Ghost Moths are the largest of the Swift Moths
Nature on our doorsteps: Ghost Moths
Rosaleen Dwyer is the County Heritage Officer at South Dublin County Council – every week she gives us an insight into nature on our doorsteps and the beautiful biodiversity of its plants and wildlife.
Ghost Moths are the largest of the moths known as the Swift Moths.
These moths evolved quite early in the evolutionary process before the evolution of bats.
Because of this, and unlike other moth groups that evolved later, Ghost Moths did not develop the ability to hear and avoid the ultrasonic signals of bat predators.
Ghost Moths hold their wings vertically against their bodies when at rest, forming a tent shape.
Females are straw-coloured, with slightly darker streaks along the front wings.
Males are smaller and have plain silvery-white wings. Both have thick shaggy manes of hairs on their backs.
These moths are widespread throughout Ireland and are found in meadows and along grassy hedgerows.
Female Ghost Moths are yellow- brown in colour, with darker streaks on the front wings
Because they are drawn to light, they are also sometimes found in gardens. They are active from June to August and they do not feed as adults.
Ghost Moths fly mainly at dusk, and only for about 20-30 minutes. They get their name from the distinctive drifting flight of the male as he tries to attract a female.
As light levels drop, the male hovers low over open grassy ground, drifting slowly like a ghost from left to right and rising slowly to move to the next display site.
His silvery wings contrast well against the darker ground, making him more visible to any passing females.
Because they cannot hear the ultrasonic call of approaching bats, Ghost Moths have adapted by only flying very low and very briefly at dusk. At dusk, most bat species have not yet emerged, and most birds have already gone to roost.
They can still be taken however by any bats that might emerge early to feed.
After mating, the female hovers over grassy areas and drops her round smooth eggs to the ground below. When these hatch, the pale yellow-brown caterpillars feed on the roots of grasses and other plants.
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