The Flame (Axylia putris)

Status: Common over most of UK, more local in Scotland (it is commonest in the south-west).

'Rotten Chopped-wood'

(Axylia = chopped wood: Latin, putris = rotten: Latin).

The delicate colouration of this little moth, its habit of resting with its wings held close to its body and the pale colouration on the front of its head, enable it to perfectly mimic a snapped twig. Linnaeus refers to this camouflage technique in his very descriptive choice of scientific name.

Flight Period: June to July. Sometimes a partial second generation in autumn.

Foodplants: a variety of herbaceous plants including Stinging Nettle and Bedstraw.

The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)

Status: Common and Widespread in UK.

'Webbed/woven(?) Snout'

(Hypena = possibly from the Greek 'hyphaino': webbed/woven, proboscidalis = snouted: Latin).

A most distinctive moth: the long labial palps (which have a chemosensory function) give The Snout its name.

The long labial palps form a 'snout'.

Flight Period: double-brooded. First brood from June to August, the second brood in south: late August to mid October.

Foodplants: Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Riband Wave (Idaea aversata)

Status: Common and widespread.

'Of Mount Ida, Turned-away'

(Idaea = of Mount Ida: mountain in Greek mythology, aversata = turned away/averted: Latin).

The Riband Wave is found in two colour forms: the 'typical form' has a dark central band across all four wings (see the UK Moths website: http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=4170) whilst the form known as ab.remutata has the band replaced with a pair of narrow crosslines (see photos below). In West Dunbartonshire, the form ab.remutata predominates.
The ab.remutata form closely resembles the Plain Wave (Idaea straminata): the Riband Wave can be distinguished by the distinct notch in the outer crossline (near the wing-tip) and by its richer brown colouration.

Form ab.remutata

Form ab.remutata

Form ab.remutata

Flight Period: Mid June to mid August, second brood: September to October.

Foodplants: wide variety of plants, including Dock and Dandelion (polyphagous)

Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)

Status: Common and widespread in the UK.

'The Fearful Fire-bearer'

(Phlogo = fire/flame + phora = bearer/to bear: from Greek, meticulosa = fearful: Latin).

This beautiful moth mimics dead foliage superbly: its creased forewings have scalloped edges and are camouflaged in shades of pink, military-green and khaki. The cubistic tufts of hair on the thorax help break up the moth's outline.When captured, the Angle Shades tends to rest sedately, maintaining its leafy disguise for as long as possible.
Migrant individuals from Europe supplement the native population in the autumn.
The scientific name probably refers to the triangular, flame-like markings on the forewings.















Flight Period: May to Oct (though may be found during any month). Migratory.

Foodplants: wide variety of plants (polyphagous).