SUMMERTIME! Butterflies such as Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Holly Blues and Red Admirals are now flying. There are moths out, too, day-flying moths as large as butterflies, and just as lovely.

Like butterflies, moths reflect colour from the overlapping scales which cover their large wings. They are easily distinguished from butterflies by their antennae, which do not end in a club but are elongated and sometimes quite feathery. Many rest with their wings closed, camouflaged while resting.

Britain is known to have around 2,500 species of moths, of which 1,600 are ‘micro-moths’. These tiny creatures have an ancient history - they evolved 200-250 million years ago.

The 1,000 or so species of larger moths evolved once flowering plants began to appear, some 125 million years ago. Moths and plants continue to have closely connected lives, as moths pollinate the flowers of the plants and their larvae (caterpillars) eat their leaves.

The life cycle of a moth is the same as butterflies. From the egg laid on the chosen food plant will hatch a minute caterpillar. These eat and eat (as in the favourite children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar), growing until their skin is too tight. It splits, revealing a new, looser skin underneath.

Once the caterpillar reaches its full size, it turns itself into a chrysalis (or pupa), eventually emerging as an adult moth. When female moths are ready to mate, they give off special scents called ‘pheromones’ to attract adult males, whose antennae can detect them from quite a distance.

Micro moths are less obvious than the larger moths, but under a magnifying glass are just as beautiful. Some of their larvae leave ‘leaf mines’, distinct patterns where they have nibbled at leaves, which help to identify them.

Many species rely on the right plants for their larvae to feed on. Oaks and silver birch trees provide larval food sources for more species of moth than any other trees, numbering hundreds of species.

Willows, blackthorn and hawthorns in hedges or woodland clearings, are also attractive to many species. In spring, willow blossom is valuable to many moths as other food sources are scarce at that time. In the autumn, ivy flowers are popular, as are blackberries.

Where can you see day-flying moths? Some have specialised habitats, others may well come into your garden, especially if you have a buddleia, or ‘butterfly bush’. The Humming-bird Hawkmoth is attracted to lavender, over which it hovers, its wings beating incredibly fast, as it flicks out its long tongue into a lavender flower.

Another frequent visitor to gardens is the Silver Y, named from the letter seen on its folded wings. This is a common migrant moth.

Chalk or limestone grassland suits the colourful Burnet moths or the Swift moths whose larvae feed unseen on the grass roots. Exmoor moorland, with its long-flowering heather species, attracts many day-flying moths such as the Emperor, the Beautiful Yellow Underwing and the True Lovers’ Knot.

By the sea, salt-tolerant plants such as thrift, sea campion and rock spurrey support species such as the Thrift Clearwing and Barrett’s Marbled Coronet.

Cinnabar moths are often visible at this time of year on Exmoor. These attractive black and red moths are often confused for butterflies. Their black and yellow caterpillars are a common site on ragwort pants. The caterpillar’s bright colours warn predators not to eat them, giving a strong signal they are poisonous.

Hawk moths are amongst the most attractive moths you might find in your garden. The Elephant hawk-moth is a medium-sized hawk-moth, on the wing from May to early August and active at dusk.

The caterpillars are seen from July to September and are very characteristic: greyish-green or brown, with two enormous, black eyespots towards the head. When disturbed, they swell up to show these spots and scare off predators.

It is still not clearly understood why moths are attracted to light at night. One theory is that moths use the moon for navigation. On overcast nights, moths use man-made lights for navigation.

Moth enthusiasts take advantage of this attraction to light by setting up moth traps using mercury vapour lamps. The traps do not harm the moths as they go to sleep and are set free the next morning. They do give one the chance to see and enjoy the huge variety of moths living alongside us on Exmoor, many of a rare and subtle beauty.

For more information about the work of the Exmoor Natural History Society visit www.enhs.org.uk.