The names of most butterflies are usually logical and descriptive, spread among the whites, yellows, brown and blue species.

But the names of moths are a very different matter being more obscure, puzzling, quaint and even comical.

So much so that we may wonder how and why they were christened with such names.

Examples include Setaceous Hebrew character, green brindled crescent, Blair’s shoulder-knot and there are many more.

When watching a brightly coloured insect fluttering among wild flowers on a sunny summer’s day we may naturally assume it to be a butterfly.

However, in Britain there are more species of day-flying moths than butterflies.

Many of these are equally colourful so it could well be one of these moths that we are looking at.

Examples include the burnets, orange underwing and burnet companion.

One such day-flyer active in sunny weather from May to July in rough grassland is the Mother Shipton, pictured.

This moth was named after a famous old Yorkshire witch.

Why?

Well, if we look closely at each forewing we can clearly make out the profile of the old hag, complete with beady black eye, great long warty nose, jutting jaw and no upper teeth.

Hence Mother Shipton.

The witch was born in 1488 and became a notorious prophetess and soothsayer.

However, the little moth is quite harmless.