A Magpie of the Moth Variety

As we walked past a hedge on our early walkies this morning a moth flew out, landed briefly on Penny's back and then carried on across the lane to rest on a fence:





This was only my second sighting of a Magpie Moth, Abraxas grossulariata. From a distance it was bending in fairly well with the wood so I doubt I would have noticed it if it hadn't flown across our path.

Abraxas grossulariata

Spotted next to my side gate yesterday:

     

Abraxas grossulariata  (Magpie Moth) caterpillar



I took this photo of a Magpie Moth in 2009:



This is a Summer daytime flying moth. The caterpillars may be found feeding on Blackthorn and Hawthorn but can also cause widespread damage to the leaves of currant and gooseberry bushes.

When is a Butterfly not a Butterfly .....

.... when it is pretty and looks like a butterfly to me but .....

As we were trolling* home down the lane this flutter landed on the path. I knew I had seen one like it only once before so took a few photos. After looking on several butterfly identification sites it was nowhere to be seen. Then the penny dropped. Not a butterfly - a moth.

In this case a Magpie Moth: (Abraxas grossulariata)





Unfortunately I have no new videos for this Friday.

* troll, from the Middle English trollen, to stroll.