Wildlife in the garden - moths and butterflies

Butterflies are often the stars of the show when it comes to winged insects in the garden, but did you know there are around 2500 species of moth in the UK, compared to just 59 species of butterflies?

They don’t only come out at night, and they’re just as important for pollination and food in ecosystem of our gardens and community spaces.  We can encourage them in by growing flowers that open in the evening, and those with nectar-rich tubular blooms, which moths access using their long tube-like mouthparts, known as a proboscis.

Plants such as Nicotiana (tobacco plant), evening primrose, honeysuckle and sweet rocket are great for attracting moths.  Their caterpillars need food too in the form of leaves, including the foliage of Verbascum, or mullein, which is irresistible to the mullein moth.  Lady’s bedstraw is a favourite of the hummingbird hawk-moth and elephant hawk-moth caterpillars, while foxgloves and mint also provide food for different species.

It’s a myth that all moths are dull and brown – many have beautiful, bright colours or clever camouflage.  The Cinnabar moth has wings in eye-catching black and red colours and is often found in grassy areas and scrubland.  Cinnabar caterpillars absorb toxins from plants and their bright colours warn potential predators that they’re unpalatable. 

Or look out for the vibrant Brimstone moth: very like the Brimstone butterfly, its moth cousin has bright yellow wings with brown markings and two silvery eye spots shaped like crescents.  The caterpillars love to feed on hawthorn and blackthorn.

If you’re lucky you might spot a Swallow-tailed moth – this one is pale and delicate looking, with pointed tails on each wing; it flies at dusk and is attracted by light and can be found in parks and gardens across the UK.