Garden Tiger Moth - Western Isles - Hebrides Insects

Name
The garden tiger moth gets its name from the tiger-like stripes on their forewings. The conspicuous tiger like patterns serve as a warning to predators, because the moth's body fluids are poisonous

Wingspan
Wingspan approximately 65mm.

Caterpillars - Woolly Bear
The garden tiger moth caterpillars are brown and black and are very hairy - hence it is often called a 'woolly bear'. The hairs are irritant and protect it from predators, such as birds. Garden tigers over winter as caterpillars. The garden tiger moth produces - from April to June a brood of fat, black, hairy caterpillars. The hairs on the back are long and white, underlain by shorter black ones, while those along the side are reddish. The caterpillars can often be seen on leaves in the spring, or searching for pupation sites. They feed on a wide variety of wild and garden plants.

Food
This garden tiger moth caterpillars feed on plants like docks, dandelion, stinging nettles and brambles, sunflowers and hollyhocks. Scares Off Predators To deter predators the garden tiger moth makes a rasping noise - it rubs its wings together to do this. If this isn't frightening off the predator it gives off a drop of bright yellow blood from its thorax.

A FEW MOTH FACTS
Moths Closely Related to Butterflies
Moths are closely related to butterflies - people are often under the illusion that throughout the Scotland and the Uk that there are more butterflies than moths - however there are actually about 60 species of butterfly to be seen throughout the UK as opposed to 2500 species of moths. Moths can be seen all the year round including the winter months

Life Cycle - Egg - Pupa - Adult
The life cycle of a moth consists of an egg, caterpillar, pupa, and then the adult moth. Some species of moths live as adults for only a few days, while others live for many months and hibernate over the winter. Some live as caterpillars for 3 to 4 years.

Animal Food Source - Pollination
Moths are a vital food source for many other animals - many birds eat moths - and some species of moths are important pollinators.

Moths Vision
Moths see very differently from us. they can see ultraviolet rays (which are invisible to humans).

Moths Hearing
Butterflies and moths hear sounds through their wings.

Study of Moths
The study of moths is called - 'lepidoptery'

Johnstons Organ
Butterflies and moths both have an organ - the Johnston's organ which is at the base of their antennae. This organ is responsible for maintaining the butterfly or moths sense of balance and orientation, especially during flight.