This attractive magpie moth in my photo was an unannounced visitor to my kitchen, where it appeared oblivious to the fact that it was having a camera thrust regularly in front of its head.
Magpie moths take to the sky at dusk and fly late into the night, though they can often be spotted resting on garden bushes during the day.
It is usually gooseberry sawfly but
magpie moth and others clear these plants out very quickly.
Varley also bred moths to sell or exchange with other collectors and a variety of
Magpie Moth he discovered was named 'varleyata' in his honour.
This Goldspot Moth was snapped by Bob Hazell near Rugby; right, the
Magpie Moth looks like a butterfly
Scientists at the Rothamsted research centre say that seven or eight species of moth caterpillar in the cuckoo's diet are in serious decline, including the garden tiger moth, figure of eight moth,
magpie moth and lackey moth.
A THEY'VE probably been eaten by the larvae of the gooseberry sawfly or the
magpie moth, perhaps both.
The
Magpie Moth caterpillar is a polyphagous species, feeding on a wide range of wild and garden plants, including hawthorn, gooseberry, blackthorn, calluna and currants and, with its black, white and orange-red markings, is very conspicuous.
The once-common
magpie moth has already practically disappeared.
Surely the beautiful parts -- majestic polar bears, shimmering aurora borealis, dainty
magpie moths -- but what of the unpleasant parts?
Poplar, elephant and lime hawks were all straightforward, as were brimstones, scores of heart and dart, plus setaceous hebrew character and small
magpie moths, which were all famil-iar friends.
