| Silver y moth - Autographa gamma - Family: Noctuidae
 Silver y moth - Autographa gamma© Robin Chittenden www.harlequinpictures.co.ukThe silver Y moth, common in gardens and throughout the countryside, is on the wing from May to October. It has pale brown wings with a distinctive silvery white Y-shaped marking on each forewing. This moth is well-camouflaged and thus hard to see when resting, but it is active by day as well as dusk, when it feeds on flowers. Mainly a migrant moth, it is most abundant in southern and eastern England. Adults can be found from May, or occasionally earlier, often in large numbers. There are usually two or three broods a year. The early stages are killed by frost in the autumn, but some adults may overwinter. The caterpillars can be seen from June to September. They are smooth and any shade of green, from pale to dark olive. They feed on low growing plants and can sometimes be a pest on cultivated crops and garden plants, especially kale and peas. Pupation takes place in loose cocoons among leaves. FoodWide range of low growing plants. PlantsBroad-leaved everlasting-pea, Bugle, Caryopteris, Common nettle, Common sea-lavender, Daphne, Escallonia, Purple toadflax PredatorsDragonflies and damselflies, Natterer's bat, Noctule bat, Serotine bat |
