The Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis) is a moth of the family Drepanidae. It is found throughout Europe and is a fairly common species in the British Isles.
It is a striking species with brown forewings marked with five pink and white blotches which do rather resemble the petals of peach blossom. The hindwings are buff and grey. The wingspan is 40-45 mm. The species flies at night in June and July and sometimes a partial second brood emerges in late August and September . The species is attracted to light and sugar.
The larva is brown with white markings and several humps along its back. At rest it raises both ends as with many drepanids. It feeds on various Rubus species. The species overwinters as a pupa.
- ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
Famous quotes containing the words peach and/or blossom:
“Nature, doubtless, has some compelling cause
To glut the carriers of her epidemics—
Nor did the peach complain.”
—Robert Graves (1895–1985)
“how seasonably
leaf and blossom uncurl
and living things arrange their death,
while someone from afar off
blows birthday candles for the world.”
—Irving Layton (b. 1912)