Red and black cinnabar moth with its wings open on a flowering plant

The cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) is one of the many colourful and pleasingly patterned moths found in Britain.

Image © Alison Day via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

UK moths: Nine of the most colourful and distinctive

Paul Teasdale and Lisa Hendry

Moths are often unfairly thought of as butterflies' drab cousins. But there are lots of wonderfully colourful species and plenty with dramatic patterns, including in the UK.

Whether you are a seasoned moth-spotter or you're winging it for the first time, here is a guide to nine vibrant, distinctive British moths to look out for on a summer walk.

Moths and butterflies are closely related insects in the order Lepidoptera, which is a Greek word meaning 'scaly wings'. But while butterflies tend to command adoration for their beauty, moths are often unfairly overlooked. Yet there is little difference between them.

Garden tiger moth — If you think moths are drab, think again - many are extremely eye-catching, such as this garden tiger moth. A variety of tiger moth species can be spotted in Britain, each with pretty patterns.
© R Maximiliane/ Shutterstock

Alessandro Giusti, Lepidoptera Curator at the Museum, explains that brilliantly coloured moths are often day-flying species or those keen to display their distastefulness to predators.

In contrast, he says, 'The dull colours of nocturnal moths help camouflage them as they rest during the day.'

Moths' roles in nature

Moths, like all insects, provide vital ecological services, including as food sources for other organisms. Their predators include birds, mammals and spiders.

They are also important pollinators. Alessandro says, 'Moths pollinate a wide variety of plants, including wildflowers and some crops, as they search for nectar.'

What do moths eat?

Their food supply can be a good starting point when looking for moths and caterpillars, with each species preferring certain plants and flowers.

Alessandro says, 'More than 90% of moth caterpillars are vegetarian, eating leaves, roots, seeds and fruits.

'Not all moth species feed as adults, but those that do feed, do so on nectar, sap and sugary liquids from plants and fruits.'

Nine colourful and distinctive types of UK moths

Many of the species listed below can be spotted across most of Britain and Ireland. So why not try identifying a colourful moth or caterpillar in a garden or on a walk?

1. Elephant hawkmoth (Deilephila elpenor)

The elephant hawkmoth has unmistakable pink and olive-green wings. It is found in a variety of habitats across the UK and Ireland, including urban areas.

Alessandro says, 'This moth is often found where rosebay willowherb is present, in places like grassland, hedgerows, heathland, sand dunes, woodland and gardens.'

Side view of an elephant hawkmoth caterpillar, showing its pink furry body and wing undersides — Pretty in pink! Side view of an elephant hawkmoth (*Deilephila elpenor*), where even more cerise colouring is visible.
Image © Hammon jp via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under