23rd - 31st May Week Ten- Shaking His Big Trunk For The Hell Of It

With things quiet now locally and garden flowers are blooming in the sprig heatwave my thoughts have turned to what might be going on in those hours when its dark in the garden, yes it was time to roll out the moth trap.  I haven't done this for a couple of years, the interest waning a little.  However I thought it would be good revisit my association with these amazing insects that out number their day flying colleagues, the butterflies, by almost 50 times.  Some of these are regular to the garden over the years some are always spectacular and would you believe two are completely new to my garden list.

Lets just cover off the regulars first, there have been plenty of Heart and Darts and Setacious Hebrews, both little brown moths that quite frankly do not to special to photograph.  As I removed them from the trap though I had to be careful the Robins did not pick them off.

The first in the week that was of interest was a Coronet, again a regular moth, but one that has some lovely detail and can appear in different shades of greyish green and even brown.

A real old favourite is the Buff Tip, its claim to fame is that it resembles a broken branch as camouflage and sits completely still on a branch to enhance the effect

Treble Lines are common and brown but just make it into the blog on the fact that they look a little better.

Then we move to those moths that are a little more exoctic here a Pale Tussock

The markings are usually darker and more extensive in the males, which also have feathered orange-brown antennae. The males often come to light in larger numbers than the females.  In this case it has orange antennae and it cam e to the light, it’s a male.  The females are much larger than the males, but both rest with distinctive forward-facing furry legs. 

Looking similar but a little larger is the Puss Moth

A large white or greyish-white furry moth, the Puss moth is named after the cat-like appearance of the adult. The striking nature of the beautiful black and grey marbled markings, make it quite an easy moth to identify.  The female is generally larger and also differs in having a grey hindwing and sometimes forewing.

Again large feathery antennae

A much simpler looking moth now the Light Emerald because of course it is a pale green in colour

Next another of those unmistakable moths, the English name of this species is derived from the moth's fanciful resemblance to burnt paper with its crumpled appearance, the Scorched Wing.  Adults are rarely seen by day, possibly roost in the tree canopy, but are attracted to sugar, but only usually the males to light.

The next is not so common in the garden, the Iron Prominent, but despite this it is listed as common throughout the country.  They are called “prominents” because many species have a tuft of long hairs at the trailing edge of the forewing; these point upward when the moth is at rest.

Then it was to one of the new moths for the garden.  In the years I have had the trap I have caught Elephant Hawkmoths and every year I have checked to see if they could be "Small".  Well now I have caught not one but two.

They are more brightly coloured, though smaller, than their cousin the  Elephant Hawkmoth, which has a more greenish than a yellowish tinge.  It flies from dusk, though newly emerged adults can sometimes be seen during the day. 

Two disasters then, the first a Pine Hawkmoth that I saw and left thinking it would stay around only to find it had gone when I returned.  Then an even bigger problem the light bulb failed so it was an urgent order through Amazon to replace it.  Once the new bulb it was back out and finding another new moth to the garden.  

The Garden Pebble, again classified as common in Hampshire so it it is strange it has eluded me.

Another common visitor, but a moth I love, the Peppered Moth

And the flame that really looks like a piece of burnt wood

This Brimstone Moth is a day flyer but has turned up overnight.  Like the Brimstone butterfly it gets its name from its sulphur yellow colour, another name for sulphur being "brimstone"

Earlier I said how I have caught many Elephant Hawkmoths well here are some more.  Both this and the Small Elephant Hawkmoth are named after the resemblance of the caterpillars to the trunk of an elephant

As you can see they do not have the bright colour of the Small Elephant, but are larger.

One of the best attractions for Elephant Hawkmoths is Honeysuckle and there is plenty in flower in the garden providing a lovely scent late evening and first thing in the morning,

This is a broken barred Carpet, they can be found in woodland, scrubland and other bushy places, this common species occurs throughout most of Britain. It is fairly distinctive with the central dark band 'broken' in the middle.  The single generation is on the wing in May and June, when it is attracted to light.

The final moth is the UK's Largest Hawkmoth, the Privet Hawk Moth, Here you can see the pink and black striped abdomen and hindwings; these are not always visible and the strength of the pink can vary.

It flies only at night and is attracted to light, feeding on nectar from highly-scented flowers such as honeysuckle. Freshly emerged adults can sometimes be found resting vertically on tree trunks and fence posts, or in this case the wall. 

A different perspective of this impressive moth

With the weather due to change in the coming week there will be the chance to see if it brings in any other moth species.