Natural England

Natural England

Gardening with Wildlife in Mind

The Plant Press

© 2006-2008. Database provided and managed on behalf of Natural England by The Plant Press. Designed and implemented by Ideal Integration Ltd

 

Search

Type a name in the box (see Help for simple rules) or set the criteria you want to use for the search. Click an item to see details and links. To search for the complete list of plants and/or creatures type a space in the box before you press Search.

   

Brimstone moth - Opisthograptis luteolata - Family: Geometridae

Brimstone moth - Opisthograptis luteolataBrimstone moth - Opisthograptis luteolata
© Rob Wolton/English Nature
UK distribution - East Anglia, Midlands, North, South East, South West

Brimstone moths are bright yellow with orange patches on the front of their forewings. Although this vivid colour and pattern make the moth obvious to the keen-eyed observer, they combine to create a cryptic effect that allows the moth to hide effectively from its predators during the daytime hours. The adults can be seen from April to September, flying mostly during dusk and the early part of the night.

Smooth green-brown twig-like caterpillars are seen from June to October. In southern Britain the brimstone moth produces a second brood in August but there is just a single brood in the north, in June. These moths are generally distributed and very common in a variety of habitats.

Food

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) , rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), plum (Prunus domestica) and willows (Salix sp.)

Plants

Blackthorn, Crack willow, Goat willow, Hawthorn, Honeysuckle, Purple willow