[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Christmas doesn't automatically spring to mind as a good time to go moth hunting, but surprisingly you can still find around 200 species in the UK, if you know where to look. Of course only a few are brave enough to be out flying on frosty nights. Most sleep through the winter in sheltered areas.
It has to be said that most winter moths are a bit... well... drab in appearance. But one which does stand out from the crowd is the super-imaginatively named "December Moth".
The body of the December Moth is covered with a coat of thick shaggy fur, and it really look as if it's dressed for the coldest winter weather. With its cream striped, smokey-brown forewings its unmistakable, and if you're lucky, you might be able to spot one fluttering around the lighted windows of your home tonight.
December is mating time for December Moths, which seems like a jolly good way to spend the Christmas holidays. The males are smaller than the females and have large feathery antennae (see photo above). It's believed they use these to detect the females by waving them about to pick up their scent. Once they've mated the females will lay their eggs on a tree but the caterpillars won't hatch out until spring, when there'll be plenty of leaves for them to eat.
Scientific name: Poecilocampa populi
Size: Wingspan approx 30 - 45mm
Distribution: Found throughout the U.K.
Months seen: October to December
Habitat: Woodlands, parks and gardens
Food: Larvae feed on a variety of trees including; oak, birch, lime and hawthorn
Special features: The December moth gets it's name from the time of year it's most frequently seen flying in the UK. It's often seen flying around street lights at night. The males and females have similar markings but the females are larger.
December moths lay their eggs in late autumn or early winter, but they don't hatch until the following spring, around April time. The hairy caterpillars are active until July. They're variable in colour. Some are black with red spots, others are grey with orange/brown diamonds down the back, and some are grey all over.
Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:47 am