The temperature has dropped sharply, as predicted - hats off to the Met Office - and although this morning has brought a clear blue sky and brilliant sunshine, the trap was markedly less busy last night. Beaded Chestnuts predominate again, with a couple of Blair's Shoulder-knots and a Wainscot to add variety, but we are probably moving into sparser times.
That said, the micro Acleris ferrugana at the top is a very lovely creature, and it's nice to have an Angle Shades again, to illustrate the point I made two posts ago about their conventional pose; my picture above is a typical example. The unique wing shape is not the only distinction of this fine moth; look more closely at the blow-up to see the range and subtlety of its colouring.
To conclude: Penny noticed this curious growth on our magnolia - suggestive of several things including those rather unpleasant exhibitions of human corpses minus skin which toured the UK last year. Anyone know what this is, or what causes it?
Hi martin I hope you are well - the bumpy excrescence on the magnolia is a seed pod
ReplyDeleteBrr indeed. Putting the moth box out tonight as no uni tomorrow, but not expecting much considering it's brass monkeys here. Lovely Angle Shades :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Worm! Good to hear from you and thanks v much for magnolia expertise. Retirement is pure bliss though I shouldn't say that to those still in chains.
ReplyDeleteGood luck CT I've finally puzzled out your Merveille de Jour initials, you'll be glad to hear. I longbfornone of those
All warmest
M
Tee Hee. I just do it to keep your retirement brain cells active. :-)
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