July Highflyer (Hydriomena furcata)

Status: Common throughout the UK.

'Monthly Urn, Fork-like'

(Hydrio from hudria = water jar/urn + mena = month: Greek, furcata = fork-like: Latin)

An extremely variable moth which is often green with varying degrees of black marbling, but can also be brown with black marbling, completely melanic or marbled with faded greenish-brown tones.

Like the other 'highflyer' moths, the July Highflyer has forewings that are distinctly shouldered at the base and the wing shape is described in the genus name as urn-like.

Typical green form

Melanistic blackish-brown form

Flight Period: One generation: from July to August in Southern Britain, from late July to early October in Northern Scotland.

Foodplants: A variety of trees & plants including Hazel, sallows, Creeping Willow and Bilberry.

Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina)

Status: Common throughout the UK.

'Feather-toothed, Capuchin friar'

(Ptilo = feather + don = tooth: Greek, capucina = Capuchin friar, aka the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin).

The scientific name of this distinctive moth refers to the prominent tufts of hair on the thorax and abdomen: Ptilodon (feather-toothed) and capucina: an allusion to the brown hooded garb of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin - after which the Capuchin Monkey is also named.

In Germany this species is known as the 'Kamelspinner' (or Kamel Zahnspinner) due to its camel 'humps'!











Flight Period: Usually two generations: first from late April to June, second brood from August to early September.

Foodplants: A variety of broad-leaved trees including Birch & Hazel.