For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the U.K.
Silver Y Moths
Identify It > Moth Section > Silver Y Moths >
Scientific name: Autographa gamma
Size: Wingspan approximately 40mm
Distribution: Found throughout the U.K.
Months seen: May to September
Life span: The adult moths live for just 3 or 4 weeks
Habitat: Coastal areas, meadows, parks and gardens
Food: Nectar. Caterpillars feed on many different plants including bedstraw, nettle, clover, and runner bean
Special features: Silver Y moths are one of the commonest migrant species, arriving in the UK from Europe. They can easily be recognised by the unbroken Y-shaped marking on each forewing. This is also the symbol for the Greek letter 'Gamma', hence the scientific name.
The moths are covered in an intricate pattern of varying shades of light grey-brown through to dark grey with some other colours in between, like the blue example in the photos above.
The Silver Y flies by day, but is also attracted to lights at night.
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