Day 364 - Brilliantly Positioned - Beautiful Plume Moth

Beautiful Plume Moth (Amblyptilia acanthadactyla)

Hey everyone today's Day 364, just 1 day to go! So, to celebrate I thought I would cover a very nice little Moth that I really like because of its unique shape. This one turned up in my front garden in September, pretty much outside of my front door on some nearby plants. I was on my way out somewhere so my camera was handy and I managed to get a few shots before it flew off.  It is of course, one of the Plume Moths and it is a very beautiful looking one. On that basis, and from my research, this looks like a Moth that is 'what it says on the tin' - the Beautiful Plume Moth.

So, here are the facts:

• There have been records of them across the United Kingdom, but they get rarer the more Northerly you travel.

Got in a bit close

• Well, they are widespread but there are not as many places with sightings in the UK as a lot of Moths I have covered.

• I haven't found anywhere that they are classed as rare as such, but they certainly seem less common than a lot of Moths.

• The good news is that they have been getting more common since the 1990's and are now more often found in gardens - just like this one.

• There are two generations in a year so they are found flying from July and from September onwards, I'm guessing this means until the weather gets too cold and it's time so say goodbye to them!

• When it gets cold the second generation go into hibernation and once they wake will be flying until May.

Got a crazy looking shot when I went in for a bug's eye view

• Their wingspan is between the very specific sizes of 17mm and 23mm. This is one of the smaller non-micro-moths that I have ever covered.

• The larvae feed in June and August on the flowers and young leaves of small plants.

• Some of these plants include Restharrow, Hedge woundwort, Goosefoots and even Heather.

• A lot of other types of Plume Moths feed on these plants too so you should be cautious when you are identifying them from their larvae as they are easy to confuse.

Here are some links to more information:

NatureSpot - Beautiful Plume Moth

UK Moths - Beautiful Plume Moth

Hope you enjoyed,

Z.