Arches, Hums and Blurrs

 

After the excitement of the Mocha as my first completely new arrival for a while, the moths have continued a high quality streak. The Black Arches, above and below with its fine antennae, is the first of the darker examples I have had in the trap; normally the area of the forewing suffused with different greys in this example is a plainer black-and-white dazzle pattern.

It was also good to find a Hummingbird Hawk nectaring on our main flower border in very hot sunshine although it skimmed off rapidly before I could get closer-up and hasn't yet returned. Ditto a fine Red Underwing which I disturbed during daylight from the gloom of an outside doorway - the usual way you see this striking, large moth because it seldom comes to light.

Unlike the Hummingbird Hawk, the Red Underwing has made a comeback, however. Our very nice neighbours, who are also learned in natural history, took an action-packed video of a second one (or possibly the original, as it flew off in their direction) zooming dementedly round their house. I won't treat you to the full, action-packed film but here are some stills, blurry because of the high-speed flying but showing the crucial glimpses of red.

They were round here in the afternoon and went home to find the moth still in residence. So, another session of Attenborough work by them and another frame clipped by me, again showing the red - and also how fast these moths fly. With many other species including the Hummingbird Hawk, you get a clearer image in a video clip. Not with Red Underwings.  Many thanks Neighbours!  Maybe the moth will pay us another call when it has spent enough time with you.

For the rest, here is a head-on view of a Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing followed by that gleaming scrap of a micromoth, the Pearl Veneer or Catoptria pinella, which is no bigger than a sunflower seed.

The composite pics below meanwhile show the wealth of 'ordinary' overnight guests in the current lovely weather - from the top left: Campion, Scarce Footman, Riband Wave and Dark Swordgrass, followed by Purple and Gold or Pyrausta purpuralis, Common Rustic, Small Magpie with a Sallow Kitten and Small Scallop. 

Finally, this Yellow Shell in the eggboxes, below, gives me a chance to compare my photo with the one in my last post of the same species disturbed by day in the hedge round our neighbouring Big Field where they are common. Modern iPhone cameras are a blessing beyond description, but the digital system can play pop with moths' colours and patterns in different lights.