Mating_The Swingers

The White satin Moths, Leucoma salicis occurr in good numbers here at Ainsdale on the Sefton coast, although local elsewhere. They are weak fliers and rarely stray too far from where they hatch. They have one mission, to mate and ready the next generation, which will occur in the same loction and feed up on dwarf willow before pupating to begin the cycle again on hatching. They will mate anyway they can and sometimes don't even wait for their wings to compltely pump uu and dry out, leading to a number of amusing anthropomorphic views on the mating process. This image was taken locally at Ainsdale LNR where the White Satin (Leucoma salicis) moth feeds, mates and lays eggs on the dwarf willow scrub around dune slacks. Moths belong to the Class Insecta, Order Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Family Eribidae, Subfamily Lymantriinae and Genus Leucoma. It is the glossy surface of the wing that gives rise to the English name. It is classed as local moth but may be found in good numbers where it does occur such as here at Ainsdale. The colourful caterpillars have whitish heart-shaped blotches and feed on willow, poplars, aspen and sallows. The legs of the adult moths are quite striking with black and white rings and the male feathered antennae are also quite well developed and striking. Here are a mating couple.

MatingTheSwingersRKHill