Garden Tiger - Arctia caja

Wingspan 45-65 mm. Another species which was a favourite with early collectors, who selectively bred it to create unusual colours and forms.

Gardens, water meadows, marshes, fens, sand-dunes and open woodland.

It flies in July and August and will regularly visit the light-trap.

The caterpillars are the 'woolly bears' of many people's childhood and feed on a number of herbaceous plants.

Once a quite common moth in most of Britain, it seems to have declined in many places in the last few years. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.

It is reasonably common in Leicestershire and Rutland but numbers may be declining. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)