72.019 BF2061

Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea

(Hufnagel, 1766)

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Wingspan 28-40 mm.

A common resident in most of Britain, the variation in the extent of black in the wings has been exaggerated by captive interbreeding, but does not occur as much in the wild.

On the wing from May to July, it frequently visits artificial light.

The dark brown caterpillar is covered with reddish-orange hairs, and feeds in autumn on herbaceous plants, bushes and trees.