Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria

The "feathered" in this moth's name refers to the extraordinarily elaborate, comb-like antennae of the males — like tiny ferns sprouting from their heads, used to sniff out females in the dark. This is a moth of late autumn and early winter, flying in October and November when most moths have long since called it a season — one of the very last moths on the wing before winter closes in. The tawny, bark-like wing pattern makes it nearly invisible against a tree trunk at rest. It was first described by Linnaeus himself in 1761, making it one of the earliest documented European moths on record.