Moth Spotter Guide

Spotter guide

Moths are as important in the pollination process as their generally more colourful butterfly relatives. Use this guide to identify the night shift pollinators.

  • Estimated time: 30 minutes
  • Location: Outdoors
  • School term: Early Summer, Late Summer
  • Level of experience: No experience needed

Learning objectives

  • Discover that some pollinators are active at night (nocturnal)
  • See how most living things live in habitats they are suited to
  • Observe how nocturnal moths use camouflage to hide from their predators in the day
  • Note the differences between day-flying and night-flying moths

  1. Angleshades moth
  2. Herald moth
  3. Peppered moth
  4. Old lady moth
  5. Magpie moth
  6. Brimstone moth
  7. Muslin moth
  8. Setaceous Hebrew character moth
  9. Antler moth
  10. Blood-vein moth
  11. Buff tip moth
  12. Flame shoulder moth
  13. Cinnabar moth
    (day flying)
  14. Six-spot burnet moth
    (day-flying)
  15. Ruby tiger moth
  16. Poplar hawk-moth