The Old Lady, Morma mauro, is a resident noctuid moth that is well established in the Bailiwick. Aside from some of the Hawk-moths, it is one of the largest to be seen, with its forewing measuring up to 65mm. The name, it is supposed, comes from its likeness to the dark shawls worn by old ladies back in the nineteenth century. Its colouring is certainly sombre, but the crypic markings are attractive. I have only seen two, the first one was, typically, in my garden shed as they do shelter in outhouses, barns and the like. The second one, atypically, was in the moth trap as they are a species not particularly attracted to light. Some moth-ers use a length of rope soaked in syrup/wine to attract a wider range of species, and the Old Lady is one of them. I have yet to try this out as a lure. They are around from July until September.
GB Status: Common, local
Food: Larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including ivy, blackthorn and hawthorn
Habitat: varied – wetland areas, scrub, gardens, hedgerows and woodland
It has been recorded in 5 10km squares in Guernsey since 2000 and has also been recorded in Alderney.
Natural history of the Bailiwick of Guernsey 