Swallow-tailed moth
The swallow-tailed moth is so pale and butterfly-like that field guides note no other moth in its range is likely to be confused with it.
| Where | Woodland, scrub and garden hedgerows |
|---|---|
| Size | 50 to 62 mm wingspan |
| When | June to August |
The Swallow-tailed Moth is large and pale, bright white to soft yellow with two faint cross lines, and named for the small tail-like points on the hindwings. Its size and colouring give it a distinctly butterfly-like look at rest.
A single generation flies at night in June and July and comes readily to light, though it is easily disturbed by day. Caterpillars feed on woody shrubs such as blackthorn, hawthorn, elder and ivy, overwintering while still small.
Traits
Habitat
Garden
Colour
White, Yellow
Active
Night
To people
Harmless to people; its pale colouring and daytime resting habit often lead it to be mistaken for a butterfly.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Similar pale wings and a comparable size at 58 to 70 mm wingspan, but the Large White is a day flying butterfly with solid black wingtips and no tail-like points on the hindwings.
Questions
Is the Swallow-tailed moth dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; its pale colouring and daytime resting habit often lead it to be mistaken for a butterfly.
When can you see the Swallow-tailed moth?
The Swallow-tailed moth can be seen from June to August, at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by Didier Descouens, CC BY‑SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
The plate on this page is shared under the same licence as its source, CC BY-SA.
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Butterflies and moths›Geometer moths›Ourapteryx
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.