Specieswatch: Jersey tiger moth heads north as climate heats up

The farthest north this species used to be seen was the Channel Islands but it is now common in BedfordshireThe Jersey tiger, Euplagia quadripunctaria, is one of the more spectacular British moths. Rather than trying to blend in with its surroundings, its dramatic black and white wings, with additional orange flashes when flying, seem to be saying "eat me if you dare" and get a stomachache. Most potential predators appear to heed the warning.Unlike some other moths, the caterpillars eat a variety of roadside weeds including nettles, and those hatched in September shelter through the winter on rough patches of ground with plenty of food plants. Continue reading...