14 BBC Wildlife July 2020
Twostunningidentification
guidestoBritishcaterpillars
werepublishedthisyear,sothe
munchingmachinesarefinally
gettingmoreattentionfrom
naturalists.Afterall,theselarvae
areoftenfarmoreinteresting
tolookat thantheadultmoths
theyturninto.Manyhideamong
vegetationorhighupontrees,but
some,likethefoxmothcaterpillar,
trundleaboutinplainview.Safe
initsshaggycoat,this‘fatcat’can
sunbatheinmoorlandandheathy
orgrassyplacesknowingthat
hungrybirdswillleaveit be.
FINDOUTMORE
Knowyour‘cats’:discoverwildlife.
com/common-caterpillars
3 |FOXMOTH
Super furry animal
Jelly & moth: Laurie Campbell; peregrine: robinchittenden.co.uk
Summerseesjellyfishappearalongour
coasts,promptingsensationalistheadlines
inthemedia.ButwhileseveralfoundinUK
watersdostinghumans,fewaredangerous.
Oneofthemostabundantharmless
speciesis themoonjelly,whichdriftsinto
harbours,shelteredbaysandScottishlochs.
It has a transparent ‘bell’ – the umbrella-
shapedpartoftheanimal– andfeedson
plankton.Sometimesitsnumbersbuild
intodenseswarms,a beautifulspectacle
thatis gettingmorecommondue, in part,
torisingseatemperatures.
FINDOUTMORE
Jellyfish in Britain:bit.ly/mcsuk–jelly
2 |MOONJELLYFISH
Blooming marvels