White Ermine
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Spilosoma lubricipeda
Fairly common & widespread in Britain, mainly nocturnal.
Larva lilac-brown with deep dark brown hair and orange-yellow dorsal stripe.
The Larvae feed on Stinging Nettle, Cytisus scoparius, Alfalfa, Echium vulgare and Taraxacum officinale.
Wing pattern is very variable, from entirely white wings to strongly covered with black dots.
Hindwings often with one or several black dots (rarely without any black dot).
Antennae branches long (much longer than in similar Spilosoma urticae)
Adults fly in a single generation from May-July.
They are not eaten by birds because they are poisonous.