Garden Tiger Moth

           Arctia caja

 

The Garden Tiger is an attractive moth with a dark brown and cream patterned forewing and a red body and underwing. The colours and patterns warn predators that the moth is toxic and distasteful; the red flash will also frighten small predators. The moth is usually nocturnal and has declined by 90% in the last 30 years. The caterpillar is large furry and dark brown.
The above photo (left) was kindly provided by Jeff Davies, taken at his home in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales in late July 2011			The above photo (right) is of a faded, pinned specimen but shows the red body and underwing -- the blue-black spots having faded to black