British micro moth: Diurnea fagella

A single male Diurnea fagella, an early flying British micro moth, was attracted to a window light last night. Like several of the early flying moths the females (above right) have reduced wings and cannot fly. They attract males by climbing up the trunks of trees and giving off pheromones. The male shown has the most commonly seen light grey colouring but they can vary in shade with some being almost black.

Insight into Diurnea fagella: a common species of moth found throughout much of the UK where the caterpillars feed on a variety of deciduous trees. The male has a wingspan of approximately 25mm and flies at night when it is often attracted to light. It may also be found during the daytime on the trunks of deciduous trees. The flightless female is far less frequently seen and is best searched for at night with a torch on the trunks of trees.