I had a poplar hawkmoth , very calm and they seem not to mind being handled. This week I got a treble bar and a peppered moth. There is a row of limes about 200 yards away, but no sign of a lime hawkmoth at all. The peppered moth is a first for me, quite exciting that something that featured in Biology O level, over 50 years ago, now seen for the first time in the flesh so to speak. Mine was peppered and not the dark version that evolved due to the grime of the industrial revolution. T'other half was quite impressed that I still knew the latin name, Biston betularia.
Most of the moth-ers round here are reporting very low numbers, higher up in Derbyshire reporting more in what would have been cooler areas last summer.
This was a peck of peppers from my trap last year. The top one is the darkest I've caught but shows the variation in pattern and I can imagine how that could evolve quite quickly with some selective pressure.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I was really pleased to attract a Chocolate-Tip (Clostera curtula) last night as it's one I've wanted to see but it never seems to turn up around here and hasn't been recorded in this area before according to NBN Atlas. It had landed low down on the wall and I didn't want to risk it flying off if I moved it so I was lying on the ground in my PJs and dressing gown taking photos upside down with my wife just shaking her head and laughing at me. Then I opened the trap and there were two more inside along with this one that was stuck to the outside of the trap. Much easier to photograph...
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I really need to pull my finger out and buy the trap, first job on payday me thinks.
Also... I follow quite a few of the Moth- ers on Twitter and some of them use lures to temp some species into the garden, using this practice can a specific moth truly be considered as a garden tick and added to the list?
I really need to pull my finger out and buy the trap, first job on payday me thinks.
Also... I follow quite a few of the Moth- ers on Twitter and some of them use lures to temp some species into the garden, using this practice can a specific moth truly be considered as a garden tick and added to the list?
I pondered this but is it really that much different to ticking off birds on a bird feeder? They wouldn't come if you didn't tempt them in with food.
I just added Burnet Companion to my garden list. They're abundant locally but this is the first one I've been able to photograph in the garden.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Amazing photos you all for posting...I am currently waging a war with clothe’s moths, which have hitched a ride from my sons university damp house. Problem is I think I end up squashing some innocent moths of a similar silvery brown colour and size 😪
I got 15 last night, first large yellow underwing of the season, a couple of hearts and darts, a vines rustic, and several micro moths I can't be bothered with.
I don't think I'll be getting to bed very early tonight. Lots of interesting creatures attracted to the trap tonight. First new moth is this Chinese Character fully decked out in bird poop costume.
and one of my favourite micros. They don't get much smaller than this.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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I really need to pull my finger out and buy the trap, first job on payday me thinks.
Also... I follow quite a few of the Moth- ers on Twitter and some of them use lures to temp some species into the garden, using this practice can a specific moth truly be considered as a garden tick and added to the list?