Moths

Moths unfairly have a lower profile than butterflies. This is primarily due to them flying at night and as are not seen so often. If they are seen it is often after they have flown into the house attracted by lights, these instances often deemed a nuisance.

The injustice is highlighted by the enormous range of moths to be found, over 1000 in Cornwall. These range in size from over five inches to under an eighth of an inch. Many moths are drab but some are spectacular. Most of the spectacular caterpillars to be found are those of moths.

Due to the large number of moth species to be found in Cornwall, this site has not attempted to cover them as it has for butterflies. Here are included those we have come across.

  Magpie Moth Abraxas grossulariata

  Elephant Hawk Moth Deilephila elpeno

  Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaeae

Magpie Moth  Abraxas grossulariata

A common garden species. The moth itself is not often seen as it flies by night, however the caterpillars are.

The caterpillar is a yellowish orange with spots. This makes it easy to spot, but also acts as a warning to predators that it is unpleasant to eat.

The caterpillar forms a tight loop when it moves, hence the nickname "looper".

Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaeae 

This moth can be seen flying during the day. The caterpillars are easy to distinguish with their yellow and black stripping. The caterpillars advertise their presence but it is a warning to predators, as they are highly distasteful.

It is an useful insect, it feeds almost wholly on ragwort, a real nuisance plant to farmers, as it can poison stock. The caterpillar can be so common that it completely out eats it food supply causing its numbers to crash.

Elephant Hawk Moth Deilephila elpeno

The caterpillar of this hawk moth can be readily distinguished by the two large eye markings on its head.

These markings are used as a defence. When threatened it rears up its head, which its swells, giving the impression of a larger more frightening creature.