This photo of a Jersey tiger moth is July’s nature photo of the month. It was taken by Col Everett in her garden on Watchbell Street in Rye. “They used be very rare but gradually they are expanding their territory and becoming less so.”
The Butterfly Conservation Group say they’re a scarce insect in the UK. “The adults can be found flying on warm days and visiting flowers, such as buddleia. They also fly at night and come to light. The caterpillars can be seen from September to the following May, overwintering as small larvae.”
Image Credits: Col Everett .
There was one in my garden last week, sitting on the woodwork near the door. I had never seen one before!
I photographed one last week. Lovely to see. The underside of their wings are a beautiful orange, making them appear more like a butterfly than a moth!
The Jersey Tiger is a not infrequent visitor; I have seen a couple in the last three years. This year though we have had a rarer visitor to Sussex – a hummingbird hawk moth, too speedy to photograph! But if you see a pretty off-white moth with dark wing edges it might be a box moth. Not to be admired! Get rid of it, or it will get rid of your box hedges.
I saw one today. When it flew past I thought it might be a red admiral but when it settled I saw it was a Jersey Tiger. A beautiful creature.