Scarlet Tiger Moth - Callimorpha dominula

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·@dannewton·
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Scarlet Tiger Moth - Callimorpha dominula
<div class="text-justify">

Regular readers will be aware that I was heading to Scotland for our Holiday this week. We returned yesterday evening utterly exhausted, but we had had a great time in the process. I will write more about what we found over the next few days, but I will start with a tale of caterpillars which occurred before we managed to leave the house on Monday morning!</div>

This was a great start to the week...

<center>![Hiveblog divider.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/lVz8TBh1-Hiveblog20divider.png)</center>


![Scarlet Tiger-9914.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23tSaQxtRe4c5f915XSmjTKT9U2iXk2gNpSZE8CBE1ami5Akr6X5U7zivT8eheo351MSw.jpg)


On the [30th April](https://peakd.com/hive-127788/@dannewton/moth-trap-30th-april-2022-2-new-species-to-add-to-the-list) I found two striking little caterpillars...

They were identified as Scarlet Tiger Moths, and it was the first time I had come across this species

The pictures of the adult form looked fantastic so I hoped to [rear these caterpillars](https://peakd.com/hive-127788/@dannewton/moth-trap-30th-april-2022-photography-and-rearing-caterpillars) through to the adult stage. The caterpillars looked quite close to being full size, so I hoped it wouldn't take too long.



![Scarlet Tiger-9839.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23xARPQKyUgBT962e9qCce2xA5eb9B8TumXhaj9AATqjciniieoxWyLrsXgv5MPk8kJGL.jpg)
Scarlet Tiger - *Callimorpha dominula*

The caterpillars were found late at night while moth trapping, and they were resting on Common Nettles. As this is also one of their foodplants, I choose to take some cuttings of the Nettles and place them in a small box




![Scarlet Tiger-9871.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23vsNJJ3t99mr17EaSjUaKAW3HwxrfpeTKBV3kgc2jpb67ng6Zjd8fgD684M189439pfy.jpg)

The box had air holes, and was placed in a cooler room so they wouldn't over heat. The Kitchen roll/tissue was placed in the bottom of the box to help absorb any moisture, any excess would make the conditions damp and and lead to mould developing.

Anyway, they were very hungry catepillars, so they got to the job in hand, which is to eat as much as they can.

![Scarlet Tiger-9866.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23wMckr6H4PYsXpMy7NLs5BS91DsdhTnrhZX1dNd1vJsu4kVR1pQsFm5h5vr9MnywbeUa.jpg)


![Scarlet Tiger-9870.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23wMYT6LR2iY7UBD1CjhG9YC6X69oGDEXp6bSTygorBhCXXTqTEZ2pu1TcAHyfvw1Kxpt.jpg)

Every two days I need to carefully remove them, and replace the shriveled leaves with some fresh ones (note to self: dried nettles still flippin' sting!)

And then I replaced the white kitchen roll as well....


![Scarlet Tiger-9915.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23vsdMnJZf3ZbjspgfwMTDeSZes67y5zKdDMdKrcH8CBfEngjU2uwy9Ur9ueuFn3sUuqi.jpg)

...and then the caterpillars proceeded to eat EVERYTHING again, they may be tiny, but their appetites were insatiable.

![Scarlet Tiger-9921.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23xAgCQdCAb6wxsaYuYRsvLUV6YUbAeDcARNASDKVUWTKVDieXJBPBpzEaRtbGe5iE1Qi.jpg)

After a week and several bunches of nettles later, I noticed one of the caterpillars had chosen a leaf to hide in. He had started to spin some silk as a protective layer... I knew it was now time for the next stage:


![Scarlet Tiger-9922.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23x1BKU5ZpUrSDjBEXNYs2KckKPa4kD3stZu5JEo6VEZF1v4dwJoZNYkHdHY1KvNTWQGy.jpg)

![Scarlet Tiger-9925.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23tvZrVwk7Z8YfVCQNX5dU2Uey8F8vjTYKmonUeFV6aft2xH5aWCntdT3h6LmPmoeJu6D.jpg)

Now he had fully turned into a cocoon (pupa). All I I do to was wait and hope the adult would emerge soon...

<center>![Hiveblog divider.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/lVz8TBh1-Hiveblog20divider.png)</center>

On the 7th May the first pupated, and the 2nd one followed 4 days later.

I checked everyday to see if he had emerged... but not yet.

At this point we were getting ready to travel up to Scotland for our holiday, I was hoping they would emerge soon (ie before we went away)

On Monday (23rd May) we were making some last minute preparations before traveling, and while we were packing the car, I happend to glance at the box as I walked past... wait a minute!

![Scarlet Tiger-9982.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23tvsEKaq1bZBnc3z1UZtEwnrGUq64N2pPdsFmsxrLQq7h9KjLtTXjBqoV1txQJGWCUHX.jpg)

The pupa is open!

I looked up onto the underside of the lid of the box, and there he was looking quite magnificent.

>typical, we're trying to pack the car to leave in a few minutes!

Quickly (and carefully) I moved him to take a couple of photos.


![Scarlet Tiger-9970.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23vsBW7fkG4jpyutg62ypWRRJS637uCLuhSFu37uUVpXa3MxcoPmZU2AF4YKkL7ePXrAN.jpg)
Scarlet Tiger - *Callimorpha dominula*

You might be able to see a slight shine on the wings, because they were still slightly damp, that's how recently he had emerged... at this point he would've only been a couple of hours old

Working quickly, I took him outside and placed him on a leaf to get a couple more photos

![Scarlet Tiger-9978.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23uFM36fuDu2iEcAgQKvYhDuBcpN3dueNTxogn9VruKiUp9G5PzyGz5EwbAxsjabmkEVH.jpg)
Scarlet Tiger - *Callimorpha dominula*


![Scarlet Tiger-9980.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23y8oLt1PrHPYkUADe8x5ueiGcVCr1PvVUYCiVQiMdcVmxVh8necNojH86AZ6UmLu3a4Y.jpg)

...and then I left him hiding under a leaf to finish drying. Ordinarily I would have kept him safe inside until I could release him safely in the evening, but we were literally leaving in a few minutes. 

So they you have it, a great start to the week, and I will share more more of what happened while on holiday over the next week or so, including the results of two moth trapping sessions (yes I did take my moth trap on holiday with me!)

Stay tuned for more moth-tastic fun! 😉 

[*I will be trapping tonight of course, so I will post about that first and then I'll share the results from Scotland*]

![hive signiture doze logo.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/dannewton/23vhW9VYEXLG2LXB7bcQG3aQ5hDNrkVsRzVmgsE4uzwE3P4poA5VfeRwHX5Gb2vgNApHX.png)




---

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*Notes on Pictures: Since I started moth trapping 5 years ago, I have been slowly building up collection of Library Images. The idea being that once I have taken a picture of a particular species of Moth, I don't need another picture of the same species a year later. It’s a waste of time and energy. I only take pictures of new species, or of moths that are difficult to ID, so I can get the records verified.*</div>

While in my care, all individuals are looked after, and after Photographs have been taken, they are all released safely outside.

All names confirmed and checked via [Wikispieces](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)
Further Research from [UK Moths](https://ukmoths.org.uk/) and [NatureSpot](https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species_library)


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<center>Thank you for reading, I hope you found it interesting.
<br> 

If you have any thoughts or opinions on this article then I'd love to see your comments. 
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<center>All Photos taken by @dannewton unless otherwise stated. 
Check out my [website](https://dannewtonphotography.myportfolio.com/) for more of my work.</center>

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