The Large Emerald Moth can be seen throughout England in woodlands, heathlands, grasslands, parks, hedgerows and gardens from June to August. It flies at night and is attracted to light, like other moths. This moth is often confused for a butterfly because of its uniform green colouring and shape.

The Large Emerald Moth is a light green colour, but when it first emerges from its cocoon, it is very bright green which fades after a few days. It has a wingspan of around six centimetres and its wings have broken white lines running near the edges of them. This moth doesn’t close its wings when it rests like other moths do, but keeps them outspread and flat.

The female Large Emerald Moth lays her eggs on the leaves of hazel, birch, alder and beech trees. When a caterpillar first emerges out of an egg, it is green. However, it soon changes to a brown colour so it can be better camouflaged when hibernating through the winter. It attaches itself onto a twig or a branch and develops little brown lumps on its back so it looks even more like a twig. It forms a cocoon by spinning a silk case around itself and in spring it transforms itself into a beautiful Large Emerald Moth.