Buff Tip Moth

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Scientific name:  Phalera bucephala

Size:  Wingspan up to 66mm

Distribution:  Commonly found throughout the UK

Months seen:  May to August

Habitat:  Woods, parks and gardens

Food:  The caterpillars feed on many types of deciduous trees including lime, oak and elm

Special features:  The buff tip moth gets its name from the buff coloured wing tips.  The main areas of the wings are covered with silvery scales which cleverly disguise this moth as a broken twig from a silver birch tree.

The caterpillars are mostly black with thin yellow-green lines running along the length of their bodies, and thick mustard-brown lines running width ways.  They have black heads and a row of black dots along each side of the body.

Related Pages

• UK Safari Moth Section
• UK Safari Silver Birch Tree Fact File
• Identify other wildlife
• What's Out Now?