BBC Wildlife - UK 2020-07)

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