6 July 2011
5 July 2011 – Brightly coloured petticoats
Another week passes and this post must go up. A Garden Tiger moth (Arctia caja) turned up. What a wonderful moth it is. Arctia from the Greek for ‘bear’ – the hairy larva is called the ‘wooly bear’ –and caja is taken from a Roman lady’s name (the female of Caius). Linnaeus used feminine names for species with brightly-coloured hindwings and this moth certainly is a suitable candidate. The red colouring is so intense. The caterpillars have now embraced a dandelion leaf diet and they are increasing in size at an alarming rate. One larval skin-shedding has taken place and the hairs on their backs grow longer and longer.
Recent Moths
- 13 July 2022 – Which is which?
- 10 July 2022 – Unusual Plume
- 29 June 2022 – Moths in Disguise
- 20 June 2022 – Headstand Moth
- 17 June 2022 – White-pinion Spotted
- 16 June 2022 – Comfrey Ermel
- 7 March 2022 – Unexpected Gathering
- 9 November 2021 – Muffled against the Cold
- 10 October 2021 – Autumnal Confusion
- 9 September 2021 – Reed Mace and Wainscots
- 25 August 2021 – Caterpillars
- Moth Night – 10 July 2021