I’m aware that posts on this blog are like trapping rare immigrants – infrequent, hard to predict, but always with the hope that fair winds (or less work!) will bring better numbers. Suffice to say I’ve been so busy that mothing, and this blog, have been less frequent than I’d like.
Last night I set the trap, however, and was rewarded with some lovely Autumn moths. News, too, below, of other arrivals from the start of the month …
… but first, the Boxes. Amazon may use plenty of cardboard ones, but they are well behind the Box-tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) which was first seen in the UK in 2007 but since then has bloomed, as it has on the continent too. It’s originally an oriental moth, carried to Europe and the UK on the wind and in imported goods perhaps. There are two colour forms:
My trap on 2nd October was swamped by over 60 of these, mainly in its commoner, white form. Last night a mere 40+ were settled neatly in and around the trap.
To say it’s doing well is an understatement, with its larvae presumably decimating local box shrubs.
Nonetheless, the southerly winds currently bringing the warm air from Africa and Southern Europe is also bringing the moths, alongside some of our local, and beautiful Autumnal species. Last night I was graced with the following likely immigrants:
… ‘vitrealis’ coming from the Latin vitrum, or glass, reflecting the translucent glass-like wings.
The colouration in the wings of Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria) varies with the temperature at which the larvae develop (1), with yellower wings and pinker stripes coming from higher temperatures. Apparently, these two might have grown up close together but not in exactly the same spot!
Though also usually thought of as an immigrant – and an uncommon one at that – this Blair’s Mocha (Cyclophora puppillaria) is one of two caught last night, with another three at the start of the month and other regular records too, making me think it has probably colonised nearby:
Other nice moths from last night included two that have really got the Autumnal feel about them, reflecting the moss/lichen covering on damp branches and the sparkling light of dew on leaves:
Both these are likely to be local, not least because of their minty fresh appearance.
Next, news from the start of the month when I caught this fantastic Convolvulus Hawkmoth – likely another immigrant.
I’ve only ever had one before, so it’s fabulous to see and a real beast as you can see from the photo of it alongside my little finger. I also love the face-like appearance of the markings on the back of the thorax – not quite as pronounced as the more famous Death’s-head Hawkmoth, but enough to make a predator think twice, nonetheless.
And finally, this amused me …
As I removed this Feathered Ranunculus from the trap it fell and landed on the Large Yellow Underwing and, to my surprise, both moths seemed happy.
Perhaps it was riding the Big Yellow Bus … to avoid getting Boxed in …
Reference:
(1) Royal Entomologist Society, PROCEEDINGS OF THE ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 6TH OCTOBER, 1948
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