 For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the United Kingdom |
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For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the United Kingdom |
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Fox Moths
Scientific name: Macrothylacia rubi Size: Wingspan from 60 to 70mm Distribution: Found in most parts of the UK. Months seen: May to early July Food: Caterpillars feed on bramble and heather Habitat: Meadows, heathland, downland, open woods, parks and gardens. Special features: Male Fox moths are a reddish brown with two, thin yellow stripes running straight across each forewing. Female fox moths are paler and more greyish in colour. The male flies in by day and night, while the female only flies at night, and is easily attracted to light. The caterpillars can be a little tricky to identify as they change colour as they grow. The younger caterpillars are black with thin orange bands along their length. The older caterpillars are a reddish-brown colour and covered in long grey hairs. They can be found from June to April, but between the months of September and March they hibernate in leaf litter.
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