Moths (Lepidoptera) @ Peartree

We have around 2500 species of moth in Britain, of which 262 have been recorded so far at Peartree Green. Here are some of the species photographed so far at the Green. All photos were taken in the daytime and most show day-flying species, although nocturnal moths were occasionally found in catches from vegetation sweeping or tree sampling

Adelidae

Fairy Longhorn Moths (15 British species)

ADELIDAE | Adela reamurella - Green Longhorn

Caterpillars feed on fallen and decaying leaves, typically of oak and birch

Photos: Geoff Frampton (seen on our May 2026 Evening Wildlife Walk)

Blastobasidae

Scavenger Moths (6 British species)

BLASTOBASIDAE | Blastobasis lacticolella - Wakely's Dowd

An introduced species whose caterpillars can feed on a wide range of materials. The adults are nocturnal

Photos: Geoff Frampton (from tree sampling on our June 2024 Insect Walk)

Crambidae

Grass Moths (40 British species)

CRAMBIDAE | Agriphila tristella - Common Grass-veneer

Caterpillars feed on the base of grass stems

Photos: Geoff Frampton (seen on our August Bug Walk 2024)

CRAMBIDAE | Chrysoteuchia culmella - Garden Grass-veneer

Caterpillars feed on the base of grass stems

Photo: Geoff Frampton (seen on our June 2024 Insect Walk)

CRAMBIDAE | Crambus lathoniellus - Hook-streaked Grass-veneer

Caterpillars feed on the base of grass stems

Photo: Geoff Frampton (May 2026)

Erebidae

Underwing and Tiger Moths (60 British species)

EREBIDAE | Callistege mi - Mother Shipton

Named after Old Mother Shipton, a 16th-century Yorkshire witch, as the pattern of the forewing supposedly resembles her face. Caterpillars of this species feed mainly on clover and grasses

Photo: Nic Burns

EREBIDAE | Euplagia quadripunctaria - Jersey Tiger - on our Peartree Green LNR sign! Their caterpillars feed on a range of herbaceous plants including Nettle

Photos: Jill Doubleday & Ian Watts (August 2023)

Noctuidae

Owlet Moths (150 British species)

NOCTUIDAE | Autographa gamma - Silver Y

Caterpillars feed on a wide range of low plants

Photo: Geoff Frampton (seen on our July 2023 insect walk)

Plutellidae

Diamond-back Moths (7 British species)

PLUTELLIDAE | Plutella xylostella - Diamond-back Moth

Caterpillars feed on a range of wild plants and cultivated vegetables. A strongly migratory species, with large numbers arriving in the UK from the near continent

Photo: Geoff Frampton (May 2026)