Britain's Day-flying Moths

Preface 5

The difference between butterflies and moths 6

What is a day-flying moth? 7

Moth biology 8

The naming of moths 10

Identifying moths 12

Where to look for day-flying moths 16

Gardening for moths 21

Glossary 24

Moth families with day-flying species 26

Introduction to the species accounts 27

THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Foresters and Burnets (Family: Zygaenidae) 28

Clearwings (Family: Sesiidae) 40

Eggars, Emperor, Kentish Glory and Hook-tips (Families: Lasiocampidae, Saturniidae, Endromidae and Drepanidae) 58

Geometrids (Family: Geometridae) 66

Hawk-moths (Family: Sphingidae) 128

Tussocks, Footmen, Tigers and Ermines (Families: Lymantriidae and Arctiidae) 134

Noctuids (Family: Noctuidae) 148

Micro-moths (a selection of common day-flyers from the families: Incurvariidae, Adelidae, Tineidae, Gracillariidae, Choreutidae, Glyphipterigidae, Yponomeutidae, Plutellidae, Oecophoridae, Tortricidae, Crambidae, Pyralidae and Pterophoridae) 176

List of day-flying moths with summary data showing: habitat preferences, flight season, larval foodplants, and conservation status, BAP listing and legislative protection 202

Conservation and legislation 210

Butterfly and moth conservation 214

Recording and monitoring 214

Further reading 215

Useful websites 217

Acknowledgements and photographic credits 218

Index 221