Kilteevan is home to the rarely seen Goat Moth

On the 24^th and 28^th of August 2014, while walking in Cloonlarge, Kilteevan, Eileen Fahey spotted something she had never seen before.  The stranger was photographed both days.

Eileen showed the photographs to a few people whom she thought might be able to assist with identification but to no avail. Nine months later, Eileen was still bugged by the nameless creature in a computer file, so she contacted Eye on Nature in the Irish Times seeking support.  A very prompt reply came from Ethna Viney identifying the unknown, as a Goat Moth Caterpillar.

Since the identification was made last weekend Eileen has been researching the Goat Moth and has learned the following.

Eggs are laid usually in small batches in the crevices or on the bark of living trees. Young larvae enter the tree, at first remaining under the bark, later boring deep into the wood on which they feed. The larvae spend 2-4 years inside the trunks and branches of various deciduous trees including; birch, alder, ash, oak and willow. Birch appears to be a favourite host tree. Trees that already host larvae are frequently utilised again by egg-laying females.

The larvae are a deep purple-red along the back with a more orange colour along the sides and below. The head is black and there are a few fine white hairs along the whole body. Larvae can reach up to 10cm in length. Goat Moths get their name from the strong goat-like smell they emit during this larval stage.

In the final year of development they leave the tree to find a suitable pupation site on the ground.  The large larvae spotted moving across the road in Cloonlarge, last August was most likely, in search of a suitable pupation site and will hopefully emerge as a Goat Moth in Kilteevan in June 2015.

The Goat Moth (Cossus cossus) is a moth of the family Cossidae and is a large heavy moth with a wing span of 68–96 mm.  The wings are greyish brown and marked with fine dark cross lines.  This pattern supports camouflage on tree trunks. Females are slightly larger than males.

The distribution map on Moths Ireland website indicates that Goat moths are scarce and distributed sporadically mainly over the southern half of the country.

Eileen extends sincere thanks to Ethna Viney and Eye on Nature in The Irish Times for her help in identifying the caterpillar.

Eileen has now been registered the find with Moths Ireland and the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

We welcome additional information , amendments or corrections to this information at [email protected]

12^th May 2015