This is a Scarlet Tiger Moth. (Not a Garden Tiger Moth). I noticed it flying onto the neighbours' rose bush whilst I was on the phone to my father, and it stayed there for 30 minutes. By the time I had finished the phone call though, it had moved to the underside of one of their nice yellow rose flowers. I thought I wouldn't be able to get a decent shot of it, but I leaned right over their fence, and snapped the beauty.
(Our poor neighbours. It must be living next door to the bloody papparazi or something! I'm outside constantly, with binoculars, camera(s) and even two telescopes)!
One can tell this is the SCARLET Tiger Moth, by looking at its hind wings in these photos, and specifically, the pattern of red at the rear of the hind wings, and most importantly, the fact that this moth did NOT exhibit any white edge on the rear of the hindwings. That last point is a giveaway. This was DEFINITELY a Scarlet Tiger Moth! Absolutely wonderful!
These moths are common in June and July in the West and South West of Britain, but virtually non-existent elsewhere. Perhaps they are spreading north and east? The imagos (adults) fly by day.
I feel really chuffed to have spotted this!
NB. 02/06/07 Anna saw this moth again in the garden yesterday, and we BOTH saw it in the garden today - on our side of the fence this time! Do we have a population of Scarlet Tiger Moths, or are they breeding by the stream at the bottom of the railway embankment?
Wonderful looking moths...
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