This very distinct moth is similar in general appearance to the closely related, very familiar and much more common Peppered Moth which comes out later in the year. During this week the Oak Beauty reaches its peak in D&G. Emerging at the beginning of March individual moths can be found through to the end of April especially in the populations further north in Scotland.
This is a moth of wooded areas throughout central and southern Scotland but not found in the far north or the uplands. Occurring throughout England it is clearly a species dependent on climate, becoming more abundant in the far south. However, although there has been shown to be a decline in abundance in recent years, Scottish records show that there are a lot of new ‘squares’ recorded for this species since 2000 especially in the west. In D&G we have well over 200 records and from all three vice-counties.
Although called the Oak Beauty the caterpillar can be found on many other trees besides oak including hazel, aspen, alder, elm and sallow. It is a typical ‘stick’ caterpillar, dark grey in colour with brown patches and a reddish brown head. The eighth segment of its body has warty swellings. The caterpillar feeds during May and June and pupates in the ground beneath the tree it has lived on.
Once they have hatched the males, recognised by their very feathery antennae as in the photograph, frequently come to light traps but the similar but the whiter coloured females are rarely seen. None of our records record a female although many do not show a sex. Perhaps some diligent searching in known Oak Beauty locations might reveal a female or two?
