Common Swift (Korscheltellus lupulina) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Male. Taken at Aston, Oxon., on June 5th 2023. (© David Hastings) (1/250th sec at f13)  Female. Taken at Aston, Oxon., on May 31st 2025. (© David Hastings) (1/200th sec at f/8) DescriptionFamily: Hepialidae (ABH : 3.002) Wing span: 22 - 32mm (♂), 30 - 40mm (♀) The fore-wing makings of the male Common Swift vary greatly in amount and intensity, ranging from whiteish to pale brown to grey. The female is larger, and often has a plain grey fore-wing. It is found in most parts of mainland Britain, but is local in most of Scotland. Habitats are open grassland, gardens, roadside verges, moorland, heathland, fens and grassy woodland rides. There is one generation from May to July. It over-winters as a larva and pupates underground. Larvae feed on the roots of grasses and many other wild and cultivated plants. It flies mainly at dusk and is sometimes attracted to house lights. Earliest UK sighting: 10th May ; Latest UK sighting: 28th June Sightings
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