Like butterflies moths are Lepidoptera, a huge group of insects. Some 120,000 species are known to man, but there is little doubt that perhaps the same number of species is still waiting to be discovered. All lepidoptera have rather large wings covered with scales and some species are without any doubt among the most beautiful creatures on earth. For a very long time now the group has been split up in two: butterflies and moths. The differences between the two groups are among others the fact that the two wings of the moths are connected, which is not the case in butterflies. To the eye there is another striking difference: the way the antennae are constructed. All butterflies have long, thin antennae with a little knob on top. Some moths also have a wire like antenna, but it never has the knob on top! Most moths however have antennae which are more complicated: some look like combs, others like brushes and some are five times as long as the insects body. Yet another difference is in the colouring. Even though some moths are beautifully coloured, most are plain, brownis grey or greyish brown. This gives them a good camouflage when resting during the day, for most moths are nocturnal animals. Butterflies are often very colourful. Often the underside of the wing differs from the upperside very much. By regularly opening and closing their wings, enemies can't get a visual hold of the body and do not know where to attack.
If you can't tell the difference by looking at the colour, try the antennae. A wire with a knob on top? Then it is a butterfly, like the orangetip to the left. Any other shape belongs to a moth like the comblike antenna on the Pale Oak Beauty to the right.
Even though all butterflies fly by day, not all moths fly just by night. There are many species that love to fly in the sunshine, often the more beautiful species. The well known Silver Y Moth is one of them. Each summer it travels from Africa to Europe in great numbers. It is a brownish owlet that mingles with the butterflies and hover flies visiting the flowers in your garden. The clearwings also fly by day. Their body is black interrupted by yellow stripes. Their wings lose most of the scales during the very first flight, making them transparent. In this way they mimic wasps, a very good protection, for most enemies will not attack a wasp voluntarily. Such a mimic however only works during the daytime and thus these moths always fly by day only.
Two moths that are active during hours of daylight: the Silver Y to the left and the clearwing to the right.
In the tropics some moths are really huge and in Europe some species are quite impressive as well. Some of the hawk-moths may reach 13 centimetres (or 5.2") across. The majority of the moths however doesn't even reach two centimetres (or 0.8"). Even in Western-Europe (including Britain) there are thousands of very small species. Many of those are hard to identify and most look quite similar. Just like most butterflies many moths have very long tongues, which are rolled up when not in use. They can only take in liquid food, such as nectar from flowers, or juices from ripe or rotting fruit. The mebers of a few families of extremely primitive moths still have useable jaws, which they use crushing pollen. On the other hand lots of adult moths don't even eat at all. Their mouth parts are reduced and they live on the energy they stuffed being a caterpillar. Most of these caterpillars are vegetarians: they eat plants, preferably leaves. The smallest species mine leaves. This means they live inside the leaf, eating it from the inside, just like the smallest larvae of some beetles, wasps and flies do. Bigger species live in trees or shrubs, munching away at the leaves. Some larvae however live deep inside wood or in stems and roots of various plants. A few species however live on dead materials, such as feathers and hairs. You can find them in old bird's nests etc. In Western-Europe there is just one carnivore: the dun-bar, an owlet moth. Its caterpillars hunt for the caterpillars of other moths, especially tortrixes.
The caterpillars of these two species are not vegetarians. The caterpillar of the White-shouldered House Moth to the left eats wool, while the caterpillar of the Dun-bar to the right is a hunter.
Moths are often split up into two groups: the macrolepidoptera and the microlepidoptera. There is no real scientific basis to this distinction, but it has been around for centuries now. Even the scientists (lepidopterists) often specialize themselves in one of the two. To avoid the discussions that took place in the past, there is a database containing all moth families dividing them in microes and macroes. When you see a moth it is often very unclear to which group it belongs. Most species less than 2 centimetres across are microes, though. Still some families do present you with a problem. Quite a few owlets are very small indeed, like the Common Rustic, measuring some 28 millimetres (1.10"), yet the whole family belongs to the macroes. Some pyralids on the other hand, such as the Small Magpie Moth are about the same size and look even bigger because of their huge wings, but still are considered to be microes.
These two moths are both some 3 centimetres across, yet the Common Rustic to the left is a macro and the Small Magpie Moth is a micro.
Family: Sparkling Archaic Sun Moths (Eriocraniidae)
A few moth families are comprised of species that still have jaws and chew on their food. These families are also characterized by the members possessing very short antennae. The best known of these are the Ghost Moths, big, owlet like moths. The others belong to families consisting of very small moths, like this Eriocrania subpurpurella, which belongs to the Eriocranioidae, small and hairy moths, often with metallic shiny colours. The one in these pictures most probably is Eriocrania subpurpurella, but we are not absolutely sure, for their are some almost identical other species. The larvae feed on the leaves of oak, which they mine. Eriocrania subpurpurella has a wing span of some 10 to 12 mm and flies about in March and April. Very common in continental Europe, including all of the British Isles, except for the northern parts of Scotland.
The family Nepticulidae consists of some 70 species in Britain. Most of them belong to just one genus: Stigmella. Most Stigmella are brown micro moths. The wings usually have a white band running over it, or one or more white spots. The wingspan varies from 4 to 10 mm, meaning that when resting on a leaf they measure about 2 to 5 mm in length. So it is very hard indeed to discover them at all. Yet we do know quite a lot about them. That's due to the larvae of most species mining leaves. This means they are small enough to live within a leaf. The animals crawl forward eating the inside of the leaf. By doing so they leave behind a trail, which can be seen from the outside easily. These trails are called mines. By studying the mines we are often able to tell which species produced it, for each species leaves behind a characteristic mine. It is essential though to know the species of plant the leaf has been taken from. In this way we don't have to find the animals themselves, which would be a tedious task, to know they are there. This method of studying the circumstancial evidence rather then the animal itself is not uncommon in biology. Galle apples, caused by tiny wasps or flies, are a good exemple of this. Prints of paws in sand or snow give away many nocturnal mammals. And so does examining the contents of the balls spitted out by owls containing hairs and bones of mice and other small creatures they feed on. In the picture you see the leaf of a bramble and in it the clear mine of one of the Stigmella species. Most probably this one has been made by Stigmella aurella, a tiny moth having a wingspan of no more than 5 mm. However the mines left by Stigmella splendidissimella (just try to pronounce that quickly!) in bramble leaves are almost identical, so it could be this species.
The longhorn moths, also known as fairy moths, have long antennae. They do not belong to just one family. There are various similar families. Best known and in possession of the longest horns though are the true longhorn moths in the Adelidae family. Even though they are all quite small, they are striking animals indeed. Their long 'horns' and often beautiful metallic colours attract the attention immediately. So far we have discovered three species in our garden. For all species we have not yet discovered a common English name. Adela reaumurella is a typical representative of this group. The males sometimes dance in large groups, just like mosquitoes do. As in all longhorn moths the antennae of the females are much shorter than the males'. In Adela reaumurella however there's another striking difference: the males have lots of black hairs on the head and the first part of the body. In the top two pictures you seen photographs of the male. The female is rather bald in comparison. But she has a few orange hairs on the face between the eyes, which are not visible on the male. The bottom four pictures are of the female.
Adela reaumurella may have long 'horns', they still are only a fraction of those of Nematopogon swammerdamella. This creature glistens as well, but is not as striking and colourful as Adela reaumurella is. Both species appear in spring (from April onwards). The caterpillars of both species feed on rotting leaves and live on the ground. Nematopogon swammerdamella however prefers the leaves of beeches and oak, Adela reaumurella is less choosy.
The animal in the last picture could also be another Nematopogon species. It is too worn out to be sure. Within the genus Nematopogon a few similar species exist. They can only be told apart by experts on the basis of very subtle differences.
In our part of the world Nemophora degeerella is well known for the long horns. In fact it holds the record, it has the longest antennae of all European species. The horns are four times as long as the body is, at least with the males. Nemophora degeerella appears a little later than the other Longhorns on this site, for it is predominantly present in June. The moth is breathtakingly beautiful, but hard to photograph. It is very small and likes to sit on shady places, such as the bottom side of a leaf.
The striking Incurvaria masculella belongs to a family called Incurvariidae. Together with some other families often referred to in common English as Longhornmoths. This family is best known by one of its members: the Currant Moth. It can be extremely harmful in various berries. Incurvaria masculella is not harmful at all, for it usually feeds on wild plants only. The wingspan of this species is about the same of its relatives': some 15 mm. After hatching, the larvae feed on leaves internally. When a little bigger, they cut out two small pieces of the leaf, and attach one piece to their back and one piece below them. Then they fall to the ground. Here they feed on dead leaves, expanding their little house while growing. The animal in the picture is a female Incurvaria masculella. The males have big combed antennae, a feature rarely ever found in microes. Females have long, thin, threadlike antennae. This species can be found all over Europe, but it often is a very local species. When present though, often found in great numbers. Lives almost exclusively on Hawthorn in Britain. On the European continent though Hawthorn is rarely used. Here the animal uses a great variety of plants and shrubs, including birch, oak and roses.
Incurvaria pectinea is very similar to Incurvaria masculella. There are some differences though. Incurvaria pectinea has its white spots slightly less clearly bordered, the front wings are purplish brown and because of the light hind wings there is a contrast visible between the wings when the animal flies. Incurvaria masculella usually has clearly defined white spots, the front wings are brownish without a purple shade and the hindwings are quite dark. When it flies there is no sign of contrast between front wing and hind wing. The wingspan of Incurvaria pectinea is some 12 to 16mm.
The eggs are being laid in small groups, in May mainly. The newly hatched caterpillars are small enough to mine a leaf. The mines are very characteristic. There may be three to five larvae in just one leaf. When they get too big to live inside a leaf, the caterpillars make round or oval-shaped holes in the leaf. They produce two of these holes, weave them together, sit between the two pieces. Next they drop to the ground, where they continue feeding on debris, regularly making a new sack to live in. The infested leaves have two or more very characteristic holes: round or oval, like it has been punctured. Pupation takes place before winter and it is the pupa overwintering. The caterpillars are white and easily identified by their nice round bag. Incurvaria pectinea's main foodplant is the birch, but it is occassionally found on other trees and shrubs, such as hazel and apple. If it appears in apple trees it is rarely necessary to fight the infest, for damage is limited and numbers are usually very low.
Incurvaria pectinea is single brooded and on the wing in April and May. The species flies by night mainly, but is sometimes seen flying about in daylight. Besides it is easily disturbed when resting. Is not attracted to light, but has been seen resting on walls, fences and leaves. This species is rather uncommon in Southern Engeland, but becomes more common going northwards. A common species all over Scotland.
The Cork Moth is a rather very small member of the big House Moths family. It can become a pest at times. The Cork Moth flies from May to October, even though sometimes the first specimens can be seen in small numbers from March onwards. This species has been seen flying in sunshine frequently. In nature the caterpillars live on dead and decaying wood, detatched bark and toadstools, mushrooms and mould. The larvae will however also eat stored fresh and dried vegetables, stored cork and cork products and even wine barrels. Having a wingspan of some 15 mm the Cork Moth has the typical moth size. It is not easily identified, for sometimes it is much brighter than usually and there are a number of look-a-likes. Most of these are rare however. With the products mentioned man has transported this species to Northern America as well, where it succesfully became a pest too.
Tinea semifulvella is quite an unmistakable species. Near the top of the wings are a few beautiful rosa smears. There is also a blackish bow in the lower side of the upper wings. These are designed to make a beautiful black dot when the animal keeps the wings together. Even though Tinea semifulvella belongs to the clothes moths it never enters our houses. It is not even a very common species. The larvae live in old bird's nests mainly. They are white and rather similar to maggots. The adult moths appear from May to September chiefly. Tinea semifulvella is to be found in small numbers all over England and Wales, especially in and near woodlands.
The larvae of some moths build their own house to live in. Among these are the Bagworm Moths. They build a house from all kinds of materials. Each species builds its own type of house. Thus they can be told apart by looking at the shape of the bag and the materials used. The Common Bagworm climbs on to plants and trees, but uses houses, stables and garden sheds as well. The female never leaves her bag, for she has no wings and cannot even fly. The males do fly around, looking for the females. After mating the female Common Bagworms sometimes keep the eggs in the bag. When the young hatch, they start off by eating mum. Then they steal the smaller parts of her bag to make their first small bag. Only then are they ready to explore the world... Very often the Common Bagworm is referred to by its former scientific name: Fumea casta.
The larvae of some moths build their own house to live in. Among these are the Bagworm Moths. They build a house from all kinds of materials. Each species builds its own type of house. Thus they can be told apart by looking at the shape of the bag and the materials used. The Common Bagworm climbs on to plants and trees, but uses houses, stables and garden sheds as well. The female never leaves her bag, for she has no wings and cannot even fly. The males do fly around, looking for the females. After mating the female Common Bagworms sometimes keep the eggs in the bag. When the young hatch, they start off by eating mum. Then they steal the smaller parts of her bag to make their first small bag. Only then are they ready to explore the world... Very often the Common Bagworm is referred to by its former scientific name: Fumea casta.
Here some pictures of the male of Narycia duplicella (also known as Narycia monilifera), a common species in Central Europe and Britain. As you can see the adults do look like many other small and rather primitive moths. The caterpillars and the females live in a bag, constructed of rubbish and other stuff they come across.
The identification of Taleporia tubulosa is tentative. However it is the best candidate. The males fly about in May and June. They are nearly unmarked. The wingspan is some 15 to 20 mm and the rather rough antennae are characteristic for this species. The females resemble small, yellowish grubs. In contrast to the females of the Common Bagworm, which stay inside the bag, the females of Taleporia tubulosa leave their bag after pupation and crawl about on tree trunks. The caterpillars feed on lychens growing on tree trunks. Their bag is made out of very tiny pieces of material, such as grains of sand, pieces of lychens or little chunks of tree bark. The bag is smoothly finished off with silk. It differs very much in appearance from the bags of the Common Bagworm above. Taleporia tubulosa is sometimes seen on old walls and fences as well.
The identification of Taleporia tubulosa is tentative. However it is the best candidate. The males fly about in May and June. They are nearly unmarked. The wingspan is some 15 to 20 mm and the rather rough antennae are characteristic for this species. The females resemble small, yellowish grubs. In contrast to the females of the Common Bagworm, which stay inside the bag, the females of Taleporia tubulosa leave their bag after pupation and crawl about on tree trunks. The caterpillars feed on lychens growing on tree trunks. Their bag is made out of very tiny pieces of material, such as grains of sand, pieces of lychens or little chunks of tree bark. The bag is smoothly finished off with silk. It differs very much in appearance from the bags of the Common Bagworm above. Taleporia tubulosa is sometimes seen on old walls and fences as well.
Another Bagworm Moth of which the bag is better known then the animal inside. The bag is constructed of grains of sand. Often also particles of dead insects are used, especially the shields of very small beetles. The bag has a delicate structure and usually has a very light colour. Sometimes however you might come accross a bag which is more richly decorated with bigger insect parts. The larva spends its entire life inside the bag and pupates inside as well. Adult males leaf the bag and fly off to search a female. Adult females look like larva and are not able to fly. In stead they climb out of their bag, climb on top of it and wait for a male. After mating she deposits her eggs on the outside of the bag and dies. In most of Europe though, males have never been seen. Females simply climb out of their bag, lay eggs and die, without the interference of a male. This is called parthenogenetic reproduction, a very usual way of reproduction among plant lice. In our parts of Europe males are extremely scarce and most females will lay eggs parthenogenetically.
This graceful little moth belongs to a family with an appropiate name: Gracillariidae. The larvae of many species live inside leaves all their lives, or at least during the first stages. Caloptilia alchimiella below for instance mines the leaves of oak. Half-grown it gets to the outside of the leaves. It will fold a leaf up into a cone, in which it will spend the rest of its life. Caloptilia alchimiella is on the wing from May to August and is very common in woods containing oak. There is a look-a-like species: Caloptilia robustella and it is very hard to tell the two apart. Both will reach a wingspan of 10 to 13 mm.
At least we think this is Caloptilia stigmatella. It is quite hard to tell, for this species has a number of similar relatives. Caloptilia stigmatella is very variable and may be more pregnantly marked. The larvae first mine a leaf. Later they abandon their mines, roll up a leaf and live inside. Experts usually don't search for these tiny species by catching the adult moths, but by studying the mines in leaves. Caloptilia stigmatella is a common species all over the British Isles, on the wing from the end of February to the end of November.
This moth might be called the Birch Leaf-mining Moth. It is a beautiful, but variable animal. You can best identify it by looking at the warm reddish brown color, the big trousers (the hairs on the legs, also referred to as the 'flag') and the long antennae. There is an extremely similar species though: the more common Caloptilia elongella. Its caterpillars however are found on alder, not birch. The two species may sometimes be told apart by looking at the series of characteristics just mentioned. Usually Caloptilia betulicola has antennae which are about the same length as the entire body and sometimes even longer. Its look-a-like always has slightly shorter antennae. However you can not always rely on this characteristic. To be sure, you have to dissect the animal and study its intimate parts under the microscope. We didn't do that. Thus we can not guarantee the species in the pictures actually is Caloptilia betulicola.
Like the scientific name of the species indicates this animal depends on birch for its caterpillars. When the larvae hatch they mine a leaf. This means they enter the leaf and live inside of it. The first instar eats a tiny, hardly visible mine. The next instar however more or less eats in circles, expanding the mine in all directions, thus making a blotch in the leaf. The manure is deposited in one heap in one corner of the mine. The second instar usually makes the blotch on the underside of a leaf. Blotches on the upperside do exist though. Later instars are too big to live inside a leaf. They get out and roll up a leaf, or just the edge of the leaf. Pupation takes place in a strong, shiny cocoon which is attached to the side of a leaf. Acording to some, Caloptilia betulicola prefers young birches, including (wild) shoots.
In most of Britain this species has two broods. The autumn generation is on the wing in October and November looking for a suitable place to overwinter. In March they start flying again and the eggs are usually deposited in April and May. In May we usually find great numbers of active caterpillars. In June there is little activity. The moths are dying and most caterpillars have pupated. In July and August the summergeneration is on the wing. The moth is attracted to light, but in extremely small numbers only. Mainly due to mix ups with the extremely similar Caloptilia elongella the exact status of Caloptilia betulicola is vague, but probably it is less common and a rather local species.
The family of small Ermines is also called Web Worms or Tip Moths. The latter names refer to the caterpillars. They weave together leaves and twigs and eat these leaves in the comfort of the 'web'. When there are many of them whole shrubs can simply be covered in just one blanket of silk. They are very common in most gardens. There are many species, often looking like oneanother very much. The Bird-cherry Ermine is a very common species, as it feeds on Bird-cherry, a very common plant all over Europe. It is one of the few Ermine Moths identifiable without problems: each wing carries five rows of neatly placed dots, rather close together. Most other species show less rows and a less orderly placement of the dots.
Like the name implies, the caterpillars of the Spindle Ermine are found on Spindle exclusively. We are not absolutely sure about its identification. The species however shows the limited number of dots and the white hairs at the end of the forewings, making the Spindle Ermine the most likely candidate. It reaches the wingspan usual in ermine moths: some 19 to 26 mm. Common all over Britain where ever Spindle grows, except for the northern parts of Scotland.
Ocnerostoma friesei Family: Small Ermines (Yponomeutidae)
Not all Ermine Moths are dotted or speckled. Ocnerostoma friesei certainly isn't. And not only is it unspeckled, compared to the other ermines on this site it is extremely small, for it reaches a wingspan of 8 to 10 mm only. The wings of the females are white, those of the males are grey. The first generation is on the wing from March to mid-May, the second generation flies about in August. We find the larvae in the needles of the Scots Pine, also known as Scotch Pine and Scots Fir. They eat the needles contents, untill it turns red completely. Once full grown, the larvae abandon their needle. Outside they weave a few needles together and pupate between them. Ocnerostoma friesei looks extremely much like Ocnerostoma piniariella. The moths can be told apart definitely by genital research only. The time the larvae are active is different though: those of Ocnerostoma piniariella feed in April and May, while the caterpillars of Ocnerostoma friesei are active from December to March, producing the first generation and again in June and Juli producing a 2nd generation.
The larva of the Leek Moth (also known as Onion Moth) mines leaves. It concentrates on leek leaves, if available, but will also feed on onions, including the ones in gardens bred for their flowers. It regularly turns out to be a pest in both leeks and onions. About to pupate the caterpillar will often move to the top of the plant. The pupa is spun into a dark web, looking like the ones used for attaching cargo to a ships deck. The adult Leek Moth is just some 15 mm long and differs from similar species by the location and size of the white spot in the wings. Usually their are two generations, of which the second overwinters as adult. The Leek Moth has conquered a vast area: all of Europe, Asia (including Japan), much of Africa and in 1997 it turned up in Canada as well. It belongs to a small moth family called Plutellidae, even though some autors think it belongs to its own family, even smaller still, the Acrolepiidae. Many others believe however that these two families are just subfamilies to the Ermine Moths (Yponomeutidae).
Argyresthia trifasciata Family: Small Ermines (Yponomeutidae)
The genus Argyresthia is comprised of at least 15 species in Britain. All species are very small indeed. Argyresthia trifasciata is a nice example. In the shadow it looks like a brownish species, but exposed to sunshine it turns out to glisten like it was made of gold. It has three striking white bands, running over the wings in rather straight lines. The scientific name is derived from these bands. Worn out animals, like the one in the picture in the middle are lighter, may have lost one or more bands and are more complicated to identify. The wingspan is some 7 to 9mm only.
The eggs are being laid in spring and early summer. Thay hatch by mid-June. The young larvae enter a leaf and eat this from the inside. They regularly move from one leaf to another. When almost fully grown they start mining young twigs. Inside the twig the larva overwinters. In March pupation takes place inside a cocoon spun on the outside of the stem of the foodplants. By May the first moths start appearing. The larvae are green. The head is black and the legs are brownish green. Known foodplants are conifers only: Junipers and Leyland Cypress. Especially in gardens these can be heavily infested with fresh leaves being hollow and getting brown.
Argyresthia trifasciata is single brooded and on the wing from May to the end of July. During the very warm spring in Holland of 2007, it already was numerous in April. Is easily attracted to light. Argyresthia trifasciata used to be an Alpine species. But due to the popularity of Conifers in garden it has spread northwards. First seen in both Holland and England (London) in 1982. Reached Sweden in 1993. Nowadays a locally common species over much of England, but expected to reach other parts of Britain in the near future.
The Honeysuckle Moth belongs to the family of Diamond Back Moths (Plutellidae). Many scientists however are of the opinion that this is a mere subfamily to that of the Small Ermines (Yponomeutidae). Because of its peculiar shape it is very easy to identify.
Agonopterix propinquella is a small moth similar to Agonopterix ocellana, but lacking the brownish red spot seen in the latter. Both belong to a genus consisting of some 25 species (at least over here in the Benelux). Agonopterix propinquella can be identified easily, for it usually has the palpae curled upwards. It is on the wing from the end of February till deep in November. The larvae lives on various plants. Larvae that have just hatched are small enough to mine a leaf, which means it lives inside a leaf. Later, getting too big to live inside a leave, it moves to the lowerside of the leaf and makes a cocoon there. From within this cocoon it will eat the underside of the leaf. The scientific name is also spelled Agonopteryx propinquella. It belongs to a family called Flat-bodied Moths (Drepresserinae). Nowadays this family is often considered to be a mere subfamily of the Concealer Moths (Oecophoridae).
NB It is not certain at all that the animal in the two bottom pictures actually is Agonopterix propinquella, for it is little marked. It could well be another Agonopterix species.
Agonopterix ocellana is closely related to Agonopteryx propinquella, but the two species can be told apart easily. Especially the red scales in the wing of Agonopterix ocellana do make it stand out. The amount of them varies per specimen though. Reaching a wingspan of 19 to 22 mm Agonopterix ocellana is quite a small species. It is on the wing mainly from September to May, so the adults overwinter. Yet there might be a summer generation flying about as well. The larvae live on various species of Willows. Agonopterix ocellana is relatively common in Britain, rather common in Belgium and common in the Netherlands.
