Six-spot Burnet Moth

A afternoon out in Northamptonshire resulted in me not seeing the butterfly species that I was targeting. I decided to stop at Tywell Dale Country Park just off the A14 on my way home and see what butterflies where showing. I expected (and indeed saw plenty of Marbled Whites, Ringlets, Skippers, et.) But I was very pleased to see large numbers of Burnet moths. Indeed they were very plentiful and reasonably easy to photograph in as much as they did not fly away quickly, but the flowers that they were resting on were blowing well in the wind resulting in good but not great pictures.

The number of these moths seen on one visit in July 2008 was easily into the thousands......

Six-spot Burnet Moth

As well as a good site local to me for Six-spot Burnet, Twywell CP is also a good site for Marbled White butterfly where I saw more at least 100+ on one visit in July 2008.

there are several species of Burnet moth such as "five spot Burnet" "Scotch Burnet", New Forest Burnet, etc. but the Six-spot Burnet is the most common Burnet moth in Britain.

I have seen Six-spot Burnet at many sites including Durlston Country Park at Swanage in Dorset where the picture right shows one emerging from chrysalis.