MOTHS

MAGPIE MOTH:

The Latin name for the Magpie moth is Abraxas grossulariata.

The Magpie moth is a small to medium moth with a wingspan of 3.5-4.5cm. The wings are white, blotched and spotted with black and yellow in a variable pattern. Both adults and caterpillars are highly unpalatable to potential predators, and their bright colours serve as a warning.

The caterpillar is striped in a similar colour and feeds on currant, gooseberry, plum, apple and other shrubs. It develops between August and the autumn, then hibernates and completes its development the following spring. It pupates in a spun-up leaf.