We've reached the time of the year when nights are longer, the weather colder, and Christmas being talked of as only so-many-weeks away. The moths are dwindling in number and variety too, so I have a sense of the 2021 season gradually drawing to an end.
There are still unexpected pleasure however, such as the chunky Bulrush Wainscot above with its dusty colouring, as opposed to the cream predominant in most Wainscots, and its tail peeping cheekily out below the wings. More familiar Autumn moths are a pleasure as well, like the Sallow below with its scrambled egg/omelette colouring.
The Large Ranculus (or buttercup) is also a beautiful moth with the little flecks of orange interspersed with the grey and white of its camouflage. My picture illustrates the problem, however, of dull weather in the early morning and the low levels of light when I creep out around 7am to inspect the trap. If I wait too much longer, some of the overnight guests can become restive and do themselves damage, although many are happy to dose on.
How nice too that big moths are still calling by, for example these Red Underwings which cosied up together three nights ago:
And finally a couple of small but colourful visitors: the 'copper-splodge' form of the Common Marbled Carpet, substantially bigger than most carpet moths, and the Red Green Carpet, a fresh specimen with its wing-edge chequers intact.
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