Mother Shipton moth - a photo on Flickriver

            This day-flying moth was named after the prophetess, some say witch, who lived in the petrifying caves at Knaresborough in North Yorkshire.  She was born Ursula Southeil (c1488-1561) but married Toby Shipton, a carpenter from York in 1512.  She made predictions or prophecies throughout her life and these were published long after her death. Samuel Pepys mentions the Royal Family discussing Mother Shipton's predictions after the Great Fire of London in 1666.  Mother Shipton was said to be very ugly with a huge hooked nose and an equally projecting chin and you can see a hideous face looking inwards on the moth's forewings.  She later became a caricature in pantomime and some historians believe she was the forerunner of the pantomime dame.

The scientific name "mi" is a Latinised form of the Greek letter M (mu) because on the underside hindwing there is a letter M marking (not visible in this upperside view). Its generic name Callistege translates as beautiful roof, or maybe just a covering, from the patterning on the wings.

The moth is fairly common in grasslands throughout Britain, though becomes rarer in the north.  Its larvae usually feed on vetches and clovers, but occasionally grasses too.  I photographed this one on some grassland on the edge of the Peak District in West Yorkshire at more than 1000 feet asl.

Taken on: May 22, 2020

Tags:

Callistege

Shipton

moth

West

Yorkshire

Tim Melling « less

Sets appears in: • British Moths

Groups appears in: • NATURE by Flickr - Invitation Only • !!* Best Of... Stunning Colors !! (INVITE ONLY) more » • Best Of... Proxi and Macro Photographies « less

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