If you live in southern England and Wales, you may have been lucky enough to spot a very striking day-flying moth this year, which is new to the Big Butterfly Count identification chart.
Often confused for a butterfly because of its beautiful colours and patterns, the Jersey Tiger moth flies during the day as well as at night and can be spotted in increasing numbers across the south of the UK, including London.
The adult Jersey Tiger can be found flying on warm days, visiting flowers such as Buddleia. They also fly at night and like gardens, rough and disturbed ground, hedgerows, coastal cliffs and higher parts of beaches.

Jersey Tiger © Mark Parsons
Butterfly Conservation’s annual three-week citizen science project, the Big Butterfly Count, is now well underway. With just a few days to go, over 100,000 butterfly counts have already been recorded, with experts encouraging more of us to sign up this year.
The UK-wide survey is open to everyone, of any age, living in towns, cities or the countryside. Those taking part are asked to spend just 15 minutes in an outdoor space counting the amount and type of butterflies and day-flying moths they see. The results are then logged onto an interactive map and compared to findings from previous years.
The aim of the campaign is to assess the health of our environment and to inspire people to help protect butterflies and other pollinators, which are declining in the UK.
The Big Butterfly Count runs until Sunday 8th August 2021. To sign up and submit your sightings, visit; www.bigbutterflycount.org – or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.
Main image: Jersey Tiger © Luigi Sebastian, Butterfly Conservation
Jersey Tiger seen, photographed and identified this morning in Me8 8hw. Rainham Kent.
Another Jersey Tiger seen at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton on Thursday 12th Aug 2021
Jersey Tiger moth, at Rhoose Vale of Glamorgan 9am 16/0/21
Jersey Tiger photographed in Biggleswade Bedfordshire on 17/08/21.
Jersey Tiger moth seen in High Barnet on 15 August 2021.