Moths


The list of caterpillar food plants listed below are just a guide, some of them will eat other plants.
​Some young caterpillars will eat each other, especially the hawk moths.
​All species shown below are currently in our keeping.​

Cucullia verbasci
Wingspan 45 - 50mm
Caterpillars feed on Verbascum & Buddleia
Flight Period: April - May
​They overwinter as pupae, sometimes for 2 years.

Deilephila elpenor - Elephant Hawk Moth
Wingspan: 6 - 7cm
​Caterpillars feed on Fushia & Rosebay Willowherb

​Macroglossum stellatarum - Humming-bird Hawk Moth
Wingspan 50 - 60mm
Caterpillars feed on Bedstraws (Gallium verum & Gallium album)

Malacosoma neustria - Lackey Moth
Wingspan 25 - 40mm
Caterpillars feed on Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Prunus, Oak & Willow.
​Flight Period: July - August.
They overwinter as eggs.

Orgyia antiqua - Rusty Tussock (aka vaporer moth)
Wingspan: 25 - 30mm
Caterpillars feed on a number of plants & shrubs including fruit trees, rose, bramble, birch, blackthorn & hawthorn.
​They overwinter as caterpillars.
Flight Period: July - September.
* The female moths of this species are wingless & spend their short lives waiting on the cocoon for a male so she can lay her eggs *

Orgyia recens - Scarce Vaporer Moth
Wingspan 25 - 30mm
Caterpillars feed on Sorrel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Oak, Rose & Brambles.
​Flight Period: July - September.
​They overwinter as caterpillars.
​* The female moths of this species are wingless & spend their short lives waiting on the cocoon for a male so she can lay her eggs *

Saturnia pavonia - Emperor Moth
​Wingspan 4 - 6cm
Caterpillars feed on Brambles, Hawthorn, Heathers & Birch.
Flight Period: April - May.
​They overwinter as Pupae.

Spilosoma lutea - Buff Ermine
Wingspan: 35 - 40mm
Caterpillars feed on Oak, Alder, Honeysuckle, Dandelion, Raspberry & Plantain.
​Flight Period: May - July.
​They overwinter as pupae.

​Sphinx ligustri - Privet Hawk Moth
Wingspan: 12cm
Caterpillars feed on Privet

Tyria jacobaeae - Cinnabar
Wingspan: 30 - 40mm
Caterpillars feed on Ragwort & Groundsel.
​Flight Period: May - July.
They overwinter as pupae.