings are streaked with 3 indistinct marks; the hindwings are red with a very thin border. Habitat Grassy, flowery slopes, mainly in the mountains. Status and distribution Very local in the UK, confined to Scottish W Highlands and Islands, and W Eire; confined to hilly areas on the Season 5--8. ~ 154 LEPIDOPTERA
Clearwings, Small to medium-sized Family Sesiidae moths, with wings free of scales, therefore at least partly transparent - they may resemble wasps or hornets. Mostly day-flying. Hornet Moth Sesia api(ormis Distinctive and attractive moth, with a wingspan of 40-50mm. Body yellow striped with brown, wings clear but edged with brown. Legs brown. Day-flying. Habitat Open woodland and damp areas with poplars. The main food-plant is Black Poplar, less commonly other poplars; the larvae feed on the wood. but local; very rare in N Britain, frequent throughout the Lunar Hornet Moth S. bembeciformis similar, but slightly smaller, with darker head and thorax, and conspicuous orange hairs on hind legs. Similar habitats and distribution; food-plant is willow. Currant Clearwing Synanthedon tipuli(ormis A small moth, with a wingspan of about 20mm. Body dark, with 3 (female) or 4 (male) yellow rings on abdomen. Wings clear, with brown tips and margin. Habitat Can be found in woods and gardens, wherever wild or cultivated currants occur. Status and distribution A locally common species in S England, becoming rarer towards the north; widespread on the Sallow Clearwing S. ffaviventris is almost identical, but lacks the yellow on the abdomen; it occurs in slightly different habitats, where it feeds in Sallow stems, causing a gall-like swelling. Local in SE England, widespread on the is Red-belted Clearwing Synanthedon myopae(ormis A small moth, with a wingspan of 20 25mm. The body is black, with a single red 'belt'; wings clear, edged black. Habitat Woods and orchards where Apple, Rowan, Pear or related trees occur. Status and distribution Local in S Britain, widespread on the Continent from N Germany southwards. Large Red-belted Clearwing S. culiciformis is slightly larger, and has bases of forewings dusted with red scales. Feeds on Birch and Alder. Widespread and frequent. Red-tipped Clearwing S. formicaeformis has red-tipped forewings. Widespread and frequent, except in Scotland. Six-belted Clearwing Bembecia scopigera Wingspan about 20mm, body rather wasplike in colouring with six yellow bands on a black ground colour. Habitat Rough flowery grassy places, especially on limestones. May fly by day. Status and distribution Locally common in the south of Britain, widespread on the December Poecilocampa Moth populi A medium-sized moth, with a wingspan of 40-45mm. Females much larger than males. Forewings dark grey, with white streaks; hindwings paler, body very hairy. Habitat Wooded and well-treed countryside, feeding on various deciduous trees. Status and distribution Widely distributed and moderately common throughout. Season 10-12 (a time when few other moths are flying). Small Eggar Eriogaster lanestris is similar in shape and colour, but has 2 white spots on each forewing, though variable. Widespread though local and declining, flying 2-3. I. 156 LEPIDOPTERA
The Lackey ivialau)s()17ii.lii,lfslril.l The adult is a medium-sized moth, with a wingspan of up to 40mm; dull brown, with a darker stripe. The larvae are much more conspicuous and distinctive, being large, blue-, red- and white-striped, with long dark brown hairs. They feed on Hawthorn, Blackthorn and other shrubs. Habitat Woods, hedges and scrub. Status and distribution Widespl-ead Season 4-6 for larvae, 7-8 for adults. Oak Eggar I.asiOCal71/hlquCl'olS qucrcus A large moth, with a wingspan of up to 90mm. All wings similar, deep brown near the body, paler towards the edge, and forewings have a single white spot. Males have feathered antennae, and fly by day. Habitat Woodland and scrub, and more open habitats - very mobile. and moderately common throughout. Northern Eggar L quercus callunae is relatively unusual in that 2 subspecies have different English names. Differs mainly in that the margin of the deep brown colour turns outwards on the forewing. Similar distribution, though more local, and found more in heathy and moorland areas. Grass Eggar L trifo/ii is rather smaller, and much paler, but with a similar pattern. Widespread in heathy places. Fox Moth Macrothy/acia ruhi Similar in size, shape and colour to Grass Eggar, with a wingspan of 50-70mm, but distinguished by the 2 pale bars across the forewings; ground colour variable, especially in males, which may be quite red. Dayflying. Habitat Rough grassland, heathland and moorland; food-plants include heathers, Bilberry, Bramble. The Drinker f'hi/udoria pota/oria A largish moth, with a wingspan of 50 70mm. The ground colour is yellowish to red-brown; males are darker, and both sexes have a distinctive brown diagonal line across the forewings. Males fly by day. The lal'vae are conspicuous and distinctive, being dark and hairy, with white marks along the side. Habitat Rough habitats, often damp, where reeds, Bush-grass and other tall grasses grow. Season 7-8, larvae 9--6 (most noticeable 5-6). The Lappet Gastropacha qucl'cifo/ia A large moth; wingspan up to 90mm. Usually reddish-brown, with 2 wavy lines across the forewing, and scalloped edges to the wings. Males have feathery antennae. Habitat Open woods, hedges and unimproved farmland. The larvae feed on various shrubs. Status and distribution Absent from N Britain, widespread Emperor Moth Satur!lia pavol1ia on the A large, beautiful moth; wingspan 80 90mm. All 4 wings have large colourful 'eye-spots' in the centre on both surfaces. Males are day-flying and have feathery antennae. The larvae eventually become very conspicuous, green, with red or yellow spots and clumps of black bristles. Habitat Mainly on heaths and moors, sometimes in other rough habitats. Status and distribution VVidespread throughout, but not common. Season 4-6, larvae 6-7. 158 LEPIDOPTERA