Enter the Longhorn Moth

This past weekend was one of many firsts, sighting-wise, including my first Longhorn Moth. Flitting past me with pace whilst trecking up a hill, I relocated the little beauty by seeing its tremendous antennae poking out from underneath a leaf it was resting upon. The colouraion and patterning was stunning and its antennae remarkable! After a few shots I returned the leaf to its normal position and left it be.

The gold patterning shown above is absolutely stunning.

• The longhorn moth (Nemophora degeerella) is a diurnal lepidopteran from the moths family Adelidae (fairy longhorn moths). The wingspan of the moth ranges from 16–23 millimetres (0.63–0.91 in).

• The longhorn moth males have antennae ranging up to five times their body length, while the female has much shorter antennae.

• The habitat of the moth is damp forests.

• The moth is fairly common in north west Europe.

• The flight period of the moth ranges from May to July.

• The caterpillar feeds on birch leaf litter.