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Jersey WondersYou are in: Jersey > Jersey Wonders > Hail the Jersey tiger-moth Hail the Jersey tiger-mothBy James McLachlan The Jersey tiger-moth is a common sight in Jersey in the summer months. Insect expert Roger Long explains more.  Image copyright Richard Perchard The Jersey tiger-moth, with its two-inch wingspan of cream stripes on a dark brown background, is a striking sight on a summer’s day. It flutters in a seemingly arbitrary fashion, darting hither and thither, before sitting, sphinx-like, on an adjacent flower and drinking deeply from the nectar that gives this most impressive of moths its lifeblood. Jersey insect expert Roger Long explains where you can spot one. He said: “The Buddleia flower – nicknamed the butterfly bush – is a very good place to see one. It will look like a triangle of dark chocolate and cream stripes. “When it is disturbed or when it flies, the red flash of its under wing shows quite conspicuously.”  Image copyright Richard Perchard Different type of tigerMr Long says that many people ask him what these red ‘butterflies’ are. In appearance, it differs from the garden tiger-moths found in the UK, which have bluish-black circular markings on a cream background. Mr Long continues: “In the Victorian times, a great number of entomologists were travelling all over Britain, and to some extent all over Europe, finding new things. “Some of them came over here and found this tiger-moth that was slightly different from the one that was common in England. Of course, I wasn’t there, but I can imagine what they said – oh what is this tiger-moth, it is different from ours?” Unlike some of its relatives, which are generally found bumping into light bulbs, the Jersey tiger is not fussy about when it takes to the sky, flying both at night and in the daytime. The caterpillars eat plants as they grow, and in July the Jersey tiger emerges. Despite its fearsome sounding name, this glorious moth has no defence against other local fliers, making it a tasty snack for bats and birds. Mr Long said: “We set our moth traps, catching night-flying moths to look at them. Sometimes we can see the bats flying around these lights and we know we are going to have a very poor catch in the morning.” Moth invasionThe Jersey variety is found from as far as south London to the Mediterranean and beyond. They are a spectacular sight in certain parts of the world. Roger Long said: “There are places where they come out in the emerging stage of their breeding cycle in vast numbers. “Then they disperse to various parts of Europe. In the island of Rhodes in the eastern Mediterranean there is a valley called the red butterfly valley. These red butterflies are actually the Jersey tigers.”  Image copyright Richard Perchard With climate change almost certain to be a factor in the future experts predict the Jersey tiger-moth could spread further north in the UK. last updated: 21/04/2009 at 14:31 Have Your SayPete M Sarah and Finley Barry Alan Munro Ray O'Reilly Kas M, Dartmouth, Devon Becky Shand Alan Piper Sam Pauline and Jeff Louise Worth Kayzia Paul P Chris jr Alison Jane M Maggie Paula, East Dulwich Eddy Heidi Le Moulin kate R Hill Lucille Linda Caroline Don Hill Carol Steph Dave sarah Mothra Malaco Jim the Moth Clive JB-O SEE ALSOYou are in: Jersey > Jersey Wonders > Hail the Jersey tiger-moth  |
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