Abraxas grossulariata – Magpie Moth
Abraxas grossulariata is a moth of the family Geometridae, native to the Palaearctic ecozone and North America. Its distinctive speckled colouration has given it a common name of Magpie Moth. The caterpillar is similarly coloured to the adult, and may be found as a pest feeding on the leaves of shrubs such as gooseberry.
I have no gooseberries… so I am going to assume it likes my current bushes… and is welcome to them.
You might think that the odd background is unlikely to be part of my garden – and you would be right. I chased this little blighter around the garden and was ready to give up when it landed… on my foot!