Buff-tip Moth Phalera bucephala

Buff Tip Moth
Buff-tip Moth
The Buff-tip moth at rest is well-camouflaged, looking just like a broken piece of twig, especially silver birch twig, to deter predators. Wingspan: 42-55 mm; UK flight time: Jun-Jul
Buff-tip Moth
Buff-tip Moth head
Buff-tip Moth
The Buff-tip's fore-shortened head and raised thorax continues the broken twig theme.
Buff-tip Moth
Buff-tip Moth head
Buff-tip Moth
This Buff-tip chose to rest at an angle to the tree trunk looking even more like a broken birch twig.
Buff-tip caterpillar
Buff-tip caterpillar
The Buff-tip caterpillar is yellow with black chequered markings, light hairs and an upside-down yellow "V" on its black face. It eats leaves of several types of common tree and shrub, generally in September before spending winter/spring as a pupa.
Many thanks to Darren Parsons for the above photos of the caterpillar.