UK moths: Nine of the most colourful and distinctive

Moths and butterflies are closely related insects in the order Lepidoptera, which is a Greek word meaning 'scaly wings'. But while butterflies tend to command adoration for their beauty, moths are often unfairly overlooked. Yet there is little difference between them.

The moth's English name comes from the caterpillar's likeness to an elephant's trunk.

Alessandro adds, 'If you encounter the caterpillar it certainly raises curiosity. It is large with eye-marks on the first abdominal segments, which when threatened swell to resemble the head of a snake.'

You can spot the adult moth flying from dusk, feeding on the wing at plants like honeysuckle and other nectar-rich tubular flowers.

2. Hummingbird hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum)

'These moths are a lovely fleeting sight, flying in sunshine and hovering in front of flowers, sipping nectar like a hummingbird.' 

Flowers they like to visit to feed on include aubrieta (often spelled aubretia), buddleia, viper's bugloss and red valerian. In 2019, Thomas Easterbrook's photo of a hummingbird hawkmoth sipping from a salvia flower won the 10 years and under category of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

The moth lives in a variety of habitats, including coastal areas, open expanses in woodland, gardens and other urban environments. You can spot it flying from May to September, and occasionally at other times of year.

3. Garden tiger moth (Arctia caja)

The garden tiger moth is relatively common in the UK, although it has declined since the 1980s. It has unmistakable brown blotches on its white forewings and blue-black spots on its orange hindwings.

Alessandro says, 'The pattern on the wings is variable and no two garden tiger moths are exactly alike - even the two wings of an individual can be different. The Museum's collections have specimens of this moth with all sorts of variations.'

Garden tiger moths have a flair for deterring predators. Alessandro explains, 'If disturbed, the moth displays its gaudy hindwings and can produce yellow fluid from behind its head.'

The hairy larvae of garden tiger moths are called woolly bears and can be seen from August until June. They eat a variety of low-growing garden plants.

The adults fly in July and August. 'They regularly visit light traps in gardens and open spaces,' adds Alessandro.

4. Jersey tiger moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria)

'This moth was largely restricted in Devon and the Channel Islands until the 1990s.

'It now seems to be expanding its range quite quickly. There is a thriving population in London, but whether this is due to natural range expansion or the result of accidental introduction is unclear.'

5. Scarlet tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula)

6. Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae)

The cinnabar moth is named after a red mineral because of its striking colouring.

Alessandro says, 'This lovely red and dark moth flies mainly at night but it can also be seen on sunny days from May to early August if disturbed.

'It particularly likes well-drained, rabbit-grazed grassland, but is found in gardens and woods too.'

Alessandro adds, 'The caterpillar is very distinctive with a yellow and black-ringed body. It feeds gregariously on common ragwort and other related plants.'

This moth species is common in most of England, Wales, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. It is less common in Scotland and northern England, where it is confined mainly to coastal areas.

7. Six-spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae)

You can find emperor moths in most parts of Britain, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Orkney, the Hebrides and Ireland.