Life’s too short
Five-spot Burnet moths adults mating alongside their cocoons and empty pupae cases – Priddy Mineries, Somerset, UK. ID JB4_5778. Life as an adult burnet moth is pretty short. As soon as the eggs are laid the adults die. After a winter hibernating as a caterpillar the adults arrive in the summer – emerging from their silk cocoons leaving the empty pupae cases behind. This pair seems to lack the desire to explore the Mendip Hills and instead they got straight down to mating. Their life will be very short indeed!