Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria)
Dear Readers, Jersey Tiger moths seem to have been popping up almost everywhere in the East Finchley area this week – with their Vulcan Bomber shape and bold black and white wings, they’re a hard moth to ignore. The one below was on my kitchen window and had somehow managed to get itself behind a spider’s web. I don’t usually interfere with nature, but the web looked as if the spider hadn’t repaired it for a few days so I removed it, and the moth flew away into the garden with that startling flash of their red underwings. I suspect that they’re either unpalatable to birds or pretending to be inedible, hence their extraordinary confidence.
Jersey Tigers are still listed as ‘rare’ on the Butterfly Conservation website, but they seem to have increased markedly in numbers where I live in the past few years. Some could possibly be migrants, but I have a gut feeling that they’re established and breeding, not just in Devon and Dorset but right here in London. Climate change has led to warmer winters and so, as the species spends the winter as a tiny caterpillar it probably has a better chance of survival. However, a study in Austria showed that, as hot days increase, these moths (along with several other day-flying species) are increasingly being found in caves, presumably so they can find shelter from the increasing temperatures. Like most animals, Jersey Tigers have a fairly limited range of temperatures at which they can operate, so they may also be moving north because things are hotting up too much in southern Europe.
Jersey Tiger caterpillar (Photo Leyo, CC BY-SA 3.0 CH <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ch/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons)
The caterpillars of the Jersey Tiger moth are what’s known as polyphagous, meaning that they eat lots of different plants. However, they seem to have a great fondness for Hemp Agrimony (which my garden is positively awash with at the moment), including stinging nettle, dead-nettles, borage, ground ivy, plantains and brambles. As the caterpillars hatch in September and pupate in May, it’s another reason not to tidy up too much in the winter, tempting though it is. All sorts of creatures are living amongst and inside those tatty plants.
Incidentally, Jersey Tigers look completely different from underneath – they have a kind of rosy glow (much like me after a brisk walk) but they are also have a pale and fleshy quality which is slightly unnerving (ditto). The wings look a bit like stained glass though, which is very pleasant.
So, I think that the Jersey Tiger is somewhat underreported in London in particular, and I would be very curious to know if any of you lovely Readers in the UK but outside London have spotted any. Incidentally, Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count is on from now until 6th August – all you have to do is survey your garden/park/piece of countryside for 15 minutes and report what you see. And one of the insects that they’re asking you to look out for is, indeed, the Jersey Tiger, so hopefully we should get a better idea of what’s happening with the numbers. It will be interesting to see if it is travelling further north and west, or increasing its population. Either way, keep your eyes open for this striking new addition to our fauna.
Hi, I’m near Falmouth in Cornwall and found a Jersey Tiger in our garden 2 days ago, 21 July. Took a few photos but couldn’t catch it flying.
Hi Celia, welcome! Glad to know that they’re getting as far west as Cornwall…
I’ve not seen any here in N. Wales yet. I didn’t know about the Butterfly count, so I’ll have a look at that link, but 15 minutes doesn’t seem an awful long time. Yes, you can see many species in that time, (as I did last week – post to come), but you have to pick the right moment in the day (& have good weather of course) to see them,
You can do the count multiple times though, unlike the Bird Count where you can only do it once. Very low chance of any butterflies today in London though, drizzling, chill and windy…
P.S. After replying (above) I went into the garden and spotted a Meadow Brown, a Comma, a few Red Admirals, a Peacock, a Small White and a Small Tortoiseshell all within the space of 10 minutes! Our buddleia seems to be attracting them this year.
I saw a Jersey Tiger in Watford a few days ago and only saw your blog because I was looking it up to see what it was. I have never seen one before and it was so very splendid. Thanks for the information!
So glad you saw one, Elizabeth, they’re very splendid aren’t they!
A south-east London speciality, particularly around the New Cross to Forest Hill railway corridor
Jersey tiger moths seen in park in Barking and Dagenham East London.Is this within its normal range.Date of sighting 12 and 13th Aug
Hi Tony, they seem to have spread all over London and a bumper year this year, so yes, within normal range.
I live near Falmouth in Cornwall and have seen loads in my garden this year – very unusual. Also saw several in my daughter’s garden in Bridport Dorset.
2 weeks ago I saw 3 arranged across the front of my house, basking in the sun.
3! That’s very impressive, Jane!
I’ve seen 2 in Stansted, Essex today. One in my garden, and one on my lunchtime walk. Managed to get a photo of one landed, but not flying.
Thanks Kevin! The Jersey Tigers are certainly getting about this year!
24 Jersey tigers in my south Chilterns mouth trap last Wednesday. By far the commonest moth. I wonder, thinking about your caves comment, how many are migratory climate refugees from the furious heat on the continent, although perhaps they come too from the small amount of hemp agrimony in my garden.
I did wonder how many have come north this year because of the heat and fires as well…the patterns of occurrence would be very interesting I think.
This year we’ve had four in our garden, in South Devon, often at the same time. We’re upset that three have been found dead in our garden within the last week. We don’t use any pesticides and can’t understand what’s happened to them. No sign of injury on any of them.
Hi Julia, I think that they’re quite short-lived once they’ve emerged, so it might just be a natural end…. Birds are generally put off by the warning colours…it’s always upsetting I know.