FOX MOTH (Macrothylacia rubi) caterpillar at Blacksod Village, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

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 The Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi) is of the family Lasiocampidae which is in the genus Macrothylacia.

BRIGHT-LINE BROWN-EYE MOTH or TOMATO MOTH (Spilosoma lubricipeda) caterpillar Blacksod Village, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

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 The Bright-line Brown-eye Moth (Lacanobia oleracea) or Tomato Moth is of the family Noctuidae which is in the genus Lacanobia. This common and widespread species occurs in the temperate areas of Eurasia as well as parts of North Africa.   

Having overwintered underground as a papa, the adult merges in early May and is on the wing until early July. In warmer regions there is a second generation and that flight season is during August and September. The caterpillar or larva stage is from June into early October.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds  

 

References and highly recommended reading:

Field guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland  by Paul Waring, Martin Townsend and Richard Lewington

Field guide to the Caterpillars of Great Britain and Ireland  by Barry Henwood, Phil Sterling and Richard Lewington

WHITE ERMINE MOTH (Spilosoma lubricipeda) caterpillar Blacksod, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

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 The White Ermine Moth (Spilosoma lubricipeda) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Spilosoma. This common species is found throughout the temperate regions of Eurasia. The adult is white with dark antennae and has black speckling on the forewing. The normal flight season is from mid May to end of July but infrequently there is a second generation later in the autumn. Larval stage is from July to late September. Then a  hairy cocoon is formed among plant debris in which the pupal stage remains and emerges the following year as an adult in early summer.

 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds  

 

References and highly recommended reading:

Field guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland  by Paul Waring, Martin Townsend and Richard Lewington

Field guide to the Caterpillars of Great Britain and Ireland  by Barry Henwood, Phil Sterling and Richard Lewington 

KNOT GRASS MOTH (Acronicta rumicis) caterpillar Blacksod, Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland

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The Knot Grass Moth (Acronicta rumicis) is of the family Noctuidae which is in the genus Acronicta.

RED UNDERWING MOTH (Catocala nupta) on 17-08-2021 attracted to security light Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Red Underwing Moth (Catocala nupta) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Catocala. This is a large macro moth with a wingspan of 80mm and occurs in the temperate regions of the Palearctic. There are less than fifteen Irish records. The first record was from Co. Cork on 16th September 1906. There were no further reports until September 2016 when it was found in Co. Louth. All subsequent reports have been from that county as well as several from Co. Dublin and there is a single record from Co. Meath.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds 

GOAT MOTH (Cossus cossus) caterpillar on 12-08-2020, Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Goat Moth (Cossus cossus) is of the family Cossidae which is in the genus Cossus. This large species occurs in broad leaved woodland across North America and Eurasia. In mid summer when the lava (caterpillar) hatches it bores into a deciduous tree. Having spent up to five year feeding inside the trunk or branch, the fully grown 10cm long larva emerges from the tree during August. It then makes a cocoon among debris on the ground where the pupal stage takes place and remains there until June the following year when it becomes a moth. The flight season, during which the adults don't feed, peaks in June and July. There is a strong musky smell reminiscent of goat from the larva (caterpillar) hence the adults name.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

With thanks to the local lady and her two children who found the caterpillar and pointed it out to me.

GREEN LONGHORN MOTH (Adela reaumurella) female on 11th May 2021, Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Green Longhorn Moth (Adela reaumurella) is of the family Adelidae which is in the genus Adela. In the Palearctic Region, it has a scattered distribution but it can be locally common. In Ireland, there are less than 50 records which probably doesn't reflect its true status. This day flying micro moth is on the wing from April to June. The larva (caterpillar) feeds on leaf litter and overwinters as a pupa (chrysalis).

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BURNET COMPANION MOTH (Euclidia glyphica) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Burnet Companion Moth (Euclidia glyphica) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Euclidia. It occurs through the Palearctic region. This day flying species is on the wing from April to late July, peaking in June. Larva (caterpillar) can be seen from late June to the end of August and then overwinters as a pupa, in a cocoon.

 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

NUT TREE TUSSOCK MOTH (Colocasia coryli) caterpillar Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Nut Tree Tussock Moth (Colocasia coryli) is of the family Noctuidae which is in the genus Colocasia.

SILVER Y MOTH (Autographa gamma) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Silver Y Moth (Autographa gamma) is of the family Noctuidae which is in the genus Autographa.

KNOT GRASS MOTH (Acronicta rumicis) caterpillar Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Knot Grass Moth (Acronicta rumicis) is of the family Noctuidae which is in the genus Acronicta.

COMMON HEATH MOTH (Ematurga atomaria) [Male] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Heath Moth (Ematurga atomaria) is of the family Geometridae which is in the genus Ematurga.

MOTHER SHIPTON MOTH (Callistege mi) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Mother Shipton Moth (Callistege mi) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Callistege.

LATTICED HEATH MOTH (Chiasmia clathrata) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Latticed Heath (Chiasmia clathrata) is of the family Geometridae which is in the genus Chiasmia. This day flying moth occurs throughout the Palearctic region. It is on the wing from mid May to mid September over two generations, peaking in June/July. In Ireland it has a scattered distribution where it can be locally common but is largely absent from the southwest. It overwinters as a pupa (chrysalis).

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BURNET COMPANION MOTH (Euclidia glyphica) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Burnet Companion Moth (Euclidia glyphica) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Euclidia. It occurs through the Palearctic region. This day flying species is on the wing from April to late July, peaking in June. Larva (caterpillar) can be seen from late June to the end of August and then overwinters as a pupa, in a cocoon.

 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

SMALL PURPLE BARRED MOTH (Phytometra viridaria) Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Small Purple-barred Moth (Phytometra viridaria) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Phytometra. It occurs in central, southern and western Europe. In Britain it has a widespread distribution in the southern half but is scattered and local further north. In Ireland it is very local and scarce with less than 300 individuals recorded and there are no records from a number of counties. The flight season extends from May to late August, peaking in early June.

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
 References:
https://www.leps.it/indexjs.htm?SpeciesPages/PhytoVirid.htm
 http://www.mothsireland.com/gallery3/index.php/tag_albums/album/11/Day-Flying-Moths
http://www.mothsireland.com/images/2470.gif
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytometra_viridaria

OLIVE TREE PEARL MOTH (Palpita vitrealis) Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co.Cork, Ireland

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The Olive Tree Pearl Moth (Palpita vitrealis) or Jasmine Moth is a micro moth of the family Crambidae which is in the genus Palpita. This widespread species occurs in southern Europe as well as Africa, Asia, Australia and America. The larvae feed on a number of plant species including Olive Trees (Olea europea) and Jasmine (Jasminum officinale). This migratory species has a wingspan of 27–31 mm. In Europe, it is on the wing from June to December and also occurs as a rare but regular migrant further north in Europe, including to coastal locations in southwest Ireland.

Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com

GIANT PEACOCK MOTH (Saturnia pyri) Lesvos Island, Greece

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The Giant Peacock Moth (Saturnia pyri) is of the family Saturniidae which is in the genus Saturnia. It occurs in southern and central Europe, parts of North Africa as well as western, central and eastern Asia. This is the largest species of moth found in Europe with a wing span of up to 20cm.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

RED NECKED FOOTMAN (Atolmis rubricollis) Saint Johns Lake, Kiltybardan, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

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The Red Necked Footman (Atolmis rubricollis) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Atolmis.

POPLAR HAWK MOTH (Laothoe populi) Saint John's Lake, Kiltybarden, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

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The Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) is a macro moth of the family Sphingidae which is in the genus Laothoe. It is commonly found throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East . It is quiet large and has a wing span of up to 100mm.
This distinctively shaped moth is on the wing from May to September and can be double brooded. The adults do not feed and the species overwinters as a pupa. It is readily attracted to outdoor lights.

 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laothoe_populi