Swallow-tailed Moth

The Swallow-tailed Moth is a large moth with pale yellow wings with two diagonal dark lines across the forewings and one across the hindwings. They have two dark spots on each hind wing at the base of the tail extensions. Their yellow wings fade to white with age.

It is a nocturnal moth, flying at night, in woodlands, hedgerows, parks and gardens and they are attracted to light. They have quite a short emergence period in July and they are not encountered that often. They are occasionally disturbed during the day.

The larvae feed on a number of trees and shrubs, including Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Elder and Horse Chestnut, but their preferred food is Ivy.

They overwinter as caterpillars in bark crevice.

The Swallow-tailed Moth is reasonably common in England, Wales and the lowlands of Scotland.