Magpie

Unmistakable with it's black and yellow markings - this moth had flown in last night and was making itself at home on the utility cupboards. Happily for me it seemed to take up semi-permanent residency while I assembled the flash and tripod, had a little chat with it and manoeuvred the lens.

This brightly coloured moth has been nicknamed the currant moth, as it's caterpillars, which match the colours of the adults, are small loopers and can be a serious pest of currant bushes. However it will attack gooseberry bushes - the reason why it's in my garden, along with apricot trees, hazel and other hedgerow plants. Not the best thing to spot around the garden and there seem to be a good few about at the moment. The hairs on it's back interestingly seem quite coarse in comparison to those on a butterfly.

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