Still struggling a bit with very low night time temperatures, early season and lack of species diversity. Today's #MothOfTheDay is another early season regular. Small, compact, plain but appealing white pepper appearance
SMALL QUAKER
orthosia cruda
Very common. Larvae feed on sallow.
#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #March #conservation #biodiversity #alttext
Still very early in the season. Chilly nights = few species/numbers currently.
However, today's #MothOfTheDay is another new species for my garden.
BLOSSOM UNDERWING
Orthosia miniosa
Larvae feed on oak. Pinkish hue to underwing (see next take off video)
#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #March #conservation #biodiversity #alttext
Today's #MothOfTheDay is a new species for my garden. Not rare; just never had one before. Alas, I couldn't get a side shot to show it's ridged, bark-like appearance as it was too skittish and flew promptly. But here is:
TAWNY PINION
Lithophane semibrunnea
Hibernates over winter and reappears March/April.
#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #garden #spring #March #conservation #biodiversity #alttext
Today's #MothOfTheDay is another common winter/early spring moth. Not many options to showcase at the moment until warmer nights pick up.
EARLY GREY
Xylocampa areola
Larvae enjoy honeysuckle. Two to show here. Second one preparing for takeoff.
#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #winter #spring #March #conservation #biodiversity #alttext
An almost full moon & partially clear skies tempered optimism last night, but it was mild, and I was rewarded with 12 visitors of 5 species.
Today's #MothOfTheDay
THE CHESTNUT
Conistra Vaccinii
A common winter/early spring moth whose larvae feed on oak, sallow and birch.
#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #winter #spring #march #conservation #biodiversity #alttext
#MothOfTheDay is one that shouldn't be appearing really in November. Tends to disappear in September. But this is freshly emerged, kaleidoscopic:
YELLOW BARRED-BRINDLE
Acasis viretata
Slightly misnamed as it's much more green than yellow, but don't shoot the messenger!
#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #autumn #november #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #yellow #green #blue
MOTTLED UMBER
Erannis defoliaria
A rather plain and drab specimen, but when mothing in November, beggars can't be choosers. Not many about now, so lucky if there are 5 in the box come morning and the nights have either been clear and cold, or wet and windy recently, neither of which help. Calm, cloudy, mild is what we need.
#mothing #MothsMatter #lepidoptera #nature #wildlife #insect #naturalworld #november #garden #pollinators #conservation #alttext #brown
#MothOfTheDay is a neat, medium-sized grey autumn moth called
GREY SHOULDER-KNOT
Lithophane ornitopus
Not rare but is restricted to certain areas and not the absolute commonest you'd see. Larvae feed on oak.
One posing politely on my finger and the other wing-warming preparing for take-off...
#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #autumn #october #conservation #biodiversity #grey #alttext
Getting towards end of the season now and the moth box will soon be (but not yet) put away until March. But for today, we have another autumnal favourite:
FEATHERED THORN
Colotois pennaria
Larvae eat a variety of deciduous plants. Check out those antennae!
#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #autumn #october #conservation #biodiversity #alttext
#MothOfTheDay is one from the same moth box of a couple of days ago. An autumnal favourite called:
BARRED SALLOW
Tiliacea aurago
Mimics fallen autumnal leaves. Larvae feed on beech and field maple and common in southeast UK
#moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #yellow #autumn #october #yellow #conservation #biodiversity #alttext
hastingsmothman