Sulphur and Brimstone

 

There's a yellowy-orangey theme to this post, triggered by finding the lovely fresh Brimstone moth above in a pose which shows how the sulphurous colour extends to its whole body. It looks as though it has just flown through a tin of Dayglo powder paint. 

The orange component meanwhile comes from this Centre-barred Sallow, the first arrival of a brightly-coloured family which I associate with late Summer and early Autumn. Like everything in the natural world, they are out early this year because of the heat.

Here's another orange star, a Dusky Thorn, and below, three pictures closing in on a Copper Underwing to give a rare glimpse of the reason for its name:

The delicate little Green Carpet in the first Copper Underwing photo was one of at least a dozen of this pretty species - a prettiness which quickly fades. Here are two of them making that point, below: a very fresh one at the top and a fading example at the bottom, probably several weeks old.

The same fate will overtake this exquisite Light Emerald, so beautifully green in its freshness. If it survives the birds and bats for a fortnight, it will be a pallid version of its glorious, initial self.