Hepialidae

0014 (ABH3.005) Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli, (Linnaeus, 1758)

KR00080

Female, Great Staughton, June 2012
Female, Great Staughton, June 2012
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Female, Great Staughton, June 2012
 Photo © Peter Bissell
 pre-2000
 2000-2009
 2010-2019
 2020-onwards
Male, Earith
Male, Earith
 Photo © David Griffiths
Female, Great Staughton
Female, Great Staughton
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Female, Earith
Female, Earith
 Photo © David Griffiths
Female, Great Staughton, June 2012
Female, Great Staughton, June 2012
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Female, Great Staughton, June 2012
Female, Great Staughton, June 2012
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Female, Great Staughton, June 2012
Female, Great Staughton, June 2012
 Photo © Peter Bissell
Female, Earith
Female, Earith
 Photo © David Griffiths
Male, Earith
Male, Earith
 Photo © David Griffiths
Female, Earith
Female, Earith
 Photo © David Griffiths
Female, Old Weston
Female, Old Weston
 Photo © Kevin Royles
Hemingford Grey, 16th July 2014. Light trap. Female.
Hemingford Grey, 16th July 2014. Light trap. Female.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Eggs, Great Staughton, June 2012
Eggs, Great Staughton, June 2012
 Photo © Peter Bissell


General Information

This is the largest swift found in the UK.

 

Males have plain white forewings and hindwings. Females have a yellow/orange forewing.

 

Flies at dusk and after dark. Groups of males can be seen flying over one spot releasing a goat-like scent.

 

Overwinters as a larva, maybe twice. Pupates underground among roots.

Overwinters as Overwinters as a larva.
Both sexes readily come to light, sometimes in numbers.

Forewing length: M 21-29mm. F 21-35mm.
Foodplant(s): grasses (roots), Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), herbaceous plants, docks (Rumex spp.), burdocks (Arctium spp.), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
Flying: One generation, June-early August
UK Presence: Resident
National status: Common

Habitat

Grassy or weedy places, on open ground and in woodland rides and clearings.

Regional Information

Recorded in 86 (31.9%) of the 270 2km squares of Huntingdonshire.

Last recorded in July 2022

Recorded date range (Adult): 24 May to 23 August



Larva/Leafmine:
Larva Type:
Smooth
Colours:
white, yellow, brown
No. of Proleg Pairs:
5