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Tag Archives: Scarlet tiger

Scarlet tiger, deceased

06 Wednesday Jul 2022

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British moths, Callimorpha dominula, moth, Scarlet tiger, Scarlet tiger moth

Though I know death is inevitable for all living creatures, I’m always sad when I find something dead. On a practical level, of course, it’s often an opportunity to look more closely at that creature, which is what happened with this Scarlet tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula) I found on a pavement last week. That scarlet colour is just glorious!

220706 scarlet tiger

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First caterpillar

06 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British caterpillars, British moths, moth caterpillar, moth larvae, Scarlet tiger, Scarlet tiger moth larva

Most unexpectedly, I saw my first caterpillar of the year when I was out walking yesterday. It’s a Scarlet tiger moth caterpillar that was sitting on the stucco wall of a house I passed. According to my Twitter pal George, who’s a senior moth ecologist with Butterfly Conservation, though Scarlet tigers over-winter as larvae, these larvae are not usually seen until the spring. But spring is only a couple of weeks away and, if local bird activity is anything to go by, the wild creatures can already feel it in the air.

210206 scarlet tiger moth caterpillar

George reassuringly told me that caterpillars are tough but I do hope this little one finds somewhere a bit more sheltered to weather the cold spell that’s forecast for the coming week. I’d love to see it again when it emerges as an adult as they’re so beautiful and I’ve only ever seen the adults twice. The photo below, of a Scarlet tiger moth, was taken locally in June 2019.

210206 scarlet tiger moth adult

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Some recent moths

16 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by sconzani in insects, nature

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Blood-vein, British moths, Burnet companion, Common purple & gold, Glyphipterix thrasonella, moths, Orange-spot piercer, Riband wave, Riband wave banded form, Scarlet tiger

Though they seem to have disappeared now, the Burnet companions (Euclidia glyphica) were out in force at Cosmeston for about six weeks, from the last day of May until early July.

180716 1 Burnet companion

The Common purple & gold (Pyrausta purpuralis) is a tiny but very colourful moth – a rich maroon-purple base with pretty gold markings.

180716 2 Pyrausta purpuralis

With a thin red line running horizontally from one wing tip to the other, it’s easy to see how the Blood-vein (Timandra comae) got its name.

180716 3 Blood-vein

Glyphipterix thrasonella (no common name) is another very small moth, as you can tell from its size relative to my fingers, and is another with attractive markings, this time bright light blue on a gold base.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

In Bute Park recently I spotted two different species of moth. The first was this tiny micro on Hogweed, an Orange-spot piercer (Pammene aurana).

180716 5 Orange-spot piercer

I didn’t have to try hard to see the second moth as it fluttered down from a tree on to the earth in front of me. This is a Riband wave (Idaea aversata).

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

And, while we’re on the subject of Riband waves, here’s another but this is the banded form – note how the area between the two lines on its wings has been ‘coloured in’.

180716 7 Riband wave banded form

Last but certainly not least is this stunning Scarlet tiger (Callimorpha dominula), which was sitting on the grassy path in front of me during a recent meander around Lavernock Nature Reserve.

180716 8 Scarlet tiger

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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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