I haven't looked at this thread for a while, but I find it fascinating. What's really interesting is your comment re the wumman doing the item on G's World recently, @wild edges . Kate Bradbury is the person who, many years ago when I'd posted a pic on the forum of a load of caterpillars in my garden, stated it was such and such a moth or butterfly. Whatever it was she claimed it to be was impossible as they aren't present here They were either small tortoiseshells or peacock caterpillars - I can't remember now. Probably sml. torts though, as I think they had some yellow striping, and they're our most common butterfly. I'd love to try a moth trap, but I think from what you're all saying is, it would be tricky getting the right weather. It's certainly been very humid and thundery here this month which is very unusual, but it's also been wet, and more like our usual July weather, so timing could be difficult. Normally when it's wet at this time of year, it's windy but colder, so we seem to have another weird spell of weather. Something to consider for future though. In the meantime, I can enjoy all the terrific photos you've all taken
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
This time last year we were in the middle of a heatwave and I trapped nearly 70 moths species in one night. Last night it was barely 10 celcius and I was happy to get 11 common species. Next week is my second anniversary of trapping and will be my 70th time running the trap. I just need one new species to get to 280 species recorded but I'm still hoping to get to 300 by the end of the year.
There was nothing interesting to report from last night so I'm posting this photo of a ridiculous long-legged micro moth that I forgot to post a week ago.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I've put out three clearwing traps, by the currants, oak, and apple. 10 minutes later it peed it down. Now sunny again. Quite a few gatekeeper butterflies fluttering around this morning.
I rescued a peacock butterfly from the depths of my shed, this morning. It was about to be trapped in the thick cobwebs by the window. Took it out to put on a flower but it flew off immediately so I guess it hadn't been there long.
I know this isn't a moth but never seen one before. It was floating on the water in the tank below a standpipe on the Allotments. Probably hard to tell from the pictures. Any clue?
The moth you don't want. We have had the forestry commision knock on the door. There are three nests of oak processionary moth in our top oak. They are checking the other big oak and the baby oak. They want to spray the entire trees but we have other rare moths as well as bats roosting in both oak trees. The spray is likely to cover my entire veg patch, as well as raspberries just ripening.
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What's really interesting is your comment re the wumman doing the item on G's World recently, @wild edges . Kate Bradbury is the person who, many years ago when I'd posted a pic on the forum of a load of caterpillars in my garden, stated it was such and such a moth or butterfly. Whatever it was she claimed it to be was impossible as they aren't present here
They were either small tortoiseshells or peacock caterpillars - I can't remember now. Probably sml. torts though, as I think they had some yellow striping, and they're our most common butterfly.
I'd love to try a moth trap, but I think from what you're all saying is, it would be tricky getting the right weather. It's certainly been very humid and thundery here this month which is very unusual, but it's also been wet, and more like our usual July weather, so timing could be difficult. Normally when it's wet at this time of year, it's windy but colder, so we seem to have another weird spell of weather.
Something to consider for future though. In the meantime, I can enjoy all the terrific photos you've all taken
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'll be ordering my trap on Monday and have decided to go for this one.
https://www.angleps.com/shop-all/p/the-lepidopterist-compact-double-20w-skinner-trap
Can't wait to get started and all because of this thread... I knew it would end up costing me 😃
Pots already purchased and ready to go.
Mint Moth on Nepeta this morning, taken with mobile phone so not the best quality.