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PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

Early Thorn Selenia dentaria

Gillian Nash

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Flying now from February to May in the first of its two main flight seasons, the Early Thorn moth is often attracted to street lights or lit windows.

On the wing again from July to September, wing colour varies considerably in these second-generation smaller individuals, with subtle tones of orange and grey rather than the rich russet shades of the male and leaden grey of the female as seen in springtime.

Recorders are familiar with the several species of ‘thorn’ moths all of which have an unusual resting wing position. In particular, the Early Thorn rests with wings held upright and together and so could therefore easily be mistaken for a butterfly if seen during daylight hours or when feeding.

Resident and common throughout many areas of the UK, it may be encountered anywhere in its diverse habitat which includes gardens, woodland, parks, unmanaged wild places and urban areas alike.

The larvae exhibit remarkable camouflage; shades of dull brown combined with a notched outline closely resembling twigs make them almost impossible to distinguish from the plants chosen for their daytime resting pose, motionless and cleverly angled away from small branches or stems.

First-generation larvae hatch from May to June, the second from August to October feeding on a wide range of trees and woody hedgerow species such as blackthorn, hawthorn, birches, sallow, alder, honeysuckles, hazel, sweet chestnut and bog-myrtle. Offspring of this second-generation once fully grown seek the cover of fallen leaves to form a pupa from which firstgeneration adult moths emerge the following late spring.

The Early Thorn appears to be successfully increasing in number throughout the UK and here in the southern counties.

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