Pale Tussock Moth

Last night was a better moth catch, but I was using my trap with an actinic light in the front garden (the actinic is "black" light and glows blue so doesn't disturb the neighbours).

This moth is a Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) which is common in the UK. There are about 2,700 species in the Tussock moth family around the world of which 11 have been recorded in the British Isles. The caterpillar feeds on a variety of trees and shrubs, including Hawthorn, Blackthorn, various fruit trees, Oak, Birch, Elm, Lime and Hazel. Its forewing is about 2.7 - 3.4 cm from apex to tip, so it is quite a large moth.

Even more furry in large.

There was a Sexton, or Burying Beetle in the trap as well and I have put a photo of it in my folio Nicrophorus humator.

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