72.084 BF2462 – Mother Shipton – Erebidae – Callistege mi
Mother Shipton – Erebidae – Erebinae – Callistege mi – colour code •
STATUS – A resident that is widely distributed and generally uncommon in lowland areas of Derbyshire. A day flying moth that frequents special grassland habitats. Particularly favours the limestone dales and new areas of planted sapling forest and re-generated colliery tips. Rarely seen in large numbers but is probably well spread across the county. Most probably under-recorded.
ID POINTERS – Named after the the large dark grey marking on the central forewing that looks like a caricature of an old witch, with crooked nose and a dark eye. The moth was named after the folk-law, Old Mother Shipton, a 16th century Yorkshire witch. An obvious grey. black and white, attractively patterned moth.
FLIGHT PERIOD – On the wing May – June.
IMAGES – Carver’s Rocks, Foremark, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Mother Shipton
