Moths in the mail

Today, Royal Mail unveiled a beautiful new set of stamps featuring ten moths found in the UK. Some are exceptionally rare, hanging on in only in a few locations. Others can be seen widely across the UK, even turning up in gardens. All are worthy of celebration! Let’s meet the moths coming to an envelope near you…

Emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia)

This regal moth can be seen flying on sunny days in April and May, powering over heathlands and other scrubby habitats. These are male moths, using their feathered antennae to follow the scent of a female. The females prefer to fly at night, spending the day resting in long grass and letting the males come to them. In summer, you might find their bright green caterpillars feeding on a wide range of plants, from heathers to hawthorn.

A male emperor moth resting on a branch. It's a large moth with bright orange hindwings. Each of its four wings has a large eyespot and it has feathery antennae

Puss moth (Cerura vinula)

This large and spectacular moth is as fluffy as a cat, earning it the name puss moth. There are three similar but smaller species found in the UK, all known as kittens! Puss moths fly in late spring and summer, when they may be attracted to lights. Look out for their bizarre caterpillars feeding on poplars and willows. They’re fat and green, with two long ‘tails’ and markings that look like a false face.

A big, fluffy puss moth resting on a tree branch

Broad-bordered bee hawk-moth (Hemaris fuciformis)

This is another day-flying moth, active in late spring and summer. On sunny days it can be seen hovering in front of flowers, using its long proboscis to suck up nectar. It favours trumpet-shaped flowers like honeysuckle, which is also the favourite foodplant of its green caterpillars. They leave a distinctive pattern as they feed, making a hole either side of the leaf’s midrib – like it’s been hole punched!

Dark bordered beauty (Epione vespertaria)

Sadly, few people get to enjoy the beauty of this rare moth. It can only be found at a few sites in Scotland and one in northern England. In Scotland, its caterpillars feed on aspen, but in England they prefer creeping willow. The adult moths fly in late summer, with males in particular often seen during the day.

A dark bordered beauty moth resting on a fern leaf. It's a pale golden-brown moth with darker, purple-brown borders on the wings and as lines across the wings

December moth (Poecilocampa populi)

There are very few moths that are tough enough to take on winter as an adult, but the December moth is one of them. It’s delightfully furry, with charcoal wings and a creamy head – recalling a tiny pint of Guinness. This moth’s name is a little misleading, as it can be found as early as October, with most sightings coming in November. The adults don’t feed at all, relying on the energy they stored up as a caterpillar.

A December moth standing on a a yellow leaf. It's a fluffy moth with wavy cream lines across its charcoal wings

Dark crimson underwing (Catocala sponsa)

This large moth was confined to oakwoods in the New Forest, but in the last few years it has been recorded breeding in several new areas. It also reaches the UK as a migrant from Europe, when it can appear in other parts of the country, usually attracted to the light of a moth trap. It has mottled brown forewings, perfect for camouflaging against the bark of a tree trunk. But when it spreads its wings, it reveals a glorious blaze of red.

A dark crimson underwing moth in a see-through plastic pot. It's a large moth with mottled brown forewings held open to reveal the bright red hindwings beneath, with bands of black across them, including a w-shaped band in the centre of the wing

Scarce crimson and gold (Pyrausta sanguinalis)

This small but dazzling moth was once found in sandy habitats across the north and west of the UK. It’s now only found in a few locations in the north of Northern Ireland and on the northern tip of the Isle of Man. Adults fly in June and again in August, whilst caterpillars feed on wild thyme. You might see its much more common relative, the mint moth, visiting herbs in your garden.

A scarce crimson and gold moth clinging to a flower stem. It's a small, golden-brown moth with bright crimson-purple bands across its wings

Swallow-tailed moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)

Just as with the swallowtail butterfly, this large and beautiful moth can be recognised by the prominent pointed tail on each of its hindwings. It’s a common species across much of the UK, often found in parks and gardens. You might disturb it from its daytime hiding spot, see it fluttering around on a summer evening, or find it resting against a well-lit window.

A swallow-tailed moth resting on a the underside of a green leaf. It's a large, pale yellow moth with delicate brown lines across the wings. Each hindwing has a pointed tail

Hedge beauty (Alabonia geoffrella)

This little moth certainly lives up to its name. It’s barely a centimetre long but is a real showstopper, with silvery-blue markings on golden-brown wings. Affectionately known as Geoff, thanks to the scientific name geofrella, the hedge beauty can be seen flying in morning sunshine in wooded areas of England and Wales.

A hedge beauty moth standing on a leaf. It's a beautiful micro moth with silver-blue lines and two yellow wedges on its golden-brown wings. Its palps are large, black and fluffy

Buff-tip (Phalera Bucephala)

The buff-tip is a master of camouflage, doing a perfect impression of a broken birch twig. With a keen eye and a lot of luck, you might spot one resting on a branch in June or July. They fly at night and, like many moths, can be attracted to lights. The caterpillars are black with yellowish stripes. They feed on a range of trees, including birches, oaks and willows. When they’re young, the caterpillars feed in groups and can strip entire branches of leaves.

A buff-tip moth resting on a broken branch. The moth is long and narrow, with mottled grey wings and a buff patch at the wingtip and a buff head. The moth looks a lot like a broken birch twig

Help moths to thrive in your garden

Did you know there are around 2,500 moth species in the UK? They come in an incredible variety of colours, patterns and shapes.

Gardens can can be a haven for both flying adults and their hungry caterpillars. Find out how to make your garden into a moth haven by downloading your free Wild About Gardens booklet.

Help moths in your garden