Identify orange/brown moth with white spotted legs?

Dr Moth · #1 (**permalink**) 30-09-2009, 10:07 PM

Can anyone help please? We found a black cocoon in a web rolled in a hawthorn leaf.
It emerged today but flew off before we got a really good look. It was about 3cm (resting), brown with orange splodges and very distinct white speckled legs.

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 30-09-2009, 10:15 PM

Sounds like a Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix but these dont feed on hawthorn. Can you give more detail please.

Dr Moth · #3 (**permalink**) 30-09-2009, 10:22 PM

Ah, yes, looks very much like it.

It was definitely hawthorn but there are a lot of willows and poplars nearby, and the hedge is thick with Ivy, so could that be it?

My first post, by the way, so a big "thankyou!"