Concise Garden Wildlife Guide Read online

  Potato Leafhopper

  Eupteryx aurata

  Length 4mm. Black-and-yellow pattern, often orange-tinged. Wings reach past the tip of the abdomen. Occurs on wasteland, and in gardens and hedgerows throughout Europe except far north. Adults seen May–December. Sucks sap from herbaceous plants.

  Scorpion fly

  Panorpa communis

  Length 15mm; wingspan 35mm. Head mounted with large eyes, and drawn into a prominent upwards-pointing beak opening at the tip of the head. Scorpion-like tip to male’s abdomen comprises complex reproductive organs (it is not a sting). Found in woods, hedgerows and shaded gardens in Europe except far north. Flies May–August. Adults spend most of the time crawling on vegetation in damp shady places near water and along hedgerows.

  Green Lacewing

  Chrysopa pallens

  Length 15–20mm; wingspan 30–40mm. Bright green body, golden eyes and green veins on transparent wings. Several species in continental Europe; two similar species in Britain. Inhabits woods, hedgerows, gardens and well-vegetated areas. Found in most of Europe, but not Scotland and northern Scandinavia. Flies May–August. Mainly nocturnal. Adults and larvae prey on aphids.

  Large White

  Pieris brassicae

  Forewing 25–35mm. Black tips extend halfway down the forewing’s edge. Upperside of the forewing has two black spots in female, one in male. Underside of the forewing has two spots in both sexes. Larva is green with black spots and yellow stripes. Lives in gardens and other flowery places. Flies April–October. Eggs are laid on the undersides of leaves. Larvae feed on brassicas and nasturtiums.

  Small White

  Artogeia rapae

  Forewing 15–30mm. Upperside white with one black or grey spot on male’s forewing and two on female’s. Black or grey forewing patches extend further along the leading edge than down the side of the wing. Two spots on the underside of the forewing. Underside of the hindwing yellowish. Larva is green with a yellow stripe running along the sides. Abundant in gardens, hedges and flowery places in Europe. Flies March–October. Eggs are laid on leaves. Diet as Large White.

  Brimstone

  Gonepteryx rhamni

  Forewing 25–30mm. Male’s wings sulphur-yellow on top, paler beneath. Female white with a pale green tinge. Larva is green with white stripes along the sides. Inhabits open woodland, gardens and flowery places in Europe, but not most of Scotland and northern Scandinavia. Flies February–September. Larvae eat Purging Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. Adults overwinter in holly or ivy.

  Orange Tip

  Anthocaris cardamines

  Forewing 20–25mm. Male has orange wing-tips and green blotches on the underside of the hindwing. Female has greyish patches on the forewing and mottled underwing. Lives in hedgerows, gardens, damp meadows and woodland margins. Found across Europe except south-west and southern Spain, and far north. Flies April–June. Larvae eat Garlic Mustard and Lady’s Smock, and Sweet Rocket and Honesty in gardens.

  Holly Blue

  Celastrina argiolus

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 12–18mm. Upperside of male violet-blue. Female paler blue edged with a broad dark band, which is broader in the second brood. Undersides of the wings are pale blue-grey. Larva is small, green and slug-like. The blue most likely to be seen in gardens.

  HABITAT

  Woodland margins, hedgerows, parks and gardens. Found throughout Europe except Scotland and northern Scandinavia.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies April–September. First brood feeds on flowers and the developing fruits of holly; second brood feeds on ivy. Adults drink honeydew, sap and the juices of carrion. Overwinters as a pupa.

  Small Tortoiseshell

  Aglais urticae

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 25mm. Upperside bright orange and black, with a row of blue spots on the edges of the wings. Larva is bristly and black.

  HABITAT

  All kinds of flowery places. Common in Europe.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies March–October. Adults overwinter, often in buildings. Larvae feed on nettles, elms and hops.

  Peacock

  Inachis io

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 30mm. Wings have four large peacock-like ‘eyes’. Upperside orange, underside very dark brown. Larva is black and bristly.

  HABITAT

  Flowery places including gardens. Occurs across Europe to southern Scandinavia.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies March–May and July–September. Larvae feed on nettles. Adults often overwinter in buildings.

  Comma

  Polygonia c-album

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 23mm. Wings have jagged edges. Upperside is orange with black and buff markings. Underside of hindwing has a comma-shaped white mark. Larva is black and sparsely bristled. Its rear end becomes white, making it look like a bird dropping – a form of protection from predators.

  HABITAT

  Woodland margins, gardens, hedges and other flowery places. Common across Europe, but absent from Ireland, northern Britain and far north.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies March–September, in two broods. Second brood is darker than first. Adults overwinter, hanging from leaves. Larvae feed on nettles, hops and elms.

  Painted Lady

  Cynthia cardui

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 20–25mm. Upperside orange with a black forewing tip patched with white. Underside pale with three blue underwing spots. Black larva has tufts of hairs and a yellow-and-red stripe down each side.

  HABITAT

  Flowery places including roadsides and gardens. Occurs throughout Europe, but is a migrant from North Africa. Does not survive European winters.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies April–November, arriving in Britain in late spring to early summer. Produces only two broods in Europe, and throughout the year in North Africa. Feeds on thistles and sometimes nettles.

  Red Admiral

  Vanessa atalanta

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 30mm. Upperside velvety dark brown with bright orange bars on each wing. Tips of the forewings are black with white markings. Underside of the hindwing is pale brown, while underside of forewing shows orange, blue and white markings. Dark larva has bristles and a pale yellow stripe along each side.

  HABITAT

  Flowery places across Europe except northern Scandinavia. Resident in southern Europe, moving north in spring.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies May–October, in two broods. Larvae feed on nettles. Adults feed on rotting fruits in autumn.

  Gatekeeper

  Pyronia tithonus

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 17–25mm. Orange patches on the wings. Black ‘eyes’ with two highlights at the tops of the forewings. Green or brown larva.

  HABITAT

  Hedgerows, woodland margins and gardens. Found in southern Britain and Ireland, and south across the rest of Europe.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies July–September. Larval foodplants are fine-leaved grasses. Adults are fond of Bramble blossom and Marjoram.

  Lackey Moth

  Malacosoma neustria

  Forewing 13–20mm. Occurs in a range of browns. Darker wing bands curve inwards. Long and tufted grey-blue larva has white, orange, black and yellow stripes along the body. Found in many habitats across Europe, but not Scotland and northern Scandinavia. Flies June–August at night. Single-brooded. Larvae live in colonies in cocoons, feeding on the leaves of Blackthorn, hawthorn, plums and sallows. Overwinters as an egg.

  Winter Moth

  Operophtera brumata

  Forewing 15mm. Males have greyish-brown wings with a faint pattern; females have stunted relict wings. Green looper larva is about 20mm long. Abundant wherever there are trees and shrubs. Flies October–February. Nocturnal and attracted to lighted windows. Females can be seen on windowsil
ls and tree trunks. Larvae feed on deciduous trees. Favours hard fruits, especially apples.

  Peppered Moth

  Biston betularia

  Forewing 20–30mm. Variable. Normal form white, peppered with fine dark marks, or sooty black. Green or brown looper larva is up to 60mm long. Found in woods, gardens, scrub and parks across Europe except far north. Flies May–August, coming to lighted windows. Larvae feed on a range of trees and shrubs, including sallows, hawthorn, Golden Rod and Raspberry.

  Peach Blossom

  Thyatira batis

  Forewing 15mm. Forewings are brown with pink blotches. Larva is dark brown with slanting white lines and bumps on its back. Found in woodland and woodland edges in northern and central Europe, including Britain. Flies May–August at night. One brood a year. Larvae feed on Bramble, Raspberry and Blackberry. Overwinters as a pupa.

  Magpie Moth

  Abraxas grossulariata

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 20mm. Variable black-and-white pattern with a yellowish-orange line across the middle of the forewing and near the head. Looper larva is about 30mm long, and pale green with black spots and a rusty line along each side.

  HABITAT

  Woods, gardens and hedgerows.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies June–August. Larvae feed on Blackthorn, hawthorn and many other shrubs. Overwinters as a small larva and pupates in May–June.

  Privet Hawkmoth

  Sphinx ligustri

  Forewing 41–55mm. Brown wings have black markings, and there is a tan trailing edge to the forewing. Body striped with pink and black. Larva is up to 100mm long, and green with purple-and-white stripes on each side of its body. Occurs in woodland edges, hedges, parks and gardens across Europe except Ireland, Scotland and far north. Flies June–July, drinking nectar on the wing, especially from honeysuckle. Larvae feed on privets, Ash and Lilac.

  White Ermine

  Spilosoma lubricipeda

  Forewing 17mm. White with more or less sparse black spots. Hairy thorax and black-spotted yellow abdomen. Larva is up to 45mm long, dark brown and very hairy, with a dark red line down its back. Found in hedgerows, gardens, waste ground and other habitats throughout Europe. Flies May–August, in 1–2 broods. Adults do not feed, but larvae feed on herbaceous plants, including docks and numerous garden plants.

  Garden Tiger

  Arctia caja

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 25–35mm. Chocolate-brown forewings have cream patterning. Hindwings are orange with black spots. Very hairy black-and-brown larva is known as a ‘woolly bear’.

  HABITAT

  Open habitats, including gardens and scrub, across Europe.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies June–August. Larvae feed on herbaceous plants. Winters as a small larva.

  Setaceous Hebrew Character

  Xestia c-nigrum

  Forewing to 20mm. Greyish-brown to chestnut with a purplish tinge. There is a pale patch on the leading edge of the forewing. The larva is initially green, before becoming pale greenish-grey. Found in lowland areas including cultivated regions, woodland and marshes throughout Europe except far north. Flies May–October. Two or more broods a year. Larvae feed on a wide range of herbaceous plants.

  Green Arches

  Anaplectoides prasina

  Forewing 20mm. Greenish forewings have variable black markings, while hindwings are dark grey or brown. Larva is brown with darker markings. Inhabits deciduous woodland over most of Europe. Flies mid-June–mid-July at night. Larvae feed on a range of plants, especially honeysuckle and Bilberry.

  Grey Dagger

  Acronicta psi

  Forewing to 20mm. Pale to dark grey, with dark, apparently dagger-shaped marks. Hairy grey-black larva has a yellow line along its back, red spots along its sides and a black horn on its first abdominal segment. Occurs in woodland, commons, parks and gardens across Europe except far north. Flies May–September, with larva feeding August–October on a wide range of broadleaved trees.

  Angle Shades

  Phlogophora meticulosa

  Forewing 25mm. Varies from brown to green, with distinctive V-shaped markings. Forewing’s trailing edge has a ragged look, exaggerated by its habit of resting with its wings curled over. Fat green larva is up to 45mm long and has a white line (often faint) along its back. A migrant found in almost any habitat in Europe. Flies most of the year, but mainly May–October. Larvae feed on a variety of wild and cultivated plants. Overwinters as a larva.

  Large Yellow Underwing

  Noctua pronuba

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 25mm. Varies from pale to dark brown. Hindwings are deep yellow with a black border. The yellow flashes when the moth takes flight, which is thought to confuse predators. Green larva is up to 50mm long with two rows of dark markings on its back.

  HABITAT

  Well-vegetated habitats throughout Europe except far north.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies June–October. Flight is fast and erratic. The yellow flashes shown in flight become invisible the moment it lands.

  Red Underwing

  Catocala nupta

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Forewing 30–35mm. Grey-mottled forewings make this moth well camouflaged on tree bark, but bright red underwings are very conspicuous in flight. Pale brown larva has warty bud-like lumps on its back.

  HABITAT

  Woodlands, hedges, gardens and parks throughout Europe except northern Scandinavia.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies August–September at night. Flies erratically, flashing its red underwings to confuse predators. Larvae feed in May–July on willows, poplars and aspens.

  Common Crane-fly

  Tipula paludosa

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Length 25mm. Dark brown along the leading edges of the wings. Female’s wings are shorter than her abdomen. Male has a square-ended abdomen, while female’s is pointed, with an ovipositor. Dull brown grub is known as a ‘leather-jacket’. Also called Daddy-long-legs.

  HABITAT

  Common in grasslands, parks and gardens throughout Europe.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Flies throughout the year, but most numerous in autumn. Adults rarely feed. Grubs live in the soil and appear at night to gnaw the bases of plant stems.

  Large Bee-fly

  Bombylius major

  Length 10–12mm; wingspan 20–25mm. Brown, furry and bee-like coat, and a long proboscis. Dark leading edges to the wings. Legs are long and slender. Inhabits sunny wooded places across Europe, but rare in far north. Hovers, using its long front legs to steady itself as it reaches for nectar with its long proboscis. Female drops eggs in flight, and larvae develop as parasites in solitary bee and wasps’ nests.

  Cleg-fly

  Haematopota pluvialis

  Length 11mm. Dull grey horsefly with a rather cylindrical abdomen. Wings are mottled, and held above abdomen when at rest. Flies silently. Common in May–September, especially in damp woods. Replaced in northern and upland areas by another similar species. Flies May–October. Most active in humid and overcast weather. Females are bloodsuckers, biting humans and livestock. Males drink nectar and plant juices. Larvae live in damp soil, where they prey on other invertebrates.

  Syrphus-fly

  Syrphus ribesii

  Length 10mm. Yellow-and-black-striped with a rounded abdomen. Larva is green and slug-like. There are several similar species. Found in flower-rich habitats across Europe. Flying adults seen March–November. Males perch on leaves or twigs up to 2.5m from the ground and make a high-pitched whining noise. Feeds mainly on nectar, but will also crush and swallow pollen. Larvae feed on aphids and are themselves victims of parasitic wasps.

  Narcissus-fly

  Merodon equestris

  Length 10–15mm. A bumblebee mimic. Occurs in gardens, parks, woods and hedges throughout Europe. Flies March–August. Larvae burrow down into bulbs.

  Bluebo
ttle

  Calliphora vomitoria

  Length 12–15mm. Rounded metallic-blue body. Carrot-shaped creamy white larva. Widespread throughout Europe. Often flies in and around houses. Can be seen all year round, often sunning itself on walls. Females lay eggs on meat and carrion, on which the larvae feed. Males can often be seen on flowers, feeding on the nectar.

  Greenbottle

  Lucilia caesar

  Length 8–15mm. Abdomen varies from blue-green to emerald, becoming coppery with age. Silvery below eyes. Occurs in most habitats in Europe. Common around houses. Active all year round. Feeds on nectar, carrion and wounds.

  Common Carrot-fly

  Psila rosae

  Length 4mm. Black thorax and abdomen with brown legs. Creamy white grub. Found in gardens and on farmland. Lays eggs in late spring near young carrots. Larvae infest the roots, often turning them into empty shells.

  Common House-fly

  Musca domestica

  Length 8mm. Black and tan abdomen. Found in and around houses throughout Europe. Especially numerous in places where there is plenty of decaying matter. Occurs during most of the year, but is most common June–September.