Orange moth with a white lines creating a V on upper forewing

Orange Swift. Photo: Martin Wood

Martin trapped this Orange Swift in Wimborne on the night of 6/09/19.

These are primitive moths with five of the 500 or so species occurring in the UK. Adults have no functional proboscis so are incapable of feeding. Eggs are laid while flying low over caterpillar foodplants and the resulting caterpillars live underground feeding on plant roots. The life cycle takes two years to complete with the caterpillars overwintering twice.

A fascinating little moth!

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