Angle Shades

Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)

We ran our moth trap for the second time this year last week, and this lovely Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) was one of the beauties attracted to the light. Its habit of sitting with its wings partially rolled up lengthwise is distinctive, helping to camouflage the moth by making it look like a bit of old, dead leaf. It's common and widespread across much of the UK, but is most abundant in the south. It's also a strong migrant, and sometimes arrives in sizable numbers from the continent, concentrating along the coasts. Habitats include woodlands, fens, hedgerows and gardens. Adults prefer the flowers of Common Reed (found in abundance in a nearby pond) and various other grasses. Caterpillars feed on a whole host of plants, including many (such as Common Nettle, Bramble and Broad-leafed Dock) found in the wild corners of our garden. Both larvae and adult serve as food for parasitoid wasps, birds, ground beetles and hedgehogs — and don't we wish we'd see some of the latter here! Though their main flight period extends from March to October, adult Angle Shades can be found at any time of the year. The Butterfly Conservation website says the species overwinters as larvae, so this one must have got an early start on metamorphosis.