Meet the brassy longhorn moth (Nemophora metallica), a captivating day-flying insect known for its brilliant metallic sheen and impossibly long antennae. Thriving in open grasslands and damp woodlands across Europe, this species lives under the bright sun rather than the cover of night. The physical contrast between the sexes is striking: while a female’s antennae are relatively modest, a male boasts delicate, thread-like antennae that can stretch up to three times the length of his entire body. These moths are deeply bound to the field scabious (Knautia arvensis). Females deposit their eggs directly into the flower heads so the newly hatched caterpillars can feed on the seeds. Eventually, the larvae drop to the earth, constructing protective, flattened bivalve cases out of leaf fragments and detritus to shelter in as they mature. I came across a stunning male resting at a riverside campsite in Sweden. Spreading its magnificent antennae while draped in a shimmering golden cloak, it looked as though it had flown straight out of a fairy tale.