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.
Acherontia atropos - Deaths Head Hawk Moth
Wingspan: 8 - 12cm
Caterpillars feed on Privet or Potato (plant leaves not the vegetable)
NON NATIVE - migrates to the u.k in summer
Acronicta leporina - Miller Moth
Wingspan: 35 - 45mm
Caterpillars feed on Birch, Beech, Alder, Hazel, Oak & Willow.
Flight Period: June - August.
They overwinter as pupae.
Acronicta psi - Grey Dagger Moth
Wingspan 35 - 40mm
Caterpillars feed on Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Prunus & Birch.
Flight Period: June - August.
They overwinter as pupae.
Arctia caja - Garden Tiger
Wingspan: 45 - 65mm
Caterpillars feed on a number of plants including fruit trees, rose, bramble, birch, blackthorn & hawthorn.
Flight Period: July - August.
They overwinter as caterpillars.
Calliteara pudibunda - Pale Tussock Moth
Wingspan 40 - 60mm
Caterpillars feed on Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Birch etc
Flight Period May - June
They overwinter as pupae
Ceratomia amyntor - 4 Horned Sphinx
Wingspan: 8 - 11cm
Caterpillars feed on Elm, Cherry, Birch, Tomato & Pepper plants.
NON NATIVE - NOT FOR RELEASE IN THE U.K
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
Griposia aprilina - Merveille du Jour
Wingspan 40 - 50mm
Caterpillar food plants: Oak.
Flight Period: September - October.
They overwinter as eggs.
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.
Miltochrista miniata - Rosy Footman
Wingspan 25mm
Caterpillars feed on Lichens.
Flight Period: July - August.
They overwinter as pupae.
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 *
Phalera bucephala - Buff Tip
Wingspan: 50mm
Caterpillars feed on Oak, Willow, Birch, Hazel & Prunus.
Flight Period: June - August.
They overwinter as pupae.
Saturnia pavonia - Emperor Moth
Wingspan 4 - 6cm
Caterpillars feed on Brambles, Hawthorn, Heathers & Birch.
Flight Period: April - May.
They overwinter as Pupae.
Smerinthus ocellata - Eyed Hawk Moth
Wingspan 7 - 8cm
Caterpillars feed on Willow & Apple
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.
Utetheisa pulchella - Crimson Speckled Moth
Wingspan: 30 - 40mm
Caterpillars are reported to eat a wide range of plants but I have only had year round success with Forget-me-not leaves.
Flight Period: July - September
(This species is a rare migrant to the Uk occasionally seen from mid-summer to autumn)
Research Species Only - These Are Not For Sale
