3.004 BF0016 – Gold Swift – Hepialidae – Phymatopus hecta
Gold Swift –Hepialidae – Phymatopus hecta – colour code •
STATUS – A resident species that is widely distributed and common in Derbyshire woods where Bracken is a predominant species of understorey cover.
ID POINTERS – The moth is fairly straight forward to identify – The male is brightly marked with distinctive reddish chestnut brown forewing intricately marked with gold spots & blotches that are distinctive across the forewings. The female is duller and less brightly marked with greyish/purplish bands across the forewings.
FLIGHT PERIOD – On the wing mid-May – end July.
IMAGES – Melbourne, Derbyshire – Image by Tony Davison©
Gold Swift – male
