tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19395284892878861532024-03-17T07:29:46.018+00:00Martin's MothsA tale of moths and men.MartinWainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383027708524885786noreply@blogger.comBlogger1907125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-13999098388880359082024-03-17T07:29:00.000+00:002024-03-17T07:29:10.473+00:00Showy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAo4tOGhydKLIcZfff8LEY8500LrKloM9rVfMu6r5GzV5rMW635rJgqdj8g2uyDLALAtm5AcEru2JWfmsPChNxveOMba6i6oIEDPlgV6YHlz9O6m-X68ocQvm2XaUSU-pNXinZ3qOs5gtMGCRFgpvpTlrkCFTDr_wcbQojy4hRbcZ2saB7mr0AFLGr9g/s2908/IMG_6760.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2908" data-original-width="2765" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAo4tOGhydKLIcZfff8LEY8500LrKloM9rVfMu6r5GzV5rMW635rJgqdj8g2uyDLALAtm5AcEru2JWfmsPChNxveOMba6i6oIEDPlgV6YHlz9O6m-X68ocQvm2XaUSU-pNXinZ3qOs5gtMGCRFgpvpTlrkCFTDr_wcbQojy4hRbcZ2saB7mr0AFLGr9g/w380-h400/IMG_6760.JPG" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first showy moth of the year was snoozing in the eggboxes this morning, an Oak Beauty which I transferred to the beech hedge for a nicer backdrop. No Photoshopping though, after the Royal photo furore. Actually, Photoshopping is a skill, or possibly dark art, too far for me. I confine my interference to cropping. I am tempted sometimes to add 'warmth' or 'saturation' from the iPhone's editing function, if only because the camera's search for maximum lights plays such tricks with the colour anyway. Compare the beech leaves above with those below. There's not a lot in it but to my eye, the bottom photo is a little washed-out and duller and the top one is closer to the colours I saw.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGklDq3TeTrlkTNj83BVrTS8Ae3Inn7sQsUVfSRDAT8O0hgJJX3I65inujxpeD5kUFN0CT-u48bUNJj_NoL2vahkdAIb3FkzxMgI-A2u7FQskj_JwAFLD38r4zl3WKteEz9b6iKtwDvbqqe5OhzRshKikyd3F_VzCmM9sOllsUWxClEi56n1Q4GayQdkI/s4032/IMG_6757.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGklDq3TeTrlkTNj83BVrTS8Ae3Inn7sQsUVfSRDAT8O0hgJJX3I65inujxpeD5kUFN0CT-u48bUNJj_NoL2vahkdAIb3FkzxMgI-A2u7FQskj_JwAFLD38r4zl3WKteEz9b6iKtwDvbqqe5OhzRshKikyd3F_VzCmM9sOllsUWxClEi56n1Q4GayQdkI/w300-h400/IMG_6757.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another welcome dab of colour was the russet of the Clouded Drab below, often a much duller moth than this example. Below it is an attractive Twin-spotted Quaker, a regular arrival at this time of the year, and following that, a March Moth with its unmistakable zigzags.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfolCbp4r98m-9yoEBm1mNshsQ5KU_ps7desiaW7Fvgrv4jrlyqjYfAHsD7DhECcPHRS_sxMdeAxH5D6eAgf8R3tvaj6ybQaut6L5WJtYotdnY0YqdAdvX8iTA90e9Dfga_F5LAyyHNEiOHJ-YBbOlK6JIkOMOH-q3mJRdNSU9Ily0On7PStLt0d5ekuw/s4032/IMG_6755.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfolCbp4r98m-9yoEBm1mNshsQ5KU_ps7desiaW7Fvgrv4jrlyqjYfAHsD7DhECcPHRS_sxMdeAxH5D6eAgf8R3tvaj6ybQaut6L5WJtYotdnY0YqdAdvX8iTA90e9Dfga_F5LAyyHNEiOHJ-YBbOlK6JIkOMOH-q3mJRdNSU9Ily0On7PStLt0d5ekuw/w400-h300/IMG_6755.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WB0MVtvEhBMYmi4O4vFhrgb7P6gvgefrY9PokCgzz3SUsPXZPhOtx2nIg7lEIqwMWVJMCBIZz4heYRJJEQ28q76PcM2GbQKffJHiIr3aLeW7eaavZujwtymWYo0JGGuDUXDf3166qphieDVUyMPPKCRqtXQp17vFprWAaAhMbPM5_oTtwlGyxQpeizg/s4032/IMG_6746.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WB0MVtvEhBMYmi4O4vFhrgb7P6gvgefrY9PokCgzz3SUsPXZPhOtx2nIg7lEIqwMWVJMCBIZz4heYRJJEQ28q76PcM2GbQKffJHiIr3aLeW7eaavZujwtymWYo0JGGuDUXDf3166qphieDVUyMPPKCRqtXQp17vFprWAaAhMbPM5_oTtwlGyxQpeizg/w300-h400/IMG_6746.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eJ4tyLIJIuOVwnvkzjdzKv3zi34DX1eeFx1lJoH0d_y3m5jZRMq4kaqXreIjB5rdJhT5T5H2NJRPmvJICelReL6wNGSNh-Xs2htwsU5LZeH306Hi1zt5VrV5bgj0Qe_ip9ojhyphenhyphen6RfDLWaDUuxrFef-aD9KguFo7onl3MM7EHhGFYwvZ4sWENkFJdloU/s3195/IMG_6745.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3195" data-original-width="2294" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eJ4tyLIJIuOVwnvkzjdzKv3zi34DX1eeFx1lJoH0d_y3m5jZRMq4kaqXreIjB5rdJhT5T5H2NJRPmvJICelReL6wNGSNh-Xs2htwsU5LZeH306Hi1zt5VrV5bgj0Qe_ip9ojhyphenhyphen6RfDLWaDUuxrFef-aD9KguFo7onl3MM7EHhGFYwvZ4sWENkFJdloU/w288-h400/IMG_6745.JPG" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q-M-ilt3MQGNRXKs-FQ0XKV1Lgi2xj78QM2Y7xDlmB2gCPeRRgrSGW1WdhxI01gO8trNYYY1dKewZw6F1utFYel4JDVKuDgt0yv8PWJFZbX3IWM5d-kmHZCZvVgaPD7ji0SHZVUVdQ6GXextKIgA-wqLFtHUsBKviuibLe4G_tJZpVcIb9_QlBZoY1k/s2233/IMG_6743.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2233" data-original-width="2182" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q-M-ilt3MQGNRXKs-FQ0XKV1Lgi2xj78QM2Y7xDlmB2gCPeRRgrSGW1WdhxI01gO8trNYYY1dKewZw6F1utFYel4JDVKuDgt0yv8PWJFZbX3IWM5d-kmHZCZvVgaPD7ji0SHZVUVdQ6GXextKIgA-wqLFtHUsBKviuibLe4G_tJZpVcIb9_QlBZoY1k/w391-h400/IMG_6743.JPG" width="391" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The micro below gave me a hard time, as I scrutinised <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/field-guide-to-the-micromoths-of-great-britain-and-ireland-2nd-edition-9781472993953/">my Micro Bible</a> without success until plumping for a slightly odd example of the familiar <i>Agonopterix alstroemeriana</i> and putting that suggestion to the experts on the <a href="http://upperthamesmoths.blogspot.com">Upper Thames Moths blog</a>. The eternally helpful webmaster there, former air traffic controller Dave Wilton, was back speedily with the correct ID and I wasn't far off. The moth is <i>Agonopterix heraclia/ciella</i> and Dave adds interesting additional info, especially on its diet:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; caret-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Your moth is a rather well-preserved individual of Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella (they've usually lost many of their scales by this time of year, after hibernation, so aren't as well marked as this one). Agonopterix alstromeriana is a much more brightly coloured moth than this which also hibernates, quite a common species which I imagine you will get in your garden too. However, your Alstroemerias are safe because its larvae actually use the far more sinister plant Conium maculatum, otherwise known as Hemlock.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq_FF8k4V7PYPH0-imcXych4YhkLXR5EdniHX196fyihLgEDdkktCCX1LvgUicxdzwnnL0hXU1pcA2xbfs4JRXhJ1LATdhjTUUKq4zEApXp8o50-4ttO7OD3QBn7Aigj6anU2eTNJjpYtx4DOqvMp9eVa5-42DPVkrSYiaV9iLxe5WdVP3ZiyqXuYakY/s1776/IMG_6748.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1776" data-original-width="1636" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq_FF8k4V7PYPH0-imcXych4YhkLXR5EdniHX196fyihLgEDdkktCCX1LvgUicxdzwnnL0hXU1pcA2xbfs4JRXhJ1LATdhjTUUKq4zEApXp8o50-4ttO7OD3QBn7Aigj6anU2eTNJjpYtx4DOqvMp9eVa5-42DPVkrSYiaV9iLxe5WdVP3ZiyqXuYakY/w369-h400/IMG_6748.JPG" width="369" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj599ckpA66gPRIPwFUZ8KxocfjSLLHHrw3nmhMGuqX6igHAzzWEPbVtwvQt4tZa7WrvlWreFDtIYE7FFVQWR1L8PRyIAdyp3LZKg3AKxspBjTMAdn9K2Z6YhJteZNVke8HAMpYxv8UsrpRo4m0pJzHupL0fKRTtfC7MUFPSBLlksBeqAskUTZzdlVKKWw/s3024/IMG_6747.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2341" data-original-width="3024" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj599ckpA66gPRIPwFUZ8KxocfjSLLHHrw3nmhMGuqX6igHAzzWEPbVtwvQt4tZa7WrvlWreFDtIYE7FFVQWR1L8PRyIAdyp3LZKg3AKxspBjTMAdn9K2Z6YhJteZNVke8HAMpYxv8UsrpRo4m0pJzHupL0fKRTtfC7MUFPSBLlksBeqAskUTZzdlVKKWw/w400-h310/IMG_6747.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, two of my rivals in terms of getting at the moths. It's impossible to be really cross with a robin but, my goodness, you have to keep an eye on them when examining the eggboxes. One distraction and they're in and out in a flash. One moth fewer for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1irG_8fuFh9uLebb4rZPgzjbxr1ZNQY7q_xM0ITeUr1ESvYDQp-T67K459DDE3xzVChxltRM3zfbQ2nmyBfEx0MkdrcFBry3FoiVA3GYkeKRutT_Pz_u8DhUguST1W-8BqqNcS1jKV9iWcB0RKGhkuNcssx3NnrxWb7kyUMwSogMcgHoqaw9L2ZPH1Vk/s2901/IMG_6750.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2901" data-original-width="2373" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1irG_8fuFh9uLebb4rZPgzjbxr1ZNQY7q_xM0ITeUr1ESvYDQp-T67K459DDE3xzVChxltRM3zfbQ2nmyBfEx0MkdrcFBry3FoiVA3GYkeKRutT_Pz_u8DhUguST1W-8BqqNcS1jKV9iWcB0RKGhkuNcssx3NnrxWb7kyUMwSogMcgHoqaw9L2ZPH1Vk/w328-h400/IMG_6750.JPG" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for the twilight bats, just about discernible below. I cannot really tell how many moths they capture but clearly there are enough to keep them circling round.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u9xRfc6uDVSJra1LRCuuWQAlOIzEV0P2EqBXKk7VEBe3uc4Fq-_ENKILkbqz7G_A_sgIFI319bB3n17LyIJWVljJAb8s_VACPC9NWGtJHbLZiPpzax1gTpYrePMVImyt6VLEK8P0TCOUhyphenhyphendNNO1z6izBsJllAkt9lU_SFaV-QCzd2sCuBVJE5jZBQC0/s2048/B152B502-3536-4E93-96E1-1238AC4A9801.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u9xRfc6uDVSJra1LRCuuWQAlOIzEV0P2EqBXKk7VEBe3uc4Fq-_ENKILkbqz7G_A_sgIFI319bB3n17LyIJWVljJAb8s_VACPC9NWGtJHbLZiPpzax1gTpYrePMVImyt6VLEK8P0TCOUhyphenhyphendNNO1z6izBsJllAkt9lU_SFaV-QCzd2sCuBVJE5jZBQC0/w400-h400/B152B502-3536-4E93-96E1-1238AC4A9801.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-60009130396378349712024-03-10T16:48:00.002+00:002024-03-10T16:48:26.406+00:00Mothers' Day moths<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGwAZis2nwmy6cRTBeyp6FepoE2rgBK4RNXBvvDFx-jBUdcxL0eyHdTVVyW36TlmQfDUvKdzPN8wQ3-DsHUx6ZIO-JF2OuNhk-l6cBzggtEn-daGhNJrasz0-gBPV-FvYK-vPrVvsHLr_uTls8U-zTfhWK-OduI3jrDRCLtLuVgBPv7TjV9vJc8Ab9Zw/s2048/B58C09BA-1826-4CF1-B036-DA64799B90F1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGwAZis2nwmy6cRTBeyp6FepoE2rgBK4RNXBvvDFx-jBUdcxL0eyHdTVVyW36TlmQfDUvKdzPN8wQ3-DsHUx6ZIO-JF2OuNhk-l6cBzggtEn-daGhNJrasz0-gBPV-FvYK-vPrVvsHLr_uTls8U-zTfhWK-OduI3jrDRCLtLuVgBPv7TjV9vJc8Ab9Zw/w400-h400/B58C09BA-1826-4CF1-B036-DA64799B90F1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Mothers' Day! I'm greeting it with some colourful Spring flowers from the garden including the delectable Snakeshead Fritillary, still in bud on the left, because the overnight moths have been modest both in size and colouring. None the less worthy for that, however. Here they are:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf2IQ-XGl5CVkFEN2Gl7sUoos411Ka9I5kC7IZtD9aaMypGfROuiZlWVdhO9Z5qk99nk-wT3QS3qAOrHCxTCszWg-XnYsc_uX3Q8by1rnYCVQ40kpMAlqqY_GsiX_QJWcaCk_pr_f78KRFR0ppAEID9FPeXT4kUAObcfuqPmCb-X5-mb1UrNq4XcFa3E/s4032/IMG_6636%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf2IQ-XGl5CVkFEN2Gl7sUoos411Ka9I5kC7IZtD9aaMypGfROuiZlWVdhO9Z5qk99nk-wT3QS3qAOrHCxTCszWg-XnYsc_uX3Q8by1rnYCVQ40kpMAlqqY_GsiX_QJWcaCk_pr_f78KRFR0ppAEID9FPeXT4kUAObcfuqPmCb-X5-mb1UrNq4XcFa3E/w300-h400/IMG_6636%202.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, a rather battered <i>Agnopterix Alstromeriana,</i> a very small but prettily-coloured mcro which I almost overlooked. Then below, a Clouded Drab, a dull-looking mouth with a dull-sounding name. It was more cheering to see the Twin-spotted Quaker in my third photo.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlsU8PkeEufKsnhF_ZzWKBQbHfctI3urKqviLA0DLYLATLqSw6NWDgbGf-riDAe5VNL6tuItzjlgn8u7mLYlNQqYLQ_iys_O5FlylxJ-6fwL_tBG_44MAqHZncrBwgUZjCNVpbAB5RpjEGKcXRmfI_2pCx-J2GluM-UkND5eopItAninB0jOTfqy3-7E/s4032/IMG_6635%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlsU8PkeEufKsnhF_ZzWKBQbHfctI3urKqviLA0DLYLATLqSw6NWDgbGf-riDAe5VNL6tuItzjlgn8u7mLYlNQqYLQ_iys_O5FlylxJ-6fwL_tBG_44MAqHZncrBwgUZjCNVpbAB5RpjEGKcXRmfI_2pCx-J2GluM-UkND5eopItAninB0jOTfqy3-7E/w300-h400/IMG_6635%202.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsc3J09-LcLYwll4UxAlKLR8Sd2WMc7vr__rTlYXNwTru9_fybG8kXlUB8La3XQkXkMXe6VSQnweMT-J9my2j6zN74S_pBYoAX2gR8dtxhEM54KHMRv2Bw_jHLo4YP16s4rxZQl5NTC_u75qKWzXYpUbEhZzrEuubQvx_U23vVJAVZYho8ZgRd3wS_w4/s4032/IMG_6633.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsc3J09-LcLYwll4UxAlKLR8Sd2WMc7vr__rTlYXNwTru9_fybG8kXlUB8La3XQkXkMXe6VSQnweMT-J9my2j6zN74S_pBYoAX2gR8dtxhEM54KHMRv2Bw_jHLo4YP16s4rxZQl5NTC_u75qKWzXYpUbEhZzrEuubQvx_U23vVJAVZYho8ZgRd3wS_w4/w400-h300/IMG_6633.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally a second and slightly larger micro, the very familiar <i>Diurnea fagella</i>. A fairly meagre tally even when supplemented by assorted other Quakers and a Hebrew Character, but the initially promising weather was spoilt by rain. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Fn7HZ0Qz7ZrIvpcegTtkz7NUr5xGezDF7jpPunwhF5HPg59ib7vs8qCMI26fJ5O8TdE0vdgAq8Edr-djSaCmKeoOVxjhVZUzZan-wrBCHIPcGEU0hRdvBhYf4VFUWe47bzDRgcNTwExYk4ddKnag3iPk9EC9dwBKzBfePAsCCogisAzzuNo6mZLG_bI/s4032/IMG_6630%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Fn7HZ0Qz7ZrIvpcegTtkz7NUr5xGezDF7jpPunwhF5HPg59ib7vs8qCMI26fJ5O8TdE0vdgAq8Edr-djSaCmKeoOVxjhVZUzZan-wrBCHIPcGEU0hRdvBhYf4VFUWe47bzDRgcNTwExYk4ddKnag3iPk9EC9dwBKzBfePAsCCogisAzzuNo6mZLG_bI/w300-h400/IMG_6630%202.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have a great day, Mums everywhere. Back to Dads' Days tomorrow onwards... Only kidding.</div><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-76123033815032868532024-02-28T15:30:00.004+00:002024-02-28T15:38:15.428+00:00One of Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-L6g-fO-k7GrYLJxQaQ6ZAjeU5QjywFB4cYYJ90P0tcsxaDoAWTsRmVV4wxBnty-lOrxvuO1rEuEKcVRScoVb44-RCJk-zz_WurKqj2dcfona4eE-my7JAgFaLrvE3_VBKPHWCI9suLIHrEV_RWITb202UU0aanWcv83h84XRK35_Ex0jOEbyBkCe5YA/s4032/IMG_6217.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-L6g-fO-k7GrYLJxQaQ6ZAjeU5QjywFB4cYYJ90P0tcsxaDoAWTsRmVV4wxBnty-lOrxvuO1rEuEKcVRScoVb44-RCJk-zz_WurKqj2dcfona4eE-my7JAgFaLrvE3_VBKPHWCI9suLIHrEV_RWITb202UU0aanWcv83h84XRK35_Ex0jOEbyBkCe5YA/w300-h400/IMG_6217.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p> My granddaughter and her schoolfriends rescued a tiny caterpillar - pic above - last week after one of them, blessed with especially eagle eyes, spotted it by an ivy leaf below a wintering beech hedge. With the soft-heartedness common in pre-teen girls, they decided to 'rescue' it and so it came home to Granny and Grandpa at the end of school. (It was our week to be on grandchild duty).</p><p>I didn't have <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/field-caterpillars-butterflies-Britain-Europe/dp/000219080X">my caterpillar Bible</a> but the internet is an even better resource and we soon had a shortlist of possibilities. Because of the cattie's extreme youth, however, a precise ID was beyond our joint powers. But our best guess was the Yellow-tail and that meant searching for hawthorn and blackthorn, with leaves of the species' other foodplants, oak, sallow and other deciduous trees being unlikely at this time of the year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx405e7cDl0Zyti2o7H_wfYO0eTgkW5pnCzIf9DWXvlQffe4o8L9pelhCuuaxeAzuZrabQXWrY_VtRbuFt4tgKZvkLf8dTcvgQpv2jm5lboHp-mmCJdBkOeJuhooWAUKCYN3Rc16E5tW8o6F1yRHJiBl87CWRGNlz5OafIfH-zsYBJCsvG9Wr66beTVSY/s4032/IMG_6190.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx405e7cDl0Zyti2o7H_wfYO0eTgkW5pnCzIf9DWXvlQffe4o8L9pelhCuuaxeAzuZrabQXWrY_VtRbuFt4tgKZvkLf8dTcvgQpv2jm5lboHp-mmCJdBkOeJuhooWAUKCYN3Rc16E5tW8o6F1yRHJiBl87CWRGNlz5OafIfH-zsYBJCsvG9Wr66beTVSY/w300-h400/IMG_6190.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The girls' main concern was providing the right food and they had already put a selection of other leaves in their collecting box. I meanwhile got on to the ever-excellent <a href="https://upperthamesmoths.blogspot.com">Upper Thames Moths blog</a> where the guru Dave Wilton wondered whether the cattie might be a somewhat out-of-season White Ermine. So nettle, deadnettle and dandelion were added to the box.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnXwi5ttjJcwHru2tTPC0l4-dcJOw6dnuINCahOq4pcyYrJPyTIK6vgptwcDJ05DalRo9tvJJ7EFqUAnzCbiQG0XMOH4USvT8dcNIcC_nsfi1FgobqEvbtB8in_jL9CHV6z-pHHoWsSA5u_r5mzKFAOKprdGHvJgeNc5KZL2aJRwrnaxlVbg0KEcaQY4/s4032/IMG_6196.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnXwi5ttjJcwHru2tTPC0l4-dcJOw6dnuINCahOq4pcyYrJPyTIK6vgptwcDJ05DalRo9tvJJ7EFqUAnzCbiQG0XMOH4USvT8dcNIcC_nsfi1FgobqEvbtB8in_jL9CHV6z-pHHoWsSA5u_r5mzKFAOKprdGHvJgeNc5KZL2aJRwrnaxlVbg0KEcaQY4/w300-h400/IMG_6196.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then the dots at the side prompted another UTM guru Tim Arnold to suggest that it could be a Jersey Tiger, a species common in Summer around the grandchildren's home. Fortunately their diet is described as 'a wide range of herbaceous plants' so we simply stuck in a bit of forget-me-not.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYhk1ClHzYR9v0QzEp_eNYCR0WJjIs4oZS8sRTxOBygg0pE4N6xZOWVVPmbTQ1od166w1kl1wwd2jASEwfTKcVyXhMoGg84l6wR_bUwrIkwwd6n4aTr9SonL1m8zd6SC7IyN1yhwYAzZVnlsIODDLZR82ok1gRDPwTNrwDuVFQUVITJVYf2JG_0ajUB8/s4032/IMG_6200%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYhk1ClHzYR9v0QzEp_eNYCR0WJjIs4oZS8sRTxOBygg0pE4N6xZOWVVPmbTQ1od166w1kl1wwd2jASEwfTKcVyXhMoGg84l6wR_bUwrIkwwd6n4aTr9SonL1m8zd6SC7IyN1yhwYAzZVnlsIODDLZR82ok1gRDPwTNrwDuVFQUVITJVYf2JG_0ajUB8/w300-h400/IMG_6200%202.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there matters rest. The cattie was about a centimetre long last week. We will be back in ten days' time to see how it is getting on.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZoWHnsuLayrC9Btfs-O9aVtMi6EnwTztH6_6gZtHs9J1ag-eE4MnlClxE3l4VLPjPBSt-mOgKKZK8JGMRbC1WRXc-8cBlKODRBsE0VZipYqwUGgqWk_HOGP6N1OKl80OeZ22sK5n6Wrn8ONCDu7vYJdHH-GuHqXdy_RpXEbXVAIU4zmBqKQARlPBP5U/s4032/IMG_6218.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZoWHnsuLayrC9Btfs-O9aVtMi6EnwTztH6_6gZtHs9J1ag-eE4MnlClxE3l4VLPjPBSt-mOgKKZK8JGMRbC1WRXc-8cBlKODRBsE0VZipYqwUGgqWk_HOGP6N1OKl80OeZ22sK5n6Wrn8ONCDu7vYJdHH-GuHqXdy_RpXEbXVAIU4zmBqKQARlPBP5U/w300-h400/IMG_6218.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-38217453837837245382024-02-19T18:43:00.000+00:002024-02-19T18:43:08.319+00:00New Year, New Moth<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx9uA8PqpnjNMFrHw0zTFle4VyplNTIY7iiPONdDlDXZwKpc2HhA1a-_2HzsAYfNNYIISpdA6A_YvfMNk8eTDgdkOkvynOH1SGHdJB2w1UV8qBNpv7Vj04lETDX1Vlz6JGSGDO68OQF0wB414FEWNb4PgavSpltnF9YLqDMijor5eXnRigZoLyC86mdQ/s4032/IMG_5858%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx9uA8PqpnjNMFrHw0zTFle4VyplNTIY7iiPONdDlDXZwKpc2HhA1a-_2HzsAYfNNYIISpdA6A_YvfMNk8eTDgdkOkvynOH1SGHdJB2w1UV8qBNpv7Vj04lETDX1Vlz6JGSGDO68OQF0wB414FEWNb4PgavSpltnF9YLqDMijor5eXnRigZoLyC86mdQ/w300-h400/IMG_5858%202.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p>I've just had the trap out for only the second time this year - the first back in late January yielding a visitor total of exactly nil. This time, the unusually mild night of Valentine's, saw more than 40 moths snugly asleep in the eggboxes. Among them, most unusually after all my years of shining the light, was a new species for the garden.</p><p>Behold the Oak Nycteolene, in its full glory in the first picture above and as I found it in the second, below. I say that it is new to me but as you can see, it is very self-effacing and therefore easy to miss. Its colour also makes for good camouflage in the creamy and grey boxes, so I may have overlooked it on previous visits.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lUVlT0DO4XQdQFkfVt8AXeLPg04qoMBg0n7XPcR6CbkHpQILaiS0d0dQb0GWIwBlR7De9fDhW-ZFHM1KuwRsyE97YRLWrRF9JNt0nkJF5yoa_JrtLVPtuk2RS3qb_SI7E8df4W1NNpbJI2Xy-ijfn_RZzzXfJvM0jgz_T7TJeRMa-GhOoa5SyGAYsfo/s4032/IMG_5839%203.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lUVlT0DO4XQdQFkfVt8AXeLPg04qoMBg0n7XPcR6CbkHpQILaiS0d0dQb0GWIwBlR7De9fDhW-ZFHM1KuwRsyE97YRLWrRF9JNt0nkJF5yoa_JrtLVPtuk2RS3qb_SI7E8df4W1NNpbJI2Xy-ijfn_RZzzXfJvM0jgz_T7TJeRMa-GhOoa5SyGAYsfo/w300-h400/IMG_5839%203.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p>The moth is a macro but very similar in both size and appearance to some of the micro <i>Agnonopteryx </i>family in whose ranks it has occasionally been mistakenly numbered in the past (see pic of the worst offenders below from the <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/field-guide-to-the-micromoths-of-great-britain-and-ireland-2nd-edition-9781472993953/">Micro-moth Bible</a>). To double-check, I posted my top picture on the invaluable <a href="http://upperthamesmoths.blogspot.com">Upper Thames Moths blog</a> with its many expert contributors, asking while about it if any of them knew what its curious second name might mean.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholgrQgiSMxBYtzn1Y49Co5JuCcsU7ORKQhFgjyeBdC2dlYM0Zoa6yXSkH8QUH5G3nsGi6APj91gFz1zw3C7hCTrxB9VaV3gX1sp_0IITU0e8yd5T4W_nBGJWRf0NRLCB6enRbD_K24_pAiOoZjtwjOhItzKOutwq8G_75o5ioNLJVqW6bli30EKwgtE4/s2349/IMG_6066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="2349" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholgrQgiSMxBYtzn1Y49Co5JuCcsU7ORKQhFgjyeBdC2dlYM0Zoa6yXSkH8QUH5G3nsGi6APj91gFz1zw3C7hCTrxB9VaV3gX1sp_0IITU0e8yd5T4W_nBGJWRf0NRLCB6enRbD_K24_pAiOoZjtwjOhItzKOutwq8G_75o5ioNLJVqW6bli30EKwgtE4/s320/IMG_6066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>My Googling got me as far as linking the Nyc part to the Greek word for night but otherwise I was left with my fantasy that Nycteolene might be some sort of oil or paraffin which could power a portable moth trap out in the wilds. So many thanks to Tim Arnold, one of the experts mentioned above, who kindly commented thus:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrAds6YfZO760ZbSv2cyVoNwgLaZplsCB7FyRWKEsnQrWom1KsU5-x4cEwblRcbUnAivTgeefCmyb0Ndom8W6fIRi8EcD7NmcYEJpUyGsycCXFlNY4hhOJnICCFGd7zj2HkA_v1cUEf-AwxKVLDiqZdmoe6yX4wqSpnTBCCqTku-8e2FABZnr51we98Q/s1488/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-19%20at%2017.33.42.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1488" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrAds6YfZO760ZbSv2cyVoNwgLaZplsCB7FyRWKEsnQrWom1KsU5-x4cEwblRcbUnAivTgeefCmyb0Ndom8W6fIRi8EcD7NmcYEJpUyGsycCXFlNY4hhOJnICCFGd7zj2HkA_v1cUEf-AwxKVLDiqZdmoe6yX4wqSpnTBCCqTku-8e2FABZnr51we98Q/w400-h265/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-19%20at%2017.33.42.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A very big thank you for this solution to my puzzle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Oak Nycteoline is classed as only locally common but is well-distributed and tends to emerge from winter hibernation at this time of the year. It varies a lot, as you can see from its entry below in the <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/field-guide-to-the-moths-of-great-britain-and-ireland-9781472964519/">Moth Bible</a>. I was lucky to get one of the more obviously ID-able forms, <i>lychenoides</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrm-zeB5EyK4ctDlqZkmsss8m_eOyEXsUpsiSs2AV8yjVmRJu1c8iwyhiINJTmCR9lwKNDLVSlVgr8c5ZivltmL1XIVGMMY4i4dVyr86g4KTWbvBuXGI5NvpRATFLPicoLkFg5Jp1gy3UpRwEg4c5fjSmB8qd0SKP1vBT5hYbg_XtMFN3kITLF6K087W4/s3351/IMG_6065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="3351" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrm-zeB5EyK4ctDlqZkmsss8m_eOyEXsUpsiSs2AV8yjVmRJu1c8iwyhiINJTmCR9lwKNDLVSlVgr8c5ZivltmL1XIVGMMY4i4dVyr86g4KTWbvBuXGI5NvpRATFLPicoLkFg5Jp1gy3UpRwEg4c5fjSmB8qd0SKP1vBT5hYbg_XtMFN3kITLF6K087W4/w400-h170/IMG_6065.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for my other visitors, here's a selection, all familiar arrivals from late Winters and early Springs in years gone by: Dotted Border, slightly different Dotted Border, Pale Brindled Beauty, Dark Chestnut (I think), Common Quaker, Hebrew Character, Spring Usher (great name!), March Moth and a second, rather different Common Quaker. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_veT8Z_ef4qQt1T6ANZZKSWhxAtZSkirt8F0XycfZ5kVlpjOqwYUq__KVK23EBe1m7AjqdgnCl5GhlkMU1xiUCPRQ5JiYI4XxfA0NminnDpRbQU7Q9MStkZbd9F9-BjDKCWqPHoHG5gxHoS-xz9zzUkL5NTffVj3IKJclQs8eN_GY53w0ILE5nwghxU/s2048/244A3251-06C4-4445-B201-18DFFDA067CB%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_veT8Z_ef4qQt1T6ANZZKSWhxAtZSkirt8F0XycfZ5kVlpjOqwYUq__KVK23EBe1m7AjqdgnCl5GhlkMU1xiUCPRQ5JiYI4XxfA0NminnDpRbQU7Q9MStkZbd9F9-BjDKCWqPHoHG5gxHoS-xz9zzUkL5NTffVj3IKJclQs8eN_GY53w0ILE5nwghxU/w400-h400/244A3251-06C4-4445-B201-18DFFDA067CB%202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Altogether, a very rewarding night.</div>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-66657652425566280322023-12-23T08:35:00.000+00:002023-12-23T08:35:15.008+00:00Merry Christmas from - and to - the Moths<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_hEffYvAb9pVH3L82XqH-DzvikCL-F4wePNLI4K_lWPCWPShcmT3KwZlXjx8WtaXY6CSkIr8a_6cOmGplOVRqRZCf7JbNt6kc4jzOpUT2_MPxb5-UzqzXUIjZU736xrFin3INVzq3kz-CpcJ4jf3ElThdxdE_2dtG-TO0ZBSl9aSpVnaj4r2AhZw1gI/s4032/IMG_3904.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_hEffYvAb9pVH3L82XqH-DzvikCL-F4wePNLI4K_lWPCWPShcmT3KwZlXjx8WtaXY6CSkIr8a_6cOmGplOVRqRZCf7JbNt6kc4jzOpUT2_MPxb5-UzqzXUIjZU736xrFin3INVzq3kz-CpcJ4jf3ElThdxdE_2dtG-TO0ZBSl9aSpVnaj4r2AhZw1gI/w300-h400/IMG_3904.JPG" width="300" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Here's an exciting game of Spot the Moth for what is probably going to be my final post for 2024, though - who knows - a quiet and not-too-cold spell before the New Year may persuade me to plug in one last time. Anyway, the solitary resident of the eggboxes two nights ago was an attractive and good-condition Angle Shades. Can you spot it, above? Hours of fun, or half a minute at least.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vWV0wTxCxtttWDVi4c0y1j7HCpByy_QhJxA9GcZXhVbJb5ZaEaPq9LZ9Sg47p_PcWIOP_5EEt-0FdP7JYT-9M8IlzwqItwexSwbrHt7R5YzWxrHocPi32RiOzK1d8AJ3C-7f0PBMJEvkPIegbPnZib2HU1M6Gz7gOq7_TeIXeEshwmbu-lsdcfnQF-I/s4032/IMG_3896.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vWV0wTxCxtttWDVi4c0y1j7HCpByy_QhJxA9GcZXhVbJb5ZaEaPq9LZ9Sg47p_PcWIOP_5EEt-0FdP7JYT-9M8IlzwqItwexSwbrHt7R5YzWxrHocPi32RiOzK1d8AJ3C-7f0PBMJEvkPIegbPnZib2HU1M6Gz7gOq7_TeIXeEshwmbu-lsdcfnQF-I/w300-h400/IMG_3896.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here it is from closer too, along with its protective Santa. The behaviour of trapped moths always interests me; many of the smaller ones flutter off as soon as they can and I have missed hundreds over the years which scarper as soon as I lift out the bulb and take the transparent cowl off the bowl. But the pudgier ones are incredibly comatose, particularly on cooler mornings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINKyovuxPS9wvdPCcbFz7hnoHfzdChxQk9wlfTFfJ_kdwBswoLAUQuMzV-FMb5lem6_ZsiWVyK8fyzGGvYs8nwREm0lP-wUtrse5R8xboL_hhqvRYT6KE4YUoHyFc6WkGLkKLw_UJa4imszagDgg7HSm8G6u2urknesJXkB-hG3QWxxKl6GMWkUrOS9g/s3024/IMG_3886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3024" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINKyovuxPS9wvdPCcbFz7hnoHfzdChxQk9wlfTFfJ_kdwBswoLAUQuMzV-FMb5lem6_ZsiWVyK8fyzGGvYs8nwREm0lP-wUtrse5R8xboL_hhqvRYT6KE4YUoHyFc6WkGLkKLw_UJa4imszagDgg7HSm8G6u2urknesJXkB-hG3QWxxKl6GMWkUrOS9g/w400-h297/IMG_3886.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That was the case with this Angle Shades which was originally slumbering as shown above. It woke up a little during my festive transfer and crawled the entire length of Santa but once comfortable, it settled in on the garland and was unfazed by quite strong gusts of nippy wind. It was still there at 4.30pm, unmoved, when we went to meet a train but when we got back at 5.15pm, it had taken wing. The effect of the dark, I presume.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcN3kyYs2HPV1M4PSKVJ3j3Vp_-zoEPoNVluE1QVxk6Mzojq8X4neuyW1lZaMtZj-J0UteJnk0hNA-uD7_GSfCH7a_gHpHSgpqsDqFeOdXzyqwapPLuC-F8kQDydsqpViCwBb6NO2Wyy5iREJl9QM5m3LrFYHYJC1zFi3Fl5F5Kh8UPxTq7BbL0B3z0w/s3103/IMG_3501.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3103" data-original-width="3019" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcN3kyYs2HPV1M4PSKVJ3j3Vp_-zoEPoNVluE1QVxk6Mzojq8X4neuyW1lZaMtZj-J0UteJnk0hNA-uD7_GSfCH7a_gHpHSgpqsDqFeOdXzyqwapPLuC-F8kQDydsqpViCwBb6NO2Wyy5iREJl9QM5m3LrFYHYJC1zFi3Fl5F5Kh8UPxTq7BbL0B3z0w/w389-h400/IMG_3501.JPG" width="389" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have not posted since before the birthday of my entomological granddaughter two weeks ago, when the moths provided a terrific display. Traditionally, they have been outstanding at recognising these significant dates. There were more than 20 December Moths in the trap and I ceremoniously exhibited quite a few of them to her on this cushion whose bright colouring lifts the rather solemn - although beautiful - livery of the moths. You can see some of them below as they were in the trap, and I've added a few close-ups to show their excellent antennae - all are males.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2im-mDh8fm9Fk5Dq3u_Y_oAefy6Yp-m1YnyX5SUYV_erWxFdbL_FYkiarVBW1U7jmZ6wuqrnEXJZtuQx6pRsKRPpemStZLJCVSDWR3YU0e-Ys2frEWlxVpuy0u7QXllsU6oihS7c79BvPHH-BQFuaaHY2pO8h4h0_2EULaobDHJFUIFxj5VVQDn458o/s4032/IMG_3496.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2im-mDh8fm9Fk5Dq3u_Y_oAefy6Yp-m1YnyX5SUYV_erWxFdbL_FYkiarVBW1U7jmZ6wuqrnEXJZtuQx6pRsKRPpemStZLJCVSDWR3YU0e-Ys2frEWlxVpuy0u7QXllsU6oihS7c79BvPHH-BQFuaaHY2pO8h4h0_2EULaobDHJFUIFxj5VVQDn458o/w400-h300/IMG_3496.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkI-K1n__AQvSRuq63SK3Hn4aKGajkZ90JBUMtpYItDbP7HCLxD9XapZH0iBjrooVF7DazGtua35IrbTFoKFNDF5xE4EhckIP34F1VfCzzbo4ixrEfGsoHCDdIlnpBhGfLRvoQcpY4t7vFXED-f4tzaZiRE7VdcoocPyMY_vjOfSXZZHnxBxgyQPu6Rs/s2824/IMG_3493.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2430" data-original-width="2824" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkI-K1n__AQvSRuq63SK3Hn4aKGajkZ90JBUMtpYItDbP7HCLxD9XapZH0iBjrooVF7DazGtua35IrbTFoKFNDF5xE4EhckIP34F1VfCzzbo4ixrEfGsoHCDdIlnpBhGfLRvoQcpY4t7vFXED-f4tzaZiRE7VdcoocPyMY_vjOfSXZZHnxBxgyQPu6Rs/w400-h344/IMG_3493.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAWmW0GR1cKKgFQonRPqNdUVU3honMJF0ZjXUtxFbrump56F-8Uglktp9XqO_4hnEpriwCfkfU43MSQP74vBSjcA92PCiXvmd3IlJE86eKsycda2dvwh_Llu-hN6RBb5DEy4bY2heUVsnOZUxikL3btc1mC4PmLvoNM0d9wIllaDyw6MqVUz6wddUsoY/s2762/IMG_3479.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2303" data-original-width="2762" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAWmW0GR1cKKgFQonRPqNdUVU3honMJF0ZjXUtxFbrump56F-8Uglktp9XqO_4hnEpriwCfkfU43MSQP74vBSjcA92PCiXvmd3IlJE86eKsycda2dvwh_Llu-hN6RBb5DEy4bY2heUVsnOZUxikL3btc1mC4PmLvoNM0d9wIllaDyw6MqVUz6wddUsoY/w400-h334/IMG_3479.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtro8sveGrWK42I66AKtsGZfXt2EoNm6ThHs8dCy8nSMbA72q2k8xabrccQzMYVPIi6brMiM1RLddHFTjO12KSbkU9EGXbHHAbjGBGzIXfwPXr-yiGfVxB6NdgP_X_zQ2lzbhQGjSYIHg69rzlDQ6gD_PgtWw6-L97tGHmcRMlmRdc7LJezB7UDIzlbI/s2531/IMG_3476.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2531" data-original-width="2376" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtro8sveGrWK42I66AKtsGZfXt2EoNm6ThHs8dCy8nSMbA72q2k8xabrccQzMYVPIi6brMiM1RLddHFTjO12KSbkU9EGXbHHAbjGBGzIXfwPXr-yiGfVxB6NdgP_X_zQ2lzbhQGjSYIHg69rzlDQ6gD_PgtWw6-L97tGHmcRMlmRdc7LJezB7UDIzlbI/w375-h400/IMG_3476.JPG" width="375" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZLS1E-Oucnf-lQvmTpxKtm_vt9SxSWqz2O9Q0Rh-qKDJUSs6yw80WdExN_QW25v92FAVLR0eKRzYV4knBgNy_0FMFUTqBiNxiyihea1lE-MjlpXP1c2BvO6XlG7BSsvr86eswr-WWU3G2RsZZP1_AHI3OOR-zFUlkqvY-ZhClHRCpHSG45IhTVMQsDU/s2466/IMG_3473.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2466" data-original-width="2346" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZLS1E-Oucnf-lQvmTpxKtm_vt9SxSWqz2O9Q0Rh-qKDJUSs6yw80WdExN_QW25v92FAVLR0eKRzYV4knBgNy_0FMFUTqBiNxiyihea1lE-MjlpXP1c2BvO6XlG7BSsvr86eswr-WWU3G2RsZZP1_AHI3OOR-zFUlkqvY-ZhClHRCpHSG45IhTVMQsDU/w380-h400/IMG_3473.JPG" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I have kept the really exciting news until last. For her birthday - only her tenth - the said goddaughter received...a MOTH TRAP! It is quite small and has a softer actinic bulb than my great lighthouse, but she should do well with it. So when this trapper moves on to the land of eternal moth bliss, he will have a successor. Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aUj_wu5jKD47mBfVSqOGMB3pFx8TIEBdYDXwrwBfCDWfqwUnyrakFBaUpKg5iYd8Ql9PaP6UHLRirliRq5GwratQbY6K1ZBDJsnABrmeZIcl0Zssf5WrWPA1owePr07uKVgKvGiTOTibUP5HtxG28qR-0RPH0vu9Z3Y2THzZH4soKJ161mogKwrIgRA/s4032/IMG_3620.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aUj_wu5jKD47mBfVSqOGMB3pFx8TIEBdYDXwrwBfCDWfqwUnyrakFBaUpKg5iYd8Ql9PaP6UHLRirliRq5GwratQbY6K1ZBDJsnABrmeZIcl0Zssf5WrWPA1owePr07uKVgKvGiTOTibUP5HtxG28qR-0RPH0vu9Z3Y2THzZH4soKJ161mogKwrIgRA/w300-h400/IMG_3620.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-38305490800851227182023-11-19T17:48:00.003+00:002023-11-21T15:37:27.393+00:00Autumn colours<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwai-7aYx9KhyphenhyphenAKHmt8Q7Y3sqlkUXektXVTciMHFGQCNIJr_uo_pmT68pJFAlx3WZmgsqNGCZHiC1dNeRW-4JEJbR_NUCYWgiu4bay_N7W0T-p1WsVnjTfAvm3E9Ah3HRjTzpSLh004WLOU0mtyXcfh938G79J-UBLBfCQTlLMuv3nt8W_OvFiPYu6_IM/s3419/IMG_2824.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2779" data-original-width="3419" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwai-7aYx9KhyphenhyphenAKHmt8Q7Y3sqlkUXektXVTciMHFGQCNIJr_uo_pmT68pJFAlx3WZmgsqNGCZHiC1dNeRW-4JEJbR_NUCYWgiu4bay_N7W0T-p1WsVnjTfAvm3E9Ah3HRjTzpSLh004WLOU0mtyXcfh938G79J-UBLBfCQTlLMuv3nt8W_OvFiPYu6_IM/s320/IMG_2824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Two Feathered Thorns came last night and you could be forgiven for thinking on first glance that they might be different species of moth. The yellowy, softly-shadowed one above is unlike any other I have had in the trap before. The one below is the usual form.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfG1wWVfMgJSaGSINSLTxhiPrN25AKQ4nI6AKg6-5QqbFPDQvdHQa7yVltGv9ihskpSSLp7xsEX2027wZsqKnYcgGXB35LoSVPFXPUig4bOQKua_JAFOu3x-0mdmDlNwuDXgEd4bCmFJCk3bs6NurZg5uXgszFjAKYqo54EGohx-sNNYlwiWmZZk1Chf4/s4032/IMG_2825.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfG1wWVfMgJSaGSINSLTxhiPrN25AKQ4nI6AKg6-5QqbFPDQvdHQa7yVltGv9ihskpSSLp7xsEX2027wZsqKnYcgGXB35LoSVPFXPUig4bOQKua_JAFOu3x-0mdmDlNwuDXgEd4bCmFJCk3bs6NurZg5uXgszFjAKYqo54EGohx-sNNYlwiWmZZk1Chf4/s320/IMG_2825.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Both are males with their excellent antennae. Their solitary companion in the trap was a dozy Sprawler - like the Feathered Thorns, the possessor of a nice warm, furry collar on its thorax.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7j7jD0ZWYKT8mCnESfFJzK1eIi2qjaiJCPEYKj44QI3SyiNWuicu6K4tkL7XebY0Q583DLXBxzHd3LSYwSrLXGdVXF7yRzk5RPcaNS1SIKLkdgWtVXsGOrwjE95uwOp3tr8P8osx5nJWcsmQGJkbCY7nNcEC2VF2AsBuqlRSJp3HVmdnn7wFqrzr1XUA/s2916/IMG_2829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="2916" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7j7jD0ZWYKT8mCnESfFJzK1eIi2qjaiJCPEYKj44QI3SyiNWuicu6K4tkL7XebY0Q583DLXBxzHd3LSYwSrLXGdVXF7yRzk5RPcaNS1SIKLkdgWtVXsGOrwjE95uwOp3tr8P8osx5nJWcsmQGJkbCY7nNcEC2VF2AsBuqlRSJp3HVmdnn7wFqrzr1XUA/s320/IMG_2829.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As is my habit if we're asked out, I took these moths to some friends who had kindly invited us for lunch. The moths behaved well after a little initial panic and settled down on a window to admire the view. We had such a nice time that I completely forgot about them and it was left to our host to chase us down the street with the moths in our granddaughter's collecting box. Thank goodness. I didn't need the moths but would have got into trouble if I'd lost the box.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We liberated the moths on the spot and they flew vigorously away in the dusk. Barring interception by bats or birds, they have started a new life - and perhaps new families - seven miles south of here.</div>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-36363797275962875632023-11-08T14:21:00.000+00:002023-11-08T14:21:00.804+00:00Whiskery gents<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReCbYcN9VIEWLXwad8nrMZFKSnGmgmr5o8BQ1LHbFFTHKxgaLifsVxAmTBxBYYGXTyC36x3DUFLrB_d7bXB_m11ufv-DKl9-j0npUEQbvvjVwWvjd6CoTMGcpZBU00kTbCE2aMST8GHPcV3pPM0BrN35IHKIZIYMs5gmkFeOn1hmtnuEAc89927juiSI/s3761/IMG_2421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3761" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReCbYcN9VIEWLXwad8nrMZFKSnGmgmr5o8BQ1LHbFFTHKxgaLifsVxAmTBxBYYGXTyC36x3DUFLrB_d7bXB_m11ufv-DKl9-j0npUEQbvvjVwWvjd6CoTMGcpZBU00kTbCE2aMST8GHPcV3pPM0BrN35IHKIZIYMs5gmkFeOn1hmtnuEAc89927juiSI/w321-h400/IMG_2421.JPG" width="321" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As happened last year, I find myself making the mistake of thinking that the season is over and then being surprised new arrivals. I put the trap out rather absent-mindedly on Monday night, not expecting anything much, but the morning brought this very welcome bunch of Sprawlers. The species is named after a curious reflex of its caterpillar when threatened but it always puts me in mind of a John Buchan style gathering of gents in a club, as below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qKBT6zMsCWWAxJdJe_8UAQGJbz9DgYrbzr8Lz04CvWulnifgbgbw7csocUAvg-au-TSHXSLOtFFUgMyg_6-AQGDpy0chp_G2XSxZu-6tK0GEL2j765Gc3vLbBqqkB0It8WRRriKBZKyVSV_y7d2OilOkoJX0xSEAlaEBz-mac3jTyJWfcJ4_QXyqf1I/s702/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-08%20at%2014.15.25.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="570" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qKBT6zMsCWWAxJdJe_8UAQGJbz9DgYrbzr8Lz04CvWulnifgbgbw7csocUAvg-au-TSHXSLOtFFUgMyg_6-AQGDpy0chp_G2XSxZu-6tK0GEL2j765Gc3vLbBqqkB0It8WRRriKBZKyVSV_y7d2OilOkoJX0xSEAlaEBz-mac3jTyJWfcJ4_QXyqf1I/w325-h400/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-08%20at%2014.15.25.png" width="325" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's partly the name, which conjures up Harry Enfield's incoherent old buffer in his armchair, and partly the tweedy outfit of the moth. Mind you, the beads of dew on the lower left one in my first photograph obscured the pattern so much at first sight, that I thought that I was dealing with something else altogether. Here is how it looked, below. It must have been deathly cold.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTqX6CfYAaSCUn-VhY-7wAZDs_X6DF2C6buqF-aqbTHIEh-S0jim5Ub1VBFqb_Zsk-un1xBw1UzCIZRiv8JPmQvw8ZO2rD7uKP1JwHg7mPSonpmwP93nRxDtvKH5jc8cq7PC5E_2p_lsdpI5eeZ7_68APq7XHnbXqt23eGtlHNi6rPNT_xndRtNL-jPQ/s4032/IMG_2418.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTqX6CfYAaSCUn-VhY-7wAZDs_X6DF2C6buqF-aqbTHIEh-S0jim5Ub1VBFqb_Zsk-un1xBw1UzCIZRiv8JPmQvw8ZO2rD7uKP1JwHg7mPSonpmwP93nRxDtvKH5jc8cq7PC5E_2p_lsdpI5eeZ7_68APq7XHnbXqt23eGtlHNi6rPNT_xndRtNL-jPQ/w300-h400/IMG_2418.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two of the other three Sprawlers were in the eggboxes while the third had a perch on the bulbholder, below. Another new species for this year was the Winter Moth or rather two of them and the guest list was completed by a Feathered Thorn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoohskBoeXrDGWmkczwG0lUesdzehrcZJcz8whDWRgeQkj_mC3qNpJjt3VDDIwBD-2WGrbm68lYOHV6xdmJzj5fxMBUKcinj107L86niSto968skpKg31dYOs3fYq2KKgJchCzZFM92GZi3zPP-1pjkrZNPT82kvp4v-6h04dUXa7Day939amSL2GQJ0/s4032/IMG_2410.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoohskBoeXrDGWmkczwG0lUesdzehrcZJcz8whDWRgeQkj_mC3qNpJjt3VDDIwBD-2WGrbm68lYOHV6xdmJzj5fxMBUKcinj107L86niSto968skpKg31dYOs3fYq2KKgJchCzZFM92GZi3zPP-1pjkrZNPT82kvp4v-6h04dUXa7Day939amSL2GQJ0/w300-h400/IMG_2410.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLLsX6jaQjsJcqkc6RbrtczCTi6HVCfOF9vluT24xUbPkemOC1IGcnxdlh6__MkJ4A73_ak6JSwQypbYNxeEgEG_Tl7ZHwAjuDrgxFsWiBrhgDv8ADUg39BwmKdSga3sPdNWO_IrHF43VU-jI-G_wn52S7QXjR-3zsMXUlzQfJ5vDqCq0-D2pPGtIAo4/s4032/IMG_2411.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLLsX6jaQjsJcqkc6RbrtczCTi6HVCfOF9vluT24xUbPkemOC1IGcnxdlh6__MkJ4A73_ak6JSwQypbYNxeEgEG_Tl7ZHwAjuDrgxFsWiBrhgDv8ADUg39BwmKdSga3sPdNWO_IrHF43VU-jI-G_wn52S7QXjR-3zsMXUlzQfJ5vDqCq0-D2pPGtIAo4/w300-h400/IMG_2411.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9x3U0h9xTBSF_ZYOyrtdROwvFZo4CZdiNmchyphenhypheny_NtuoPNSFRrUkDnJERNcRjBfILDMPSq7BAchBJ9mSokqXnhCD88QaFCxXWD9QHlcp2UU3Eccrlh5cxk-Oi-SA3uSvJ-4MFJv-9nzku_HdM48Xpkyr_wXlygq9tgxWF6SxQPO7d7W1g2eqoYzOrJy90/s4032/IMG_2413.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9x3U0h9xTBSF_ZYOyrtdROwvFZo4CZdiNmchyphenhypheny_NtuoPNSFRrUkDnJERNcRjBfILDMPSq7BAchBJ9mSokqXnhCD88QaFCxXWD9QHlcp2UU3Eccrlh5cxk-Oi-SA3uSvJ-4MFJv-9nzku_HdM48Xpkyr_wXlygq9tgxWF6SxQPO7d7W1g2eqoYzOrJy90/w400-h300/IMG_2413.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b_K8CqC78frSkhybDFNV_SlOo76qIuslmc90VCGce7-PnjjCBNcc57pY1ZzyAk_xQi40NNESM0ZTgp1I1xG0pzW_YdUwFhJC3_ttjvjiPjT6SzYBwUYFFPAzg1uZFfOuRmcEhLx1kjL51n6_l-3tcGg_PXyXVGqJ48DifLbeCxGlC7ViYtH0tyDuE18/s4032/IMG_2417.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b_K8CqC78frSkhybDFNV_SlOo76qIuslmc90VCGce7-PnjjCBNcc57pY1ZzyAk_xQi40NNESM0ZTgp1I1xG0pzW_YdUwFhJC3_ttjvjiPjT6SzYBwUYFFPAzg1uZFfOuRmcEhLx1kjL51n6_l-3tcGg_PXyXVGqJ48DifLbeCxGlC7ViYtH0tyDuE18/w300-h400/IMG_2417.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-61780425382576499392023-11-05T17:29:00.002+00:002023-11-05T17:29:17.026+00:00Previous Pasha<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbQjkqqQ2Q-xaxpHxy4rU0CKB9LVLNmrLTHd3-BcFZP2t5038Sl4tUcj034pmvDFHjPzc-xZAoy3pt_7uBN2JsugkQWE63m0c4mQqJrX4V71aQ-LXMMsKVy0MQsQEg9esyMKJb6KcAXYqtTPiyYetjPXcUyVBGTa4YQGJrnycUrRf3zfhc3qxcz_VESc/s1987/Pasha%20Croatia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="1987" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbQjkqqQ2Q-xaxpHxy4rU0CKB9LVLNmrLTHd3-BcFZP2t5038Sl4tUcj034pmvDFHjPzc-xZAoy3pt_7uBN2JsugkQWE63m0c4mQqJrX4V71aQ-LXMMsKVy0MQsQEg9esyMKJb6KcAXYqtTPiyYetjPXcUyVBGTa4YQGJrnycUrRf3zfhc3qxcz_VESc/w400-h284/Pasha%20Croatia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As an epilogue to my last post, I thought that I should show you a photo of the only other time that I have seen a Two-tailed Pasha, on the serpentine island of Meneghello near Hvar in Croatia some 20 years ago. Unlike the hill-topper in Provence, it was swooping about on a beach and took cover in a fissure in the rocks - there is scarcely any sand in that part of the world. I managed to get the photo above but then it was off, and it did not come back.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aKCAO4EgSaK5dkTgPjKASHgD_Z_HMUahh8LzGGv2LNOeWss6pwpcQYzbilHixRGQ9Y_jaoOMhIpDIuN1HBDU2Lixj6sVeqMwUfjDcET4aVaXZ7xvZfSPc9zwLVerZTtZRMTIg5C8Fr3s9fKi85L3aDreqtaunrsLgH5QlG_43n6txDCGs5UZtvpTLBM/s4032/IMG_1901%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aKCAO4EgSaK5dkTgPjKASHgD_Z_HMUahh8LzGGv2LNOeWss6pwpcQYzbilHixRGQ9Y_jaoOMhIpDIuN1HBDU2Lixj6sVeqMwUfjDcET4aVaXZ7xvZfSPc9zwLVerZTtZRMTIg5C8Fr3s9fKi85L3aDreqtaunrsLgH5QlG_43n6txDCGs5UZtvpTLBM/w300-h400/IMG_1901%202.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>I overlooked a discovery in France as well, a very familiar caterpillar which Penny saw scuttling across a forest path on our way back from inspecting an ancient 'rucher' or apiary, surrounded by warnings that bees can sting. I've already featured quite a few of these larva thanks to my granddaughter's excellence at spotting and breeding them - the Pale Tussock, or 'hop dog' known and often cursed by Kentish hop-pickers who reacted to the mild toxins on its hairs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0waZstiZHDlp3H9oZ_rXarQZ83xp4dGy3gmJti3AJIl6UicLfHL0w-45eOEsIJ06DifcC3iFhVt8Jj1gw56qPkfXXh2hp98os9FRCIXRMGD3PNAlzyXhs7sNss7bjbCghK9WjunWkmYsBx3A7IuH_FChptaAqqopHy60wCOhLpzrdRDXQkDQ-DZ9RpM/s4032/IMG_1892.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0waZstiZHDlp3H9oZ_rXarQZ83xp4dGy3gmJti3AJIl6UicLfHL0w-45eOEsIJ06DifcC3iFhVt8Jj1gw56qPkfXXh2hp98os9FRCIXRMGD3PNAlzyXhs7sNss7bjbCghK9WjunWkmYsBx3A7IuH_FChptaAqqopHy60wCOhLpzrdRDXQkDQ-DZ9RpM/w300-h400/IMG_1892.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>The beehives in hollowed out cork oak were fascinating. Known about for years in documents, they date back to the 17th century but were only rediscovered and restored in 2006. New hives were installed and now house more than 5000 Provence black bees. The forests of sweet chestnut, cork oak and arbutus - the last the larval foodplant of the Two-tailed Pasha as I mentioned in my last post - suit them well and their honey is most flavoursome.</span></div><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5vLD5Hmvfe_DW4ZOIRX0eNrnMRA4n9d5oGAV9WkgyBROQiycmGkZIV4x2a5aREEK0YQzWEBFf-MbbDgx9H8z6t69HGMCn_QGVmD4zzN9eh-dtwc5GWk0gX0FM93bhV0rrOjw-Dm51Lw1Pms2SMwxL7l-ED7-yXyDJGYop3tPPI85xLQQvoPN146-E1I/s4032/IMG_1893.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5vLD5Hmvfe_DW4ZOIRX0eNrnMRA4n9d5oGAV9WkgyBROQiycmGkZIV4x2a5aREEK0YQzWEBFf-MbbDgx9H8z6t69HGMCn_QGVmD4zzN9eh-dtwc5GWk0gX0FM93bhV0rrOjw-Dm51Lw1Pms2SMwxL7l-ED7-yXyDJGYop3tPPI85xLQQvoPN146-E1I/w300-h400/IMG_1893.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back here, I put out the trap last night in spite of the chilly weather - maybe warmed as well as illuminated by Guy Fawkes displays. I'm glad I did. My first December Moth of the year arrived in its smart fur coat, along with two Feathered Thorns. Here's the December Moth:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWh-NcSSr1hH2lBdNO5hxgPS71IJUhkEldMyHKlz9TzY0glQUmCOlxdA7GAmqYgFZLVSqPvGwNrNl2Jm287E2IVAgPv2IbFg3egK-fAxxmuC3mcLTvZczji6ZVXU3j_am7FfXKPPsjafT5C9m6isQe1BGEixPzfktdo54NpoB-ZBe1c9Ee9vR9KAnUwA/s4032/IMG_2326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWh-NcSSr1hH2lBdNO5hxgPS71IJUhkEldMyHKlz9TzY0glQUmCOlxdA7GAmqYgFZLVSqPvGwNrNl2Jm287E2IVAgPv2IbFg3egK-fAxxmuC3mcLTvZczji6ZVXU3j_am7FfXKPPsjafT5C9m6isQe1BGEixPzfktdo54NpoB-ZBe1c9Ee9vR9KAnUwA/w300-h400/IMG_2326.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Es6tEcFMC5lDkzxefn2BgENgT0r60f7yJk7Jiz8yWCtCjUu7P6b58MPTa5RR51tMPIBA2tVLhrnLesdynIKdjgAmdpH8SSCnTQWfKUA0Cubf_C7TsMj9R78i1D1pRN7BqfMimo6X5w3fzh47Ti6NXxRVsxcwRb30YFZ2t6hQ5o3MTYZrYUDbnKPGwYc/s4032/IMG_2328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Es6tEcFMC5lDkzxefn2BgENgT0r60f7yJk7Jiz8yWCtCjUu7P6b58MPTa5RR51tMPIBA2tVLhrnLesdynIKdjgAmdpH8SSCnTQWfKUA0Cubf_C7TsMj9R78i1D1pRN7BqfMimo6X5w3fzh47Ti6NXxRVsxcwRb30YFZ2t6hQ5o3MTYZrYUDbnKPGwYc/w400-h300/IMG_2328.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I moved it to our beech hedge for the Autumn colours, to remind me how early it has come - in terms of its name. Last year I did not record one until December had begun, although I was trapping very intermittently, And now here are the Feathered Thorns, one on the cowl and the other in an eggbox.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEuwSgeR9WAl5_OqgTR6nD5QHejM_4mzJtJ8thaq7H3m5sC8pk1tsQzEAlKQ4vkBX9W37gvEGtc7A1W7EG5vxlbjaa3B0OGKrgc59ym2BaNubApdJCvjahlSR20KIAN2jM9UNNkXmyzJfX_GywbrtO-M5L5NGKy8mLFcg7I6xPKjdts9SgdY1CJ6XTjc/s4032/IMG_2323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEuwSgeR9WAl5_OqgTR6nD5QHejM_4mzJtJ8thaq7H3m5sC8pk1tsQzEAlKQ4vkBX9W37gvEGtc7A1W7EG5vxlbjaa3B0OGKrgc59ym2BaNubApdJCvjahlSR20KIAN2jM9UNNkXmyzJfX_GywbrtO-M5L5NGKy8mLFcg7I6xPKjdts9SgdY1CJ6XTjc/w300-h400/IMG_2323.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuu8HYI9c60A1cKaASJRF9fI2x_-aSmzge7jbALof1-DF7CdsRMN0c9lVdLQhqdKQfUQk7-MXI72Y6aL-6CDgFjbmePy_fntW-lLuPYNzeNwFjS5wTJNjwdx2a6qVmyrjQ3GE31Ng7vtSRoad2xx_ipyjr_ZVQ3c4QCBJLAQ3yQwSK8Yxj4XJDrWOs48/s4032/IMG_2324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuu8HYI9c60A1cKaASJRF9fI2x_-aSmzge7jbALof1-DF7CdsRMN0c9lVdLQhqdKQfUQk7-MXI72Y6aL-6CDgFjbmePy_fntW-lLuPYNzeNwFjS5wTJNjwdx2a6qVmyrjQ3GE31Ng7vtSRoad2xx_ipyjr_ZVQ3c4QCBJLAQ3yQwSK8Yxj4XJDrWOs48/w300-h400/IMG_2324.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, one a wall beside the light, I found this, below, which I think is a Satellite but I am studying further.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPW8LNfhfEIGVFm0fzsyfk8uUu5lr-lzP6wY_GyGCA4BK9rtCOKgVHzx2k8oThYZ4_QejBXkOQbszNa7AKJyImrGz61dk-zvp7NS_Y6n9X5-EvpmX1BtmIiAFsg7_Bz6crArztet3nzZD7oSZJSnyrhLQt3fShFOq3pwQl7LPdiFUz1yR2XVLZG2QCOk/s4032/IMG_2322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPW8LNfhfEIGVFm0fzsyfk8uUu5lr-lzP6wY_GyGCA4BK9rtCOKgVHzx2k8oThYZ4_QejBXkOQbszNa7AKJyImrGz61dk-zvp7NS_Y6n9X5-EvpmX1BtmIiAFsg7_Bz6crArztet3nzZD7oSZJSnyrhLQt3fShFOq3pwQl7LPdiFUz1yR2XVLZG2QCOk/w300-h400/IMG_2322.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, and a little non-moth too:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhr7wgAWg0j72M0s20cTTNcB0nCCGUL39ktqjI8H6x2nKz7NecWSLSeFH4Fj8cSQLqScwQprCBFVOIjty9bBluJnzXIZ373Xd2Ig9c0ECmo-Ghct3Kwf6aUgLSE4aK_FSexaUQvuSLXqZX_yIoFwvl-UWuv1ODG93TWYvsfe-9NbsDuu-J4L2H6Pvr8WY/s4032/IMG_2320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhr7wgAWg0j72M0s20cTTNcB0nCCGUL39ktqjI8H6x2nKz7NecWSLSeFH4Fj8cSQLqScwQprCBFVOIjty9bBluJnzXIZ373Xd2Ig9c0ECmo-Ghct3Kwf6aUgLSE4aK_FSexaUQvuSLXqZX_yIoFwvl-UWuv1ODG93TWYvsfe-9NbsDuu-J4L2H6Pvr8WY/w300-h400/IMG_2320.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p>MartinWainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383027708524885786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-64774511257588181052023-10-30T18:25:00.000+00:002023-10-30T18:25:11.702+00:00This year's treat<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh14o2F-StUYgAVN3arcDV3nTto35WstcaJocfD7oTQ2HGmQv-cOx6dG1-1MRm_URDU7m_tPZcS7xdVOjJwraL0GwelNGbKtuj6eed88epxlRWcbVOBYzd3MUT8pS0s2HXvIxhO5rOKh-L-_QzzQqcSf7mqvgLTy7LvJ-AradIAWqw9ZJoYFhxJTakKc/s3844/IMG_2027.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3844" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh14o2F-StUYgAVN3arcDV3nTto35WstcaJocfD7oTQ2HGmQv-cOx6dG1-1MRm_URDU7m_tPZcS7xdVOjJwraL0GwelNGbKtuj6eed88epxlRWcbVOBYzd3MUT8pS0s2HXvIxhO5rOKh-L-_QzzQqcSf7mqvgLTy7LvJ-AradIAWqw9ZJoYFhxJTakKc/w400-h315/IMG_2027.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: start;">For almost all of the 20 years that I have run a moth trap, and indeed going back very much further to my schooldays' butterfly collecting, I have been blessed by a regular series of surprises and delights.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: start;">My teenage capture of the rare <i>Charlotta</i> variety of the Dark Green Fritillary butterfly was perhaps the first although I had been rewarded by First Hawkmoth, First Fritillary and other highlights well before then. Later I chased down a magnificent iridescent blue and green Peacock Swallowtail in Indonesia and explored the little rainforest, rich in insects, created by the unending spray from the Victoria Falls.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHtPt3y5VTDSimHFW_1AuNYz_epurCPGFYA-7ueWN95KI47jMTm8pIG0u3-leQduTg4VbIqaiSXCq5K0lXZAoYArGT5BSRkqP9q3H_hGac9pF6a8Bn7ZsJaTGjr8wiQNCF6AGRcwjqbQC8dU1E_z3Qa2JylenncVj6Mr6nW5KBh_Ws9l62Wl_tB-jshc/s3336/IMG_2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2708" data-original-width="3336" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHtPt3y5VTDSimHFW_1AuNYz_epurCPGFYA-7ueWN95KI47jMTm8pIG0u3-leQduTg4VbIqaiSXCq5K0lXZAoYArGT5BSRkqP9q3H_hGac9pF6a8Bn7ZsJaTGjr8wiQNCF6AGRcwjqbQC8dU1E_z3Qa2JylenncVj6Mr6nW5KBh_Ws9l62Wl_tB-jshc/w400-h325/IMG_2020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">This year's treat - because they have become almost annual events - is late in the day but certainly worth the wait: a gloriously prolonged encounter with a Two-tailed Pasha, Europe's largest butterfly species, on a mountain-top in Provence. Checking the <a href="https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/collins-butterfly-guide-the-most-complete-guide-to-the-butterflies-of-britain-and-europe-tom-tolman?variant=32757419245646">European Butterfly Bible</a>, I found it described as a confirmed 'hill-topper' and this exactly chimed with the rocky peak above Roches Blanches in the Massif des Maures where Penny and I found ours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWfwWE8Vd-0qySa69H7w5AoVHFdfcF4G53Hb_8pDe_m681Xyegqi-euwZRyQTrMz2wNyNj9XlEgIvQmRWfTAJ8KmYU9MQiXYIUwSR4rPzOOFt1yVsDkpFJyaz7elbbLNCrhjqJh6tpVfr5EtBtikMytqYokE4JYKElHDge1wsQK_rYLQmFMnXgmpSbzY/s2266/IMG_2001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2266" data-original-width="1804" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWfwWE8Vd-0qySa69H7w5AoVHFdfcF4G53Hb_8pDe_m681Xyegqi-euwZRyQTrMz2wNyNj9XlEgIvQmRWfTAJ8KmYU9MQiXYIUwSR4rPzOOFt1yVsDkpFJyaz7elbbLNCrhjqJh6tpVfr5EtBtikMytqYokE4JYKElHDge1wsQK_rYLQmFMnXgmpSbzY/w319-h400/IMG_2001.JPG" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thought at first that the best picture I would be bringing you would be the third one, above - the sun-drenched edge of rock where the big, and that stage unidentified butterfly perched after a prolonged and dizzy dance when we first disturbed it. It soon took off again but luckily, by my age, you know from experience that most butterflies are territorial. It disappeared over large stands of <i>Arbutus unedo</i>, the Strawberry Tree which is its caterpillar's food plant. But within a minute it was back. On its third circuit it settled more conveniently for me and - snap! - I got my pictures. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZaDULLKaUd0lp7Q5Kz2nmW-doBsgTmgYFZt1We-vDHz3Gdwcbr1AEdHtoXUAcooInJyrEI8awX4B41HcT9K94jONM51Ikf7n07EqY4RCzH-U-68cDsM6RpUmKQ0m_a5dfD_VA_hLy86ZQVIbyfbE9tMqMBV9L7z7dT2f6YeMFQNiwmG_Fd-gWjUe_Ws/s1535/IMG_1836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="1323" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZaDULLKaUd0lp7Q5Kz2nmW-doBsgTmgYFZt1We-vDHz3Gdwcbr1AEdHtoXUAcooInJyrEI8awX4B41HcT9K94jONM51Ikf7n07EqY4RCzH-U-68cDsM6RpUmKQ0m_a5dfD_VA_hLy86ZQVIbyfbE9tMqMBV9L7z7dT2f6YeMFQNiwmG_Fd-gWjUe_Ws/w345-h400/IMG_1836.JPG" width="345" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is it exclusively a 'hill-topper' though? Or could it be that butterflies are harder to spot when you are clambering up mountains or slithering down them, rather than the open space of the summit where you have time to rest and look thoroughly around. There were other nice butterflies there including the Wall Brown immediately above and several very restless Clouded Yellows flashing around. We also set up a Large Mountain Grasshopper - well-named and perhaps the inspiration for La Fontaine's reworking of Aesop's famous tale of fecklessness and prudence.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNpGNQD3yFmoaTFf4FspG6EtRqZ_IJuIw6ZynCzdMsNfrMS9Z0fmjBcErFlrkJZzp5gvuczTyX8DNSjPv4xS3LE0DTIo7LN1_pBDPtLuvN2Ven1l1wX3bU8kd1fEFqRFR9Pn7M9H9Qd-DPWh77DmjQ7eEErBrbyzClOMIulTzI-adDdMV-MAp1dAfOlM/s2048/ED9E3DF3-AC24-42B9-8B2B-0AE7C7708AE5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNpGNQD3yFmoaTFf4FspG6EtRqZ_IJuIw6ZynCzdMsNfrMS9Z0fmjBcErFlrkJZzp5gvuczTyX8DNSjPv4xS3LE0DTIo7LN1_pBDPtLuvN2Ven1l1wX3bU8kd1fEFqRFR9Pn7M9H9Qd-DPWh77DmjQ7eEErBrbyzClOMIulTzI-adDdMV-MAp1dAfOlM/w400-h400/ED9E3DF3-AC24-42B9-8B2B-0AE7C7708AE5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">La Fontaine would also have been very familiar with the Blue-winged Cricket which zipped about on hot days - I filmed this one below at our local bus stop and then isolated the stills - not exactly a triumph of photography but I hope that it gives the idea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRWC0UXFchAHIqSskrgaCjH9WsFrFnMYFkbACHoQQDUCtBHHhhPgsw1oblkKPkr-fb9iBngmKunzH_-fcruZGbNYIWLolrLJkQ4w8q3kXj6IQrM9qybFRRCU-1ePsP25bBxfJAQ7inSggxvm6UGsSmwjhoaJweRjeOYyxDV5wL8XMemL4OL0MGev4sm8/s2048/D32E69CB-71C6-4C68-98DD-86C878B5326A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRWC0UXFchAHIqSskrgaCjH9WsFrFnMYFkbACHoQQDUCtBHHhhPgsw1oblkKPkr-fb9iBngmKunzH_-fcruZGbNYIWLolrLJkQ4w8q3kXj6IQrM9qybFRRCU-1ePsP25bBxfJAQ7inSggxvm6UGsSmwjhoaJweRjeOYyxDV5wL8XMemL4OL0MGev4sm8/w400-h400/D32E69CB-71C6-4C68-98DD-86C878B5326A.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other discoveries during our five days in the lovely village of La Garde Freinet included the Large White and Small Copper below, plus the millipede and beetle whose exact ID I leave to passing experts, if any.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1rZQLh1oHeezxa2w2IAeWTeKGGaYr2l1OHYED3bWRNibikW7fK_ky4jCNKRA-bMcbYdEjF3OHiBzhmDpy0q4hjLwNINKfN4a4JwRiXj308nnN1gS15J7B6M5YE_Thi25qh4U0zQC-17C0iAu3LpAAVCP6j-ub9V41wJL8P5W0sjQZs0SfM93vey9Ct0/s1306/IMG_1958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="1244" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1rZQLh1oHeezxa2w2IAeWTeKGGaYr2l1OHYED3bWRNibikW7fK_ky4jCNKRA-bMcbYdEjF3OHiBzhmDpy0q4hjLwNINKfN4a4JwRiXj308nnN1gS15J7B6M5YE_Thi25qh4U0zQC-17C0iAu3LpAAVCP6j-ub9V41wJL8P5W0sjQZs0SfM93vey9Ct0/w381-h400/IMG_1958.JPG" width="381" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0UmuZQZUR67Q-KhBWp1XFmmC-PHdRDq_A8CHJ-FXEUmUabKfmZ13IxM_Anf8Xxt8YJxKRVSUo1ne6n5wXwY_gf788bL1ojKh-3A8pmF7L7HXITzviVUMZyHungDh9aMbSW4gDFalCD_JDFohaLfQFIzX4vu4p8K1YD9I59Zl0UJtH-FtiEaFgtHWK0I/s1084/IMG_1905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1084" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0UmuZQZUR67Q-KhBWp1XFmmC-PHdRDq_A8CHJ-FXEUmUabKfmZ13IxM_Anf8Xxt8YJxKRVSUo1ne6n5wXwY_gf788bL1ojKh-3A8pmF7L7HXITzviVUMZyHungDh9aMbSW4gDFalCD_JDFohaLfQFIzX4vu4p8K1YD9I59Zl0UJtH-FtiEaFgtHWK0I/w400-h391/IMG_1905.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbIRNzO2_B4xYpX7st3Rafa69T7BDKDBSPkY6N0Q6V-d24_K3_OKxChN0hB3i_xhbOqZWsjbSAo7iTp0yDNhPrunPlUt5a9orMt00OLziZewlQ2qCiOTgfCW-K5SNQA-E8c1-N10nlKtdkfbJxuTqYwMIdGinI8Ts9UKE0hZbJjr7saCCJtyFN1q88jY/s2048/FA75742B-057E-4650-B736-262D533FCB92.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbIRNzO2_B4xYpX7st3Rafa69T7BDKDBSPkY6N0Q6V-d24_K3_OKxChN0hB3i_xhbOqZWsjbSAo7iTp0yDNhPrunPlUt5a9orMt00OLziZewlQ2qCiOTgfCW-K5SNQA-E8c1-N10nlKtdkfbJxuTqYwMIdGinI8Ts9UKE0hZbJjr7saCCJtyFN1q88jY/w400-h400/FA75742B-057E-4650-B736-262D533FCB92.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2yRBcShed_jXRgE4HYa0LXB3JSa6mfdbH5Rg4E8I3McKpSkmsl5t_MzUwlgD_CU7Y_OUK6RQTQILwIUYSOQc4yHoTr2oocXxE62ZR-W8vKhWhd2-lEY0zam-k2J_xuP9RpGX1Yr4i8YFYG_UThLoRv4XWrzl8JWpP68dOpA-9EsZ_QdOc_xOcG7hOtk/s4032/IMG_1973.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2yRBcShed_jXRgE4HYa0LXB3JSa6mfdbH5Rg4E8I3McKpSkmsl5t_MzUwlgD_CU7Y_OUK6RQTQILwIUYSOQc4yHoTr2oocXxE62ZR-W8vKhWhd2-lEY0zam-k2J_xuP9RpGX1Yr4i8YFYG_UThLoRv4XWrzl8JWpP68dOpA-9EsZ_QdOc_xOcG7hOtk/w150-h200/IMG_1973.JPG" width="150" /></a>A final pleasure of the holiday was the little Musée des Papillons in St Tropez whose incredibly good-value admission charge of only two Euros admitted you to a lovely little townhouse whose former owner collected butterflies from all over the world and then used them to supplement paintings of his native Provence. Reached by following butterflies inlaid in the pavement of an alley, it also had some terrific pictures of butterfly collectors in the old days. Merci beaucoup!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10JZDYLPJePg7DvKg7XIkeV5HH5A6INmvsVVL84CAgNyre7tRDXbUS9rzqYRJD6fuJ0DjQ6ByMkU8sZ9N94xesnfeV8B2Gy1PbOj7TNXV3zsbBKxl0eIaDxboPfCp5pYQls9SwabK4tfIeypZ02TF-cHv8EpPS9buBRAJ0Jo8AxHdeOUise8-xuHendk/s2048/4BC5FCBB-BD50-4C56-9D7E-8F04FA0ADAA5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10JZDYLPJePg7DvKg7XIkeV5HH5A6INmvsVVL84CAgNyre7tRDXbUS9rzqYRJD6fuJ0DjQ6ByMkU8sZ9N94xesnfeV8B2Gy1PbOj7TNXV3zsbBKxl0eIaDxboPfCp5pYQls9SwabK4tfIeypZ02TF-cHv8EpPS9buBRAJ0Jo8AxHdeOUise8-xuHendk/w400-h400/4BC5FCBB-BD50-4C56-9D7E-8F04FA0ADAA5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQyjPv2ojOGw04shyI9hmqHiqWf-zl06ipGy0TrTOX3fBenosZslwi4r8zkpcR2iMmiUkSbKg7BP_dUk_n0AbD3b4tf9pq4pyFzNV8A1yt7wu6uchjChyphenhyphenlvQtOlQ7DruaPs0uEQf4iqcm1m5hu8MVc9ytGWx6bRObfQxbg9gAvBqUpq01bhzY_j24MFA/s2048/F4DE095C-23E0-4BEF-BD3D-3D9F580BD701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQyjPv2ojOGw04shyI9hmqHiqWf-zl06ipGy0TrTOX3fBenosZslwi4r8zkpcR2iMmiUkSbKg7BP_dUk_n0AbD3b4tf9pq4pyFzNV8A1yt7wu6uchjChyphenhyphenlvQtOlQ7DruaPs0uEQf4iqcm1m5hu8MVc9ytGWx6bRObfQxbg9gAvBqUpq01bhzY_j24MFA/w400-h400/F4DE095C-23E0-4BEF-BD3D-3D9F580BD701.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>MartinWainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383027708524885786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-72678989132466714732023-10-11T10:30:00.004+01:002023-10-11T10:30:28.852+01:00Big time<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBej4AVBhvkQeBZdsxzxroL-qXQ9gFi5my0Wj_ADlkczwwP2mc_3y4gZvvs-eZZujcdqqxby8Oc-IGrPdaHKh29GuFpU4hiS3X28MLFrByfQifVHF82z8TPHuLAUUp2QapPaFGiag38Aj2fPVyzbNp3O8D11ts2IU-LF8lABAY4Dt1lmCd4pkFp6oklGE/s3144/IMG_1422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2325" data-original-width="3144" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBej4AVBhvkQeBZdsxzxroL-qXQ9gFi5my0Wj_ADlkczwwP2mc_3y4gZvvs-eZZujcdqqxby8Oc-IGrPdaHKh29GuFpU4hiS3X28MLFrByfQifVHF82z8TPHuLAUUp2QapPaFGiag38Aj2fPVyzbNp3O8D11ts2IU-LF8lABAY4Dt1lmCd4pkFp6oklGE/w400-h296/IMG_1422.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">I am a sucker for larger moths and it was a treat to find one in the trap this morning, a battered but still energetic Red Underwing. This moth has a history with Penny and myself going back years; on one memorable occasion she spotted one snoozing by the Thames under a pub umbrella whose colouring exactly matched the moth’s.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"> </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today’s had a modestly exciting future in store as we were due to visit friends near Maidenhead and I wanted to take them an interesting moth. I therefore handled this one with extra caution, only waking it - partly to check in case it was a Clifden Nonpareil - when it was in the granddaughter’s specimen jar.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKYKw50f1b5Mr3dGuN0bqpg1pfH3eV8K5vTYUci_dVVySJ5cXPlUTi5pGrYAlppSulpvSkk6JFTabSzzZyO0YW4PG00gzliRvJLxccn1jxvA97PRONpJ0qfUZkSEe1t4vkDVHFg2jC9atIktwlZ-YWqmHnJXMReiKlOaDRcsqi9_Mk1bycygmEVSY7fE/s3155/IMG_1429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2275" data-original-width="3155" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKYKw50f1b5Mr3dGuN0bqpg1pfH3eV8K5vTYUci_dVVySJ5cXPlUTi5pGrYAlppSulpvSkk6JFTabSzzZyO0YW4PG00gzliRvJLxccn1jxvA97PRONpJ0qfUZkSEe1t4vkDVHFg2jC9atIktwlZ-YWqmHnJXMReiKlOaDRcsqi9_Mk1bycygmEVSY7fE/w400-h289/IMG_1429.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On arrival at our friends, it posed contentedly for a while and then headed off powerfully towards their roof, its flying unaffected by the battering which life has given its wings. Perhaps it will start a local family but I fear that it may be a little on the elderly side. Anyway, let’s hope that it enjoys Oxfordshire.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtrfj4Tsm7HS9wcFvOPeeDboKl81FZE-z166B3F9RyDGDSMSfi_n30GcXK1qlR7fxHm7CAmLg11NVMooVa2f4YODXaNxmDbFdakeMGWJALl4jVMs9NV85JRxJv8Ln7pqh5CFK1OuI-dEKLp_FRCIoMQvSwfEw4XVZgfR2cjZARAqgW4mE7UPoRqKoDJw/s2174/IMG_1423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="2174" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtrfj4Tsm7HS9wcFvOPeeDboKl81FZE-z166B3F9RyDGDSMSfi_n30GcXK1qlR7fxHm7CAmLg11NVMooVa2f4YODXaNxmDbFdakeMGWJALl4jVMs9NV85JRxJv8Ln7pqh5CFK1OuI-dEKLp_FRCIoMQvSwfEw4XVZgfR2cjZARAqgW4mE7UPoRqKoDJw/w400-h315/IMG_1423.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The trap has not been short of interest so far as more ordinarily-sized moths are concerned; last night’s guests included this nice Large Wainscot, above. The stylish Angle Shades below is enjoying a boom with six in the egg boxes and two variants of the Common Marbled Carpet obligingly posed so that you can see the difference. </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWcgjTFjcADdGpK-vYb41hnRKgDy7mSarcnNeyGwDx8_GVVNaFDm_cxBuC283rdOd-QD1ymvQEroOyDHJA8PRHgjpNuvPfDaVy_lz9iACBAmTOLbqDOHJkVv6hLOM65CLqRfQYMOX2zNXb7b3FNUxT4S1A6lgE9rgllvsITUxvdu8A7LSFGvgUbKbKiQ/s2283/IMG_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2283" data-original-width="1830" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWcgjTFjcADdGpK-vYb41hnRKgDy7mSarcnNeyGwDx8_GVVNaFDm_cxBuC283rdOd-QD1ymvQEroOyDHJA8PRHgjpNuvPfDaVy_lz9iACBAmTOLbqDOHJkVv6hLOM65CLqRfQYMOX2zNXb7b3FNUxT4S1A6lgE9rgllvsITUxvdu8A7LSFGvgUbKbKiQ/w321-h400/IMG_1462.JPG" width="321" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrllAXvveRPnRaQI8vg29apFTJvJjExS_pZbgbCXDOCcJPYa0tKPHlgjtuQ21pEAjnnr4g3ddOeaDO8Ypd6qcUiNIx2hdRC3tAVdV4Zz2MFQLmHAkG3bWWBc1C_4d7GVnA8itXJPATMkqbwOCEFZKrOAPlHPOIUjeOolutHQnosftjY1mHOAQwN_ovbo/s2048/4DA4F34B-E375-47DD-95AC-F032CEB16F40.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrllAXvveRPnRaQI8vg29apFTJvJjExS_pZbgbCXDOCcJPYa0tKPHlgjtuQ21pEAjnnr4g3ddOeaDO8Ypd6qcUiNIx2hdRC3tAVdV4Zz2MFQLmHAkG3bWWBc1C_4d7GVnA8itXJPATMkqbwOCEFZKrOAPlHPOIUjeOolutHQnosftjY1mHOAQwN_ovbo/w400-h400/4DA4F34B-E375-47DD-95AC-F032CEB16F40.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other pleasures include the strongly marked Willow Beauty, a Cypress Carpet with its sharply defined lines, a Satellite whose wing marks so closely resemble one of the sets of invading aliens in Space Invaders and a little <i>Acleris kochiella</i> micro. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89Zwqkdk7PzKK-pic6TQ83sdZDWkKhCLWplbvdWnRMfUFZZ6ocxYT-1ymaITCyLRp5ynnYUAkREuV8WnzkE0lk9LYmHh4vlE_I1OOVp-jZu7gibk0rDh-1MZKHbgr7wPgkDykwSvkGD5D14YTCKgigWnRhciC4_1_Rq6HdmfsFDPAxLtxE55eiao5n_4/s2382/IMG_1385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1950" data-original-width="2382" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89Zwqkdk7PzKK-pic6TQ83sdZDWkKhCLWplbvdWnRMfUFZZ6ocxYT-1ymaITCyLRp5ynnYUAkREuV8WnzkE0lk9LYmHh4vlE_I1OOVp-jZu7gibk0rDh-1MZKHbgr7wPgkDykwSvkGD5D14YTCKgigWnRhciC4_1_Rq6HdmfsFDPAxLtxE55eiao5n_4/w400-h328/IMG_1385.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54btkmMSU9LecVJn91BkeqIY9jrS4LHEJZ55wqsUHlJH_uJy9QkbfX7Rccyd7TZlMfPB2v-WmOjXVVXXuYubMyQyaqHrDAHNTO_ITee0ztAaZ0vf25xDpe4lCwaje8dFQjAHA7o36EBFXak0RNblAEhkZrdIQfsnH1u5HbyY3OozdVHdyiHQmS1GC4DI/s2655/IMG_1393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2655" data-original-width="2411" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54btkmMSU9LecVJn91BkeqIY9jrS4LHEJZ55wqsUHlJH_uJy9QkbfX7Rccyd7TZlMfPB2v-WmOjXVVXXuYubMyQyaqHrDAHNTO_ITee0ztAaZ0vf25xDpe4lCwaje8dFQjAHA7o36EBFXak0RNblAEhkZrdIQfsnH1u5HbyY3OozdVHdyiHQmS1GC4DI/w364-h400/IMG_1393.JPG" width="364" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC6PenGk9fqggKf1dNq982Rs0PW-gzBNqtzib-oiIghSejgXdPkgJXZZejLygJn2En3Pk3ukOqQwbxXFAHNoS3VAg7chLXteTDdY1AOV4eRzhruMVb4yqhTSOJD3coKo9rP6uqUoptlOXzgYaF8Sa5KGYy5q0JABzfiUkUhjr2rTczCCK-Brf7MFhCi0/s2469/IMG_1386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="2469" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC6PenGk9fqggKf1dNq982Rs0PW-gzBNqtzib-oiIghSejgXdPkgJXZZejLygJn2En3Pk3ukOqQwbxXFAHNoS3VAg7chLXteTDdY1AOV4eRzhruMVb4yqhTSOJD3coKo9rP6uqUoptlOXzgYaF8Sa5KGYy5q0JABzfiUkUhjr2rTczCCK-Brf7MFhCi0/w400-h365/IMG_1386.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnaUK5-X3oqdzv-R1KOgR2K7YVVAxRBja1pLPUtNjoW7z8p3kYoM9FKOoeuXnOJQ51GFch1KLnzcvEErZSBlB-r4fQUYNTYy99CmaZ169Cf9RhESchA7kfJQoI3OmfIrR1uWebEF-0nWZhHXfqe9eF2nhnFWCw71js9uwnWTEOeddAYpNe9N4CXi5hsI/s1575/IMG_1420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="1575" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnaUK5-X3oqdzv-R1KOgR2K7YVVAxRBja1pLPUtNjoW7z8p3kYoM9FKOoeuXnOJQ51GFch1KLnzcvEErZSBlB-r4fQUYNTYy99CmaZ169Cf9RhESchA7kfJQoI3OmfIrR1uWebEF-0nWZhHXfqe9eF2nhnFWCw71js9uwnWTEOeddAYpNe9N4CXi5hsI/w400-h310/IMG_1420.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">Both forms of the Green-brindled Crescent, the standard metallic green and the brownish <i>f. cappuccino</i>, are still calling in numbers and every day this week has brought the delight of a Merveille du Jour.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpKVXnsdWTP6_29ZT6_FKa7GO9RHN9b0asCaUVN73C9GCJDkuJ0CuYN47QzvIiryBxJm4ULxqZQfUBF4zZELjAmXlXMDq70zuzVNev8_XMj1Wjc8YvCvD3JXF1QtED4cmtEcIoO_10h3WVbTiXXM0qLkW6MMXb1cjs3Wv_dZkx43c3MWefe-6noekBdQ/s2048/355D5B37-CDCC-4FB5-8750-397BD0016916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpKVXnsdWTP6_29ZT6_FKa7GO9RHN9b0asCaUVN73C9GCJDkuJ0CuYN47QzvIiryBxJm4ULxqZQfUBF4zZELjAmXlXMDq70zuzVNev8_XMj1Wjc8YvCvD3JXF1QtED4cmtEcIoO_10h3WVbTiXXM0qLkW6MMXb1cjs3Wv_dZkx43c3MWefe-6noekBdQ/w400-h400/355D5B37-CDCC-4FB5-8750-397BD0016916.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkvWcTGR4UzCmi2ySAIJL48EmGSL58H8xArElknqNHuOgxLtP9iyTpn11nKgz3rDYQgyW0uC_wtvSoIQU7Kr47ZHNaKvEqOJob90TQDmcOSfc5w_ENekiFevzodrjdLmNQxnr2pk_qBF_CTBDkRgX9aIcMWjqDh5JSObIrxpT5hGVwy1R7YXAFxSwE0k/s2003/IMG_1460%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2003" data-original-width="1948" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkvWcTGR4UzCmi2ySAIJL48EmGSL58H8xArElknqNHuOgxLtP9iyTpn11nKgz3rDYQgyW0uC_wtvSoIQU7Kr47ZHNaKvEqOJob90TQDmcOSfc5w_ENekiFevzodrjdLmNQxnr2pk_qBF_CTBDkRgX9aIcMWjqDh5JSObIrxpT5hGVwy1R7YXAFxSwE0k/w389-h400/IMG_1460%202.JPG" width="389" /></a></div></div><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally Penny noticed this unusual concentration of slug or snail slime on the patio and found two small mushrooms, apparently nibbled. But no slugs or snails. Perhaps they were poisoned and slithered off to expire. </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgV9DUj2ZhKMipUMN7j8cDMXzACZwVt_ioTjuVj-mnrM8IJWgLBNj9LXnQt6B4h22ZD2w-G_bq1HiI0Jhi7fagjTXuVXHPyix1kiHfIakZ7nb1AkJEMLCMA7VHjoFhYb-fbid7MEE_DO0ENC1tTIL3QkFiWfdLbhHr6OB44-ttrDJEP9PmLYchu4eAAdQ/s3024/IMG_1406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2816" data-original-width="3024" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgV9DUj2ZhKMipUMN7j8cDMXzACZwVt_ioTjuVj-mnrM8IJWgLBNj9LXnQt6B4h22ZD2w-G_bq1HiI0Jhi7fagjTXuVXHPyix1kiHfIakZ7nb1AkJEMLCMA7VHjoFhYb-fbid7MEE_DO0ENC1tTIL3QkFiWfdLbhHr6OB44-ttrDJEP9PmLYchu4eAAdQ/w400-h373/IMG_1406.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-16267973675832127212023-10-08T07:29:00.002+01:002023-10-08T07:29:52.588+01:00Hoovering up<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqo_3eNg7XBFDosLnIvGGtC1De7ju8wDWgCws1605lUfELBXtH4akPu0kb_jFYnPsqKerbkMDzUyhE5WPsBBEoyclyh-5RUTY6ePH7Vb0U460-ltHRK5DDwY8dlaI2bDK9oAHNBbhJrc5zLNaEx3tCSIoc7-GLZt4lHp_onwQ8FdArGln-c_YrOo-_Y0/s2048/05597F55-F01D-4557-92F9-E4D5195EEE4E.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqo_3eNg7XBFDosLnIvGGtC1De7ju8wDWgCws1605lUfELBXtH4akPu0kb_jFYnPsqKerbkMDzUyhE5WPsBBEoyclyh-5RUTY6ePH7Vb0U460-ltHRK5DDwY8dlaI2bDK9oAHNBbhJrc5zLNaEx3tCSIoc7-GLZt4lHp_onwQ8FdArGln-c_YrOo-_Y0/w400-h400/05597F55-F01D-4557-92F9-E4D5195EEE4E.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Things have been busier in recent weeks than they will have seemed from my inefficiency at updating this blog. Although Autumn is quieter in terms of numbers and has a predominance of darker and relatively small moths, there are also bright or interestingly-patterned visitors in the mix. I was glad for instance to have a Pine Carpet call - on the right in the top row above, after an Autumnal Rustic in its Confederate grey uniform and a Willow Beauty which was tucked into the rim of the black plastic bowl.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was also good to have a Blair's Shoulder-knot, left in the middle row followed by a Garden Rose Tortrix micro and a Deep-brown Dart. In the bottom row we have a faded Carpet, perhaps another Pine one, a handsome Large Ranunculus and a Green-brindled Crescent, a lovely moth with striking patches of iridescent green wing scales.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgZszO9HTWr5bfSCHO_tt-RLTnhAdHn5zhPpg5L5uA3d9R8yTCIJ-Izo8YYR9P853hNdtOazQF7cR-hzM2Eip5-RVxz_nr7FgldKQetJVtqXnIseMICDPODRMQhnTp0t9y1CZH6gcAV4ryJtP2fTHG1Sa6Kffirdxxny9VXjCxOx3vp-sVAU3Npscbwc/s2048/4909D4B5-DE9E-49B7-98FB-CA747ACCDC90.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgZszO9HTWr5bfSCHO_tt-RLTnhAdHn5zhPpg5L5uA3d9R8yTCIJ-Izo8YYR9P853hNdtOazQF7cR-hzM2Eip5-RVxz_nr7FgldKQetJVtqXnIseMICDPODRMQhnTp0t9y1CZH6gcAV4ryJtP2fTHG1Sa6Kffirdxxny9VXjCxOx3vp-sVAU3Npscbwc/w400-h400/4909D4B5-DE9E-49B7-98FB-CA747ACCDC90.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My second composite has a Beaded Chestnut with a browny Lunar Underwing, a Common Marbled Carpet, a Centre-barred Sallow, a Burnished Brass, Silver Y, Angle Shades, Black Rustic, Snout and a second Lunar Underwing, this time dark and light grey. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, on a morning in the park with our youngest grandchild we found that he and the Comma Butterfly have something in common - blackberries. Both were also entirely distracted by this wonderful, free contribution to the national diet so it was easy to get a good photo of the butterfly and to persuade the grandchild to have something healthy to eat.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfKLMTN4gRSHqtLxbodpObVDbo9ozMUk0oV-o5NqFm4J-Rp3TQFFKI-wYwGaXT3Ydbh85IWauhRJTUhLo4ps3T0WqrvkBeUMbXMhYb7ypvK1Dh6JIis1qS_2czG4rBmb0C6xvPdCsvBdUi64QL4uRJnYO-oGNy6ZXXmJHRkJwmBt89ICfJgJuESeP3t8/s4032/IMG_1259.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfKLMTN4gRSHqtLxbodpObVDbo9ozMUk0oV-o5NqFm4J-Rp3TQFFKI-wYwGaXT3Ydbh85IWauhRJTUhLo4ps3T0WqrvkBeUMbXMhYb7ypvK1Dh6JIis1qS_2czG4rBmb0C6xvPdCsvBdUi64QL4uRJnYO-oGNy6ZXXmJHRkJwmBt89ICfJgJuESeP3t8/w300-h400/IMG_1259.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HmwZGdW8dqwe4zl47pAGUEzevVXEay5epUFwLaa9tYsKvncxOFtbDi5A7Ir9SIZVuz_Y9Igwi992-SkWKOQUXAWpQpaR6bgSIclE-gwOmu4Vjy2JOZ8J_-RiH0k50z8lDBmfnioqougvdDxhCalm7r6NslUivG2OYX2D_IJxdDQCWcEC1Az3KfUP4lA/s4032/IMG_1261.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HmwZGdW8dqwe4zl47pAGUEzevVXEay5epUFwLaa9tYsKvncxOFtbDi5A7Ir9SIZVuz_Y9Igwi992-SkWKOQUXAWpQpaR6bgSIclE-gwOmu4Vjy2JOZ8J_-RiH0k50z8lDBmfnioqougvdDxhCalm7r6NslUivG2OYX2D_IJxdDQCWcEC1Az3KfUP4lA/w300-h400/IMG_1261.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I occasionally include pictures here of 'Moths Where They Shouldn't Be', a category invented by my granddaughter in herb entomological notebook which records moths on people's heads or perched on a slice of toast and the like. Here is an example from the Oxford Arboretum at Nuneham Courteney, always an interesting place to visit: an intrepid but unwise explorer of the noticeboard about the old field trip caravan belonging to General Pitt Rivers, he of the famed museum in the city. Alas, it got stuck and has remained there mummified since, like one of the museum's many curious items. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpZj8aTEUHg36UfsI6umzrDdrEdJGbf2SxA8BYt5pAcyLo2f-jxgnPc6vPfBZtxxLFsZ-UJpcWiIZlUnHnuf4vid0Fvt_t2ySS3B2iDC0Cl35wDfpjV6vPwNU2r4dUsY_QQey6EzBGfVlaUTRDg0WMXcK-olkkqJjfIZisVj1B-buSXO2NZ3Zt3S-pZE/s4032/IMG_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpZj8aTEUHg36UfsI6umzrDdrEdJGbf2SxA8BYt5pAcyLo2f-jxgnPc6vPfBZtxxLFsZ-UJpcWiIZlUnHnuf4vid0Fvt_t2ySS3B2iDC0Cl35wDfpjV6vPwNU2r4dUsY_QQey6EzBGfVlaUTRDg0WMXcK-olkkqJjfIZisVj1B-buSXO2NZ3Zt3S-pZE/w300-h400/IMG_0794.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-40860051232650315382023-10-07T08:36:00.003+01:002023-10-07T08:36:36.851+01:00Tussocks and Admirals<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekt6256DQoFEufmjXleR0r2YaG2kpn2-EcXEhPhUZ_3wMntD9rz0tVA5SuNUFG5V7H9BqMcQagksKOyWjAkuBzDNpdrMfptGvRAcM6sKaL-rJFrjsLES2ykZnSwL9jGmVwM9NDXEp7PBbHD37Ryp0LsUlP1TiKZHtdLlABPKhA8WBBW-YKdOmOKAxldk/s4032/IMG_0998.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekt6256DQoFEufmjXleR0r2YaG2kpn2-EcXEhPhUZ_3wMntD9rz0tVA5SuNUFG5V7H9BqMcQagksKOyWjAkuBzDNpdrMfptGvRAcM6sKaL-rJFrjsLES2ykZnSwL9jGmVwM9NDXEp7PBbHD37Ryp0LsUlP1TiKZHtdLlABPKhA8WBBW-YKdOmOKAxldk/w400-h300/IMG_0998.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKe91JBiBr3cBhY3MFlSUTtADt3py3w4pz3KL7AZSbJHJaJDgBMkywqgJNOBeR4CcBtROpc3f7j7IHVGfsn6u1DNEEbrjeyosFS7q4BBsWSsPhQuzP350xZuZ7cVOVWJQcFFLvnZkaEDwMafmxH4bDPRbCYeGhdB8xFMz3CyB9GCMLR0_jeevNnthPSyE/s4032/IMG_1076.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKe91JBiBr3cBhY3MFlSUTtADt3py3w4pz3KL7AZSbJHJaJDgBMkywqgJNOBeR4CcBtROpc3f7j7IHVGfsn6u1DNEEbrjeyosFS7q4BBsWSsPhQuzP350xZuZ7cVOVWJQcFFLvnZkaEDwMafmxH4bDPRbCYeGhdB8xFMz3CyB9GCMLR0_jeevNnthPSyE/w150-h200/IMG_1076.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />My granddaughter is continuing her relationship with the Pale Tussock moth after breeding a couple successfully last year. She came home from school last week with a couple of the species' striking caterpillars and then some of her friends found four more. To general relief, because she is tremendously concerned for caterpillar welfare, the catties all set about making cocoons almost as soon as she got them into a plastic storage box converted into a moth haven. Here is one which has almost finished, below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPjt3CG0R_gQrxpaBKT2-hOZTzvy0N0fzDJi9AK3r_8YMPLGhrfnvENlI2FBtzm0pOlTSKuJ67ZyEGXF9bhmtZ4Jm1sUEVZppG4MNUdB021YPM2NexXoHTisoFkiSniReHnTTE6jzQ-WRW6YDGcaQL1VpeMePVlNKgr3X9g11FPXZwcTkALjbs6SlUio/s4032/IMG_1047.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPjt3CG0R_gQrxpaBKT2-hOZTzvy0N0fzDJi9AK3r_8YMPLGhrfnvENlI2FBtzm0pOlTSKuJ67ZyEGXF9bhmtZ4Jm1sUEVZppG4MNUdB021YPM2NexXoHTisoFkiSniReHnTTE6jzQ-WRW6YDGcaQL1VpeMePVlNKgr3X9g11FPXZwcTkALjbs6SlUio/w300-h400/IMG_1047.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before their plans became obvious, my granddaughter had organised a big variety of broad-leaved tree leaves for them, having carefully read the guides which recommend this in the absence of hops. She asked if we had any hops and by chance a kind friend had brought us a bunch that very day, ornamenting a jar of her delicious home-made quince jelly. But sadly, they were dried. Perhaps the catties glimpsed them and were further encouraged to pupate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAhq8yMZqLhUf_77ViBYGH1FkUrIk2NqWVu98le65_iuRoaqMp2_xMsBS30ujFdK876_rbyDDf9KG_t2klfi3NzNbl-up9PGQ3pTBFEnjatM1vp4T5VYVaU7b424T00MdnkjKGtvxZ-oLbOAqPf7NXm3YOXOGB0hWovdc1JlMAab6B3KNaJ4IS-83N-8/s2832/IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="2082" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAhq8yMZqLhUf_77ViBYGH1FkUrIk2NqWVu98le65_iuRoaqMp2_xMsBS30ujFdK876_rbyDDf9KG_t2klfi3NzNbl-up9PGQ3pTBFEnjatM1vp4T5VYVaU7b424T00MdnkjKGtvxZ-oLbOAqPf7NXm3YOXOGB0hWovdc1JlMAab6B3KNaJ4IS-83N-8/w294-h400/IMG_1339.JPG" width="294" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I meanwhile am continuing my relationship with the Red Admiral butterfly which is enjoying a tremendous late brood at the moment. The handsome creatures are everywhere, especially if there is flowering ivy in the vicinity. The one below actually invaded the moth trap and was snoozing in an eggbox the following morning. This is a rare occurrence for me but not unknown. My most unexpected and very destructive - guest has been an angry robin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtWN_80LKdLus-yxamRdRDXE2GL-unRZMPGzX0JUAYevQqL1H5t2PNWlpOwdMlYMndCO9L7jzwj2txqSkdb03TPYyeTpgp3oFPvKDfoiO0gHbs55tW6j75-G94C0_SPVek5YB9cmpCqKKIs2Az-ewNUi5iwPTrEcq4oVNcswvmrREFg5_w-BFDS_K1v0/s2048/E620A4F7-3867-42CE-A5AF-F0773AB481F2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtWN_80LKdLus-yxamRdRDXE2GL-unRZMPGzX0JUAYevQqL1H5t2PNWlpOwdMlYMndCO9L7jzwj2txqSkdb03TPYyeTpgp3oFPvKDfoiO0gHbs55tW6j75-G94C0_SPVek5YB9cmpCqKKIs2Az-ewNUi5iwPTrEcq4oVNcswvmrREFg5_w-BFDS_K1v0/w400-h400/E620A4F7-3867-42CE-A5AF-F0773AB481F2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The coincidence of finding a narrowboat called <i>Butterfly</i> on the same morning was followed by a second nautical encounter. Not for nothing are these insects called admirals. I took my sculling boat <i>Clementine </i>out on the Thames and had just watched the first of two kingfishers when I saw a small but tremendous commotion on the water. It was a crash-landed Red Admiral which I managed to scoop up and dry out, first on <i>Clemmie</i>'s hull and then on the cosy woollen shoulder of my sweater.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZKyAPFCLxnjmEm6TpOuA1WhU6m3V98CuD7MussANCYPOhY7a3VXSwbOCF7VCYzATk-Qb6hfhyphenhyphen68K5bcd9-T0l-1kEXGhswwYZgu3l3cUt1kWTxEZ2rajM8TGmbbI0qpjSTv9IcANR6HPo3oaG9WTeb4NzyEgVf8xADfTz_OBfIk5Q6IkL6r3A4IEftE/s2048/32EA2C85-ECCA-449F-81F4-8412C281D5FC.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZKyAPFCLxnjmEm6TpOuA1WhU6m3V98CuD7MussANCYPOhY7a3VXSwbOCF7VCYzATk-Qb6hfhyphenhyphen68K5bcd9-T0l-1kEXGhswwYZgu3l3cUt1kWTxEZ2rajM8TGmbbI0qpjSTv9IcANR6HPo3oaG9WTeb4NzyEgVf8xADfTz_OBfIk5Q6IkL6r3A4IEftE/w400-h400/32EA2C85-ECCA-449F-81F4-8412C281D5FC.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here in conclusion are a few more trespassers in the moth trap - just a few of a host of ladybirds, along with yet another Box moth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kG4Eqvai39RyPpeEtQSZMYBtcCjpUBra1S_l4GuCrPOJCdqAWVsQsx7VejuXKATLh1nbcXEeo8Q9k2gtOor_s8GWuBzNEbmKv2YnbqESUL8Y5RVWDEe5FsD8Z2Y7TG6dW_4jALHarYC5LlcLvu-0cX9uJB5iMTEFkek_yq9QOGjTiCbYBdzoNO4ITDU/s4032/IMG_1050.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kG4Eqvai39RyPpeEtQSZMYBtcCjpUBra1S_l4GuCrPOJCdqAWVsQsx7VejuXKATLh1nbcXEeo8Q9k2gtOor_s8GWuBzNEbmKv2YnbqESUL8Y5RVWDEe5FsD8Z2Y7TG6dW_4jALHarYC5LlcLvu-0cX9uJB5iMTEFkek_yq9QOGjTiCbYBdzoNO4ITDU/w300-h400/IMG_1050.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh and finally, finally, a couple of Merveille du Jours arrived last night and I couldn't resist photographing them on lichen, as per my observations yesterday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdjHFunFxftKPE6PExcSbfthdfX7ANFYMEdXSUnjb2yAwLM2TFTcg6T5_R8YI6UF9MAtAvzfUcJl54cMfFp_n9rC3rc-4E3h_pTo4Shidi9Afq3nQTSolmDfbOuTRE4CKFKDsYvP-gfEuFF8kSw-ZklAiyX-NXwhxl6JwAPUrBCibDJ-cAaQar3zNEHs/s3152/IMG_1343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3152" data-original-width="2820" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdjHFunFxftKPE6PExcSbfthdfX7ANFYMEdXSUnjb2yAwLM2TFTcg6T5_R8YI6UF9MAtAvzfUcJl54cMfFp_n9rC3rc-4E3h_pTo4Shidi9Afq3nQTSolmDfbOuTRE4CKFKDsYvP-gfEuFF8kSw-ZklAiyX-NXwhxl6JwAPUrBCibDJ-cAaQar3zNEHs/w358-h400/IMG_1343.JPG" width="358" /></a></div><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-88844549132132647542023-10-06T08:26:00.001+01:002023-10-06T08:26:24.122+01:00Marvellous as ever<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSCWsemMGRekpSrM6_5_Y_g1GQqLC8oaZjBVtgBJoPqQk05MojmbYMXYt-7PI0iNL6xK084f2RzlnS7Qgv3aRbCv3w8maHQ22xGzGnIPHMt8E2AjzeI476Zk6_PV6eHYIbzfV7G-3TfEEKln1eUEidOqXnVt3g-6U_jdTvAgo7CTN-wcb1qOlClmEIgY/s2048/D85296ED-382A-4738-8DFE-7873F0C0AD94%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSCWsemMGRekpSrM6_5_Y_g1GQqLC8oaZjBVtgBJoPqQk05MojmbYMXYt-7PI0iNL6xK084f2RzlnS7Qgv3aRbCv3w8maHQ22xGzGnIPHMt8E2AjzeI476Zk6_PV6eHYIbzfV7G-3TfEEKln1eUEidOqXnVt3g-6U_jdTvAgo7CTN-wcb1qOlClmEIgY/w400-h400/D85296ED-382A-4738-8DFE-7873F0C0AD94%202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I will never tire of the Merveille du Jour which lifts the relatively quiet Autumn nights in the moth trap with its genuinely marvellous colours and patterning - so much resembling lichen on which I have seen it successfully hide. My first this year came at the start of the week in a notably green trap which also included the very green Red-green Carpet and the Hawthorn Shieldbug shown in the composite picture above.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjvyG0ez_TgtqGlcTIGn9ISA4qUmpueRBfzg4czaoH4GnHLn_nlrbGrODdZ5ZHdI9oKHDQS2UZ4Uu9367-9PBwG6hy2gWhGpjdMhvRvrKPw19hn-xpwun7c5HqNsCKSgKXaDN_0r5RSHEp3V2UBqg4mN2-JS2Z8E3FFr2L5pXv8AzpHI5LX-AAgcJhq4/s1207/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjvyG0ez_TgtqGlcTIGn9ISA4qUmpueRBfzg4czaoH4GnHLn_nlrbGrODdZ5ZHdI9oKHDQS2UZ4Uu9367-9PBwG6hy2gWhGpjdMhvRvrKPw19hn-xpwun7c5HqNsCKSgKXaDN_0r5RSHEp3V2UBqg4mN2-JS2Z8E3FFr2L5pXv8AzpHI5LX-AAgcJhq4/s320/IMG_1184.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Closer inspection of one of my photos revealed another minuscule green arrival - the little aphid next to the RGC above. The following night, another Red-green Carpet joined the earlier one; the picture below shows the colour range within this single species.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vWy63mT3EGvE05npCEYlQPqdcNUDdt-IQCld34Hp78idyd-80vGmvWbbpXMygmCdYQMXellCD136xsTtSj6gOPCCbt0zddfbNTNAfYjHPuu9zHYT1DG_6vSspTpPVMzXokbPpIMAQKfv4w_A8-iticEuqwSOpAm2-02kABSUjsI_vAVPof6shm3r7Jw/s4032/IMG_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vWy63mT3EGvE05npCEYlQPqdcNUDdt-IQCld34Hp78idyd-80vGmvWbbpXMygmCdYQMXellCD136xsTtSj6gOPCCbt0zddfbNTNAfYjHPuu9zHYT1DG_6vSspTpPVMzXokbPpIMAQKfv4w_A8-iticEuqwSOpAm2-02kABSUjsI_vAVPof6shm3r7Jw/w300-h400/IMG_1224.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It is not surprising that this moth should have inspired cards, paintings and even woollen ponchos as per the one from Virtual Yarns below. Its Linnaean name <i>Griposia aprilina</i> curiously refers to April rather than the moth's flying season from September into the early Winter, perhaps because its colours resemble the early shoots and buds of Spring.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rt-nRLhtRl1aKBBPAudJWmojjvwQHUqUlgtcja2N4JzxzwblKGE62Zg7xrw_5uzhHk2VspELOD5G9qfz0SbHbrkrHAd297FioJbZ9XXOzHjx3Tw7HxqnyQWfIky_cqchrG6aTE0cZ5AAH0hTXXmuNUSLULpKhGszSpFNSrTFR5p96K1D84Lo4VLFT8o/s1282/IMG_1312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1010" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rt-nRLhtRl1aKBBPAudJWmojjvwQHUqUlgtcja2N4JzxzwblKGE62Zg7xrw_5uzhHk2VspELOD5G9qfz0SbHbrkrHAd297FioJbZ9XXOzHjx3Tw7HxqnyQWfIky_cqchrG6aTE0cZ5AAH0hTXXmuNUSLULpKhGszSpFNSrTFR5p96K1D84Lo4VLFT8o/w315-h400/IMG_1312.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is a long-standing favourite of mine - the ploy used by Facebook to remind you of past posts 'on this day' obligingly came up this morning with the image below from 2019, a year in which we stood in great need of things to cheer us up.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1clUSa84jEEljh3V9zNe-VbEVrM5_Q3v362IbCFxnXWwm6snbuZRmxFcN51xQ3iDwL6EJit1Jgm0l32qMsmJYgskP5P0Eenlq4lyMlkC8C3M9T0LlQ_n973EALlBdZe_zW_hRzyO-pwjw4vo0rJKtWFDdbew0MuzC_SXOBRHUdgbdZWg1j7QhHt1hBo/s2843/IMG_1311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2843" data-original-width="2535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1clUSa84jEEljh3V9zNe-VbEVrM5_Q3v362IbCFxnXWwm6snbuZRmxFcN51xQ3iDwL6EJit1Jgm0l32qMsmJYgskP5P0Eenlq4lyMlkC8C3M9T0LlQ_n973EALlBdZe_zW_hRzyO-pwjw4vo0rJKtWFDdbew0MuzC_SXOBRHUdgbdZWg1j7QhHt1hBo/w356-h400/IMG_1311.JPG" width="356" /></a></div><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-9844905442772655392023-10-05T18:28:00.002+01:002023-10-05T18:32:32.997+01:00Boxing clever<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOdtoPhU71behocFcrhSbCCYS9pT_7yId6JhihuJCqbglNQRrhdyXpDDdFAve6l3WNYknlM1w2qSiPHtWca8LWE8RQvnmMZMGqJOckNwN47z06TZH6SXI3bShSYRqnLivv0KhFeX2Q85gYUex-jp2Z_2Dq1MQz6ko4RGYRS0VHWSmHWkDIDUGxyr7_7s/s3358/IMG_1048.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="3358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOdtoPhU71behocFcrhSbCCYS9pT_7yId6JhihuJCqbglNQRrhdyXpDDdFAve6l3WNYknlM1w2qSiPHtWca8LWE8RQvnmMZMGqJOckNwN47z06TZH6SXI3bShSYRqnLivv0KhFeX2Q85gYUex-jp2Z_2Dq1MQz6ko4RGYRS0VHWSmHWkDIDUGxyr7_7s/s400/IMG_1048.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I am trying to discover whether the Box Moth, by far the most successful species in my trapping this year, eats anything other than the plant after which it is named. I have had SO many arrive in the last three months, and have seen such a startlingly large number at the grandchildren's and elsewhere, that I find it hard to believe that they can survive on Box alone.
They are certainly causing devastation although to be absolutely honest, my grief at this has limits. If I had to choose between the small-leaved and rather ordinary plant which people cut into geometrical patterns in huge display gardens, and the handsome, even stylish, moth, I would plump without hesitation for the latter.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yGtnf49BauLi2laqm6u2KGYpK_m3VS-EYGfF5DLPT-U6AkZh_FqtbEkUW0ok1ueUGDvFILrHDRdkrZctYxS79nu6ZHfvI13809ARPnWpoxYcXvaq1QyIieRA_UxJqbBJ_PWyfVu-HAUQmVDabfWRed2MTkeUM-ULwvjUEKYx9Fw1qQdCuETBZ123fbk/s2048/8B0798BD-6A1B-4360-9587-658C44FCFA79.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yGtnf49BauLi2laqm6u2KGYpK_m3VS-EYGfF5DLPT-U6AkZh_FqtbEkUW0ok1ueUGDvFILrHDRdkrZctYxS79nu6ZHfvI13809ARPnWpoxYcXvaq1QyIieRA_UxJqbBJ_PWyfVu-HAUQmVDabfWRed2MTkeUM-ULwvjUEKYx9Fw1qQdCuETBZ123fbk/s400/8B0798BD-6A1B-4360-9587-658C44FCFA79.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The Box Moth comes in two main forms, one velvety black like the Phantom of the Opera and the other with a shiny white centre to all four wings, more like the singer whom the Phantom pursues. In between there are variants on this basic theme. All have a delicious purple sheen. <div><br /></div><div>Here are some more of them in assorted settings. They are easy to disturb by day; indeed I suspect that prolonged study may eventually add them to the UK's list of day-flying moths, and my sense of their huge success and vast numbers is increased by the number of sightings and photos I've been sent by people who've found one during the daytime and wondered what it was.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuQm74Npmo4unjUfUV5hZiK7yNQMVOpBngRHnNNeIJtrtlMThIMuhQYA3mLZIXIozwMqxsX51t26giuAt1cLU8wDLs8AKue7DRmDMiWhZKEJHALWyjoN88PcJ_z1YLjkkxabvWxwMbBZQM8AnwOLETeLbv6ksTyywCjtUDCpwmPAjvfXPtV0DjtzGTBw/s4032/IMG_0945.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuQm74Npmo4unjUfUV5hZiK7yNQMVOpBngRHnNNeIJtrtlMThIMuhQYA3mLZIXIozwMqxsX51t26giuAt1cLU8wDLs8AKue7DRmDMiWhZKEJHALWyjoN88PcJ_z1YLjkkxabvWxwMbBZQM8AnwOLETeLbv6ksTyywCjtUDCpwmPAjvfXPtV0DjtzGTBw/s400/IMG_0945.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqOhLfRSfeKopDCBq6A871uGgGlJYc861hyH05FvL5P_pLybZ31sfgnp0QEJvuCXIraSuXKiK_sf_zRTkVbgYOOqUKoyD_T38Tq8oYwWfNroegmXCsCrW7uPA0uFy-wOHYsBI-LGPrDXnetmcHZ9_K7gP5EKQTa9n2CdPdfza4gNjzZHRlIQXG-wttd4/s3088/IMG_1263.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqOhLfRSfeKopDCBq6A871uGgGlJYc861hyH05FvL5P_pLybZ31sfgnp0QEJvuCXIraSuXKiK_sf_zRTkVbgYOOqUKoyD_T38Tq8oYwWfNroegmXCsCrW7uPA0uFy-wOHYsBI-LGPrDXnetmcHZ9_K7gP5EKQTa9n2CdPdfza4gNjzZHRlIQXG-wttd4/s400/IMG_1263.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbXsMoZ539m4GYBgsnayP2N8VPP2o9NUxMPLdtFY0oISp8JD2LiPqWZ6cXe8IQMM9I0qq4UEZ7TDvaA9SRO-KMKHOWH3-MUJnUvasEN-e6Qu2RdZizpNK2mNI7Fe8UbxXFMZicKsJofV65hTMUhv_ZA-rxfR7_I08aVASBI1zMaf4OM3vRTumgpwiXQM/s4032/IMG_1264.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbXsMoZ539m4GYBgsnayP2N8VPP2o9NUxMPLdtFY0oISp8JD2LiPqWZ6cXe8IQMM9I0qq4UEZ7TDvaA9SRO-KMKHOWH3-MUJnUvasEN-e6Qu2RdZizpNK2mNI7Fe8UbxXFMZicKsJofV65hTMUhv_ZA-rxfR7_I08aVASBI1zMaf4OM3vRTumgpwiXQM/s400/IMG_1264.JPG" /></a></div>
This success is all the more remarkable because the moth, a native of south east Asia presumably introduced in imported plants or food, was first recorded here - in Kent - in 2007. Here are two more, along with the last Top Moth in the annual calendar, a Merveille du Jour, for which I have been keenly waiting. But that's tomorrow's story.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCJ4UHyuYUAI-CrMXCZ_m-DBAs63_Pb1GbSNuMjPxvrsj3DxibFfAsLtwBLdSOZJR5ymMa5bfawqGeDiW8BtggaA3X0YqOHKPa_-kdBT_VIxjKt5lmA7X4r2pEALh72f41YQpuQ2OE8v-PoIivfPVDM5IoE_xDWQnFdkxR62yu-zWT2Y7Tb0cvIjw9ME/s2399/IMG_1174.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2399" data-original-width="2144" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCJ4UHyuYUAI-CrMXCZ_m-DBAs63_Pb1GbSNuMjPxvrsj3DxibFfAsLtwBLdSOZJR5ymMa5bfawqGeDiW8BtggaA3X0YqOHKPa_-kdBT_VIxjKt5lmA7X4r2pEALh72f41YQpuQ2OE8v-PoIivfPVDM5IoE_xDWQnFdkxR62yu-zWT2Y7Tb0cvIjw9ME/s400/IMG_1174.JPG" /></a></div></div>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-576838830606101242023-09-05T07:02:00.002+01:002023-09-07T16:06:07.086+01:00Orange blaze<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MnrTeiX0XYwR1XD1uB7kmZ2Ss_29jCr1hmL-kDzN5sFKtIUtodEpZpFC2Y6nQzoT7fOILDbhtpOixSR_E3hZIxlpio_fmZiQywO1OK6v8RQl3cf_suwgYY5CyKIU_s9rP5qh1nFeTGfvPXi174XRs9H2Il9cZ_UrRoPDgO4c9zTI3d_x5FlyZ0SumaM/s3016/IMG_9787.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2565" data-original-width="3016" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MnrTeiX0XYwR1XD1uB7kmZ2Ss_29jCr1hmL-kDzN5sFKtIUtodEpZpFC2Y6nQzoT7fOILDbhtpOixSR_E3hZIxlpio_fmZiQywO1OK6v8RQl3cf_suwgYY5CyKIU_s9rP5qh1nFeTGfvPXi174XRs9H2Il9cZ_UrRoPDgO4c9zTI3d_x5FlyZ0SumaM/w400-h340/IMG_9787.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh what a lovely moth the Frosted Orange is! And its annual appearance heralds the way for the various yellow and orange Sallows which are a feature of late Summer and early Autumn. I'm glad to say that its well-camouflaged sleeping place was not spotted by my inquisitive Robin - whose famous redbreast has something in common with the colours of the moth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdrqPbeqL_7Gh9-B4CxhxzWGg-aTmbq3AA22XcNk_v66FBy7QT-L1pnuQU65g6KLZOMtctAWwQiIuEe0g2R4SSt42zLUUUqlPzFHqkha4S5XUk_Q1x18MMZkTEldc59NAl8yOU5l5dF5UUBeIRQ7rqjrPszIHB7q3zkrQgsvOC9j6N51qi6arXrZaav4/s3134/IMG_9791.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3134" data-original-width="2629" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdrqPbeqL_7Gh9-B4CxhxzWGg-aTmbq3AA22XcNk_v66FBy7QT-L1pnuQU65g6KLZOMtctAWwQiIuEe0g2R4SSt42zLUUUqlPzFHqkha4S5XUk_Q1x18MMZkTEldc59NAl8yOU5l5dF5UUBeIRQ7rqjrPszIHB7q3zkrQgsvOC9j6N51qi6arXrZaav4/w335-h400/IMG_9791.JPG" width="335" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Good to have a Dark Spectacle in the trap too. They seldom visit although I get so many of the ordinary Spectacle that I may have overlooked its less common cousin. I like the fact that both species have a pair of rather Italianate 'moustaches' as well as their eponymous spectacles which are best seen from head-on as in the very first picture I published on this blog, back on 11 June 2008. As you can see, below, I was quick to acknowledge the difficulties with ID which I knew I would face.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AZpSI9yXCBM6od0PB02hrDECfzM-OmQ5sd7jeWHhJn-AheDotJ4zQUbZ4TiggQ2Sb9YaVB3Z6Ve34ONjb9tTzDAtRxFiTVlA6g38RlXx78LRv9s5aXRTwHax_wdi3uu2KNWG_ZWHOUr8f-2IVMpL00S8hvBYEkiOcTbXDnqv0o_7A8pwXyBG1Pu1yH4/s3157/IMG_9812.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3157" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AZpSI9yXCBM6od0PB02hrDECfzM-OmQ5sd7jeWHhJn-AheDotJ4zQUbZ4TiggQ2Sb9YaVB3Z6Ve34ONjb9tTzDAtRxFiTVlA6g38RlXx78LRv9s5aXRTwHax_wdi3uu2KNWG_ZWHOUr8f-2IVMpL00S8hvBYEkiOcTbXDnqv0o_7A8pwXyBG1Pu1yH4/w384-h400/IMG_9812.JPG" width="384" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXeqiRhhSmQIS7eSpJkIIbR_InzGns_jUj2dJWrOwoVOqnwu-WG4UdYAecUkfT_7Fo91s7uysHSiCZ0S1R2Txy1EVZjZrjLBLYyRF_It1UUUsQuAOs6OmDdHj_yGac5j7ndz5yNfuTcjKzBgpD79zEf5jC8P54_PdDuHlMlXpGiyHPg0nMhRcl9Y5ww0/s1200/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-04%20at%2011.49.32.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1200" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXeqiRhhSmQIS7eSpJkIIbR_InzGns_jUj2dJWrOwoVOqnwu-WG4UdYAecUkfT_7Fo91s7uysHSiCZ0S1R2Txy1EVZjZrjLBLYyRF_It1UUUsQuAOs6OmDdHj_yGac5j7ndz5yNfuTcjKzBgpD79zEf5jC8P54_PdDuHlMlXpGiyHPg0nMhRcl9Y5ww0/w400-h258/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-04%20at%2011.49.32.png" width="400" /></a></div>The third source of pleasure in the trap was a trio of Old Ladies - shabby-looking creatures even when in good condition but satisfyingly BIG. To be accurate, one of them was just outside the lid on the leaf of a nearby Romneya poppy. They all woke up surprisingly quickly for large moths and high-tailed off.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31vP56SjWMjpMC6Kk0kNnuYfiXiLDqZwT4i92YfQRg9qIg2T-LKR5Ag6TPHsFW12R7f7wvRpBvTGNkQo13LwAKaFbVmIl7njOt8Q4BxGmBRHerju3VtlRlqhvXePK98k6DJwsFadyVMQjmtnwfvwdrHT9qkB0wuXWcXtRXCB0EnpwF83d26nQ2r5TJzY/s2773/IMG_9802.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2396" data-original-width="2773" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31vP56SjWMjpMC6Kk0kNnuYfiXiLDqZwT4i92YfQRg9qIg2T-LKR5Ag6TPHsFW12R7f7wvRpBvTGNkQo13LwAKaFbVmIl7njOt8Q4BxGmBRHerju3VtlRlqhvXePK98k6DJwsFadyVMQjmtnwfvwdrHT9qkB0wuXWcXtRXCB0EnpwF83d26nQ2r5TJzY/w400-h345/IMG_9802.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_jQGZ_Br8omNTi8PRjvA0cp6caZyCD1wcVXT1S8pTV8wOpLcR5sI6XLguoEd7RDT0LW4rcYREuseP0iLl2fpc_ZFH9QSHDgetZ-jMRAwvFWZ2i1OoN-v4mNFEcOSiv2TFWhnbZSiOG6REbwZ_6ETX8GBUCjFXumsoS_u3LOUAGb2CL7oYU0xbkzwPGM/s4032/IMG_9810.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_jQGZ_Br8omNTi8PRjvA0cp6caZyCD1wcVXT1S8pTV8wOpLcR5sI6XLguoEd7RDT0LW4rcYREuseP0iLl2fpc_ZFH9QSHDgetZ-jMRAwvFWZ2i1OoN-v4mNFEcOSiv2TFWhnbZSiOG6REbwZ_6ETX8GBUCjFXumsoS_u3LOUAGb2CL7oYU0xbkzwPGM/w300-h400/IMG_9810.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQynnTAF1XG4y8Ug5WwCFJ_QPEIUMqMkrrATe4RqCYW5VB-edsuT8heh2geH_7yEuE3OyqwLL9NBKVdYv8qsY49iHM3n800yHUSVkXVB3g3VHL3nuOxgXEYO075HoQc-aVcObEoXmLOcJ5emQ3z_bPH3oGLQZ98UbtPBBM7dSGWqNwhnASoHL-andU89g/s1784/IMG_9808.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1507" data-original-width="1784" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQynnTAF1XG4y8Ug5WwCFJ_QPEIUMqMkrrATe4RqCYW5VB-edsuT8heh2geH_7yEuE3OyqwLL9NBKVdYv8qsY49iHM3n800yHUSVkXVB3g3VHL3nuOxgXEYO075HoQc-aVcObEoXmLOcJ5emQ3z_bPH3oGLQZ98UbtPBBM7dSGWqNwhnASoHL-andU89g/w400-h338/IMG_9808.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXMikurd4Jk042ov7b6CtnlnbCeR8LXPc8QF6Hca_dGJxKxcvaLS6pyZOPZdSNZPfWHE0PoBFCxSWarp1Su6zSbw_pA5wle4gnHvaX8OwCum-5QiO0j_PjXZ5jyvhj0tpWR5HzJxnrE8cwlsnw-DrBJbNZCvlpLEwo8Cp-Ngh6yZmMv4Zy4lo5toiIlM/s2389/IMG_9804.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2389" data-original-width="2041" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXMikurd4Jk042ov7b6CtnlnbCeR8LXPc8QF6Hca_dGJxKxcvaLS6pyZOPZdSNZPfWHE0PoBFCxSWarp1Su6zSbw_pA5wle4gnHvaX8OwCum-5QiO0j_PjXZ5jyvhj0tpWR5HzJxnrE8cwlsnw-DrBJbNZCvlpLEwo8Cp-Ngh6yZmMv4Zy4lo5toiIlM/w341-h400/IMG_9804.JPG" width="341" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly for today, a modest but nicely-coloured and patterned member of the brown and grey hordes: a Square-spot Rustic. I think. <b>Update: Nope. Many thanks to Stewart in Comments who expertly spies the two small black dots which make this a Small Square-spot. I wasn't so far adrift but...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIPnS9-KACk2EqTFgv4PNjSyLhxGA8HUwqI8K2CBpSQ7r4WPkgBCyFN2A5aD8k10cE3J4Qnf0GWZ3Y2GPlbuLbLnXRu89btymcbW3toYWhSfPDi3JH5-xZL8x5gPALWO66TO5j1DZRV58_klKBFgtqqSNNqTZbLa-h5fZKfbJ0tGMLELQ2g04S6482-g/s4032/IMG_9805.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIPnS9-KACk2EqTFgv4PNjSyLhxGA8HUwqI8K2CBpSQ7r4WPkgBCyFN2A5aD8k10cE3J4Qnf0GWZ3Y2GPlbuLbLnXRu89btymcbW3toYWhSfPDi3JH5-xZL8x5gPALWO66TO5j1DZRV58_klKBFgtqqSNNqTZbLa-h5fZKfbJ0tGMLELQ2g04S6482-g/w400-h300/IMG_9805.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-52684876095892193902023-09-04T06:43:00.001+01:002023-09-04T06:43:09.163+01:00Palely loitering<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8JpmqOgW0nFG2CQL_8KceMNhnYjfaP02xJ2hDLksQ6j7aeKySPDQetiHe9rJu-i_XS0pWtxVRGxwO7uEUeid4EWEdPXJ8eAin4Peif2YKVhfvv54D7r0b68ckIuoJ0Z8fJnx8EA1GFj26f8ZZ2dfbk7uSZLEWMs0W-0jUc3j1-vwR4dVT1ORCBVqrm4/s4032/IMG_9625.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8JpmqOgW0nFG2CQL_8KceMNhnYjfaP02xJ2hDLksQ6j7aeKySPDQetiHe9rJu-i_XS0pWtxVRGxwO7uEUeid4EWEdPXJ8eAin4Peif2YKVhfvv54D7r0b68ckIuoJ0Z8fJnx8EA1GFj26f8ZZ2dfbk7uSZLEWMs0W-0jUc3j1-vwR4dVT1ORCBVqrm4/w300-h400/IMG_9625.JPG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Pale Eggar has been only an occasional visitor to the lamp here in Oxfordshire and never called when we lived in Leeds. My first was on 7 September 2015 and the second five years later on 28th August 2020. Now I have had a third on 31 August this year and a fourth, on the bulbholder below, the night before last. It is classified as only locally common and indeed is infrequently recorded from the south of the county although a fellow-enthusiast on <a href="http://thamesvalleymoths.blogspot.com">Thames Valley Moths</a>, who has had only one in his garden this year, attracted 30 to a portable trap which he lit in nearby woodland. A creature of habitat, like so many moths.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAI3rVWobmHXAngMFh5LrbBWXRNgXs02CrqNRo-kNJgmR6VQKYRGHg5mIrVcIB3c_wPdM9PhpZdXZtRbaxQy7Kmi5D_lsptonGLb8Oa8kgubquunJFkE8xmfqqH95r6udN0xbGtiyUkVTlQetbfFZ6VLXJ6-drVjhYTasMikB8USjOMosssVMQcDEFiSQ/s3021/IMG_9803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2276" data-original-width="3021" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAI3rVWobmHXAngMFh5LrbBWXRNgXs02CrqNRo-kNJgmR6VQKYRGHg5mIrVcIB3c_wPdM9PhpZdXZtRbaxQy7Kmi5D_lsptonGLb8Oa8kgubquunJFkE8xmfqqH95r6udN0xbGtiyUkVTlQetbfFZ6VLXJ6-drVjhYTasMikB8USjOMosssVMQcDEFiSQ/w400-h301/IMG_9803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The trap is continued to bring a reduced catch recently with faithful regulars for the time of the year, such as the Rosy Rustic and Common Wainscot - the darker form - in the next two pictures. It is also brightened by Burnished Brasses, both the forms <i>juncta</i>, with the central brown cross-bar undivided, and <i>aurea</i> where the two shiny sections are joined. Disagreement continues in the expert world about whether small DNA and genital differences warrant dividing them into two distinct species.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeXPYzMcVOnLZOyax_xxyd74Ndeyn_kT3JgYMP8bG4qEEcSx1WMyfcGgjJEsYC1Db59ZorRU4JkrQRALIYoeZa6ZWTXr0LWcRua61LJtHLcCfQM8cnUkD1IKFEQeSrxjOacR3tJiY_ql2vfQzUz7RnLNihrXNsw_eBonvndtniKFA7w8gjyiuN7V5lD4/s3024/IMG_9680.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2844" data-original-width="3024" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeXPYzMcVOnLZOyax_xxyd74Ndeyn_kT3JgYMP8bG4qEEcSx1WMyfcGgjJEsYC1Db59ZorRU4JkrQRALIYoeZa6ZWTXr0LWcRua61LJtHLcCfQM8cnUkD1IKFEQeSrxjOacR3tJiY_ql2vfQzUz7RnLNihrXNsw_eBonvndtniKFA7w8gjyiuN7V5lD4/w400-h376/IMG_9680.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbESVlM8PJhYuNRD3kA2GJbYAJLHnTHUNPc7T-EJkn301wQgtjoTz6bghv7FijXvkxaxM5gkKLCu7OIAvzQBTKKx2TkHwiMEKHgb5_9V7a9Qm5ys7yesuwvb12ymMvGBOBCnhHsB3SSiC4N8vugDtUV6KjO7klo3QsKzj7vpNE1ty_SNlz5J2pwHl3Sw/s4032/IMG_9127.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbESVlM8PJhYuNRD3kA2GJbYAJLHnTHUNPc7T-EJkn301wQgtjoTz6bghv7FijXvkxaxM5gkKLCu7OIAvzQBTKKx2TkHwiMEKHgb5_9V7a9Qm5ys7yesuwvb12ymMvGBOBCnhHsB3SSiC4N8vugDtUV6KjO7klo3QsKzj7vpNE1ty_SNlz5J2pwHl3Sw/w300-h400/IMG_9127.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LtQehsG8FP8IVcZod7Gv69EQUhYk9nuo2iY5b_xlxEGPYeRJnWRn7slXKSBhl-f51V6MwN6Qpngus-jRA7H2U0oqouTijJT4adm9rncEJi7KSur_0H-rYQlhKmnNn5kBQhQg11lEV4nIQgKF6MqJpARW64qE_NmBnKDfSQz0jeWIPZlB9HSydTGhn_E/s2048/C0D9D3F5-6753-4C71-A077-76C49795EA9C.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LtQehsG8FP8IVcZod7Gv69EQUhYk9nuo2iY5b_xlxEGPYeRJnWRn7slXKSBhl-f51V6MwN6Qpngus-jRA7H2U0oqouTijJT4adm9rncEJi7KSur_0H-rYQlhKmnNn5kBQhQg11lEV4nIQgKF6MqJpARW64qE_NmBnKDfSQz0jeWIPZlB9HSydTGhn_E/w400-h400/C0D9D3F5-6753-4C71-A077-76C49795EA9C.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Brighter than these moths by some distance was the Blue Supermoon which I mentioned in my last post. I woke up at about 1am and managed to get the picture below, although it didn't look hugely different from the usual full moon, to be honest. But definitely a powerful counter-attraction to the usually dominant light trap.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78Ui8jynpo1hP8q6JHh2klRDS2-Nv8b1UgsGKPzeoex6xnEVDJBPOL4-w2lnNwVSFnrjoyW_C_7bTru4VL8ySFiXTBJPYtrIExCU8pwnumkvv-TPWr9ylbVEYqBuqOGz8_tNMJVJ_71Bajrtkh39rOe5KcWIXnWHZ5EW7xlbIYTEAL5TfYZEyjIvpP9A/s4032/IMG_9672%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78Ui8jynpo1hP8q6JHh2klRDS2-Nv8b1UgsGKPzeoex6xnEVDJBPOL4-w2lnNwVSFnrjoyW_C_7bTru4VL8ySFiXTBJPYtrIExCU8pwnumkvv-TPWr9ylbVEYqBuqOGz8_tNMJVJ_71Bajrtkh39rOe5KcWIXnWHZ5EW7xlbIYTEAL5TfYZEyjIvpP9A/w300-h400/IMG_9672%202.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly for today's moths, I was struck by the fragile beauty of the Satin Wave below while having a very enjoyable time watching dragonflies hawking for prey in the sunshine. Conehead will correct me if necessary, but in the composite picture, I think I have the female and male of the Common Darter in the top row and a Migrant Hawker, including a close-up of its evilly-smiling, cartoon villain 'face'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZbEh8rvVdB6jfjsjF2pG7pw3z-c8Sc8XBokICvt_CLM2qh-qA72Xra81uH0s8RnwmmsEyT_1V6wD4WSfrB0YQjSEsdd8qMzlvn9WHi7nGlUmeX3-hov0dAyS9ER0pNUQ5KTB2Q-tnitr-lSs4div-RLNZKfUwN_wQPVz22b_0RxS_DP8bEhbjrdlbAo/s4032/IMG_9158.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZbEh8rvVdB6jfjsjF2pG7pw3z-c8Sc8XBokICvt_CLM2qh-qA72Xra81uH0s8RnwmmsEyT_1V6wD4WSfrB0YQjSEsdd8qMzlvn9WHi7nGlUmeX3-hov0dAyS9ER0pNUQ5KTB2Q-tnitr-lSs4div-RLNZKfUwN_wQPVz22b_0RxS_DP8bEhbjrdlbAo/w300-h400/IMG_9158.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Dt5SaBBUl8ysoxM1yDAIRF9sPOAxHkZ4kOJGzDHK60ufu39BnhVyZp1QlhS_37fLu6dMkqbhAPoQY45zXLihNLgbUAcOVJyGZfCKuQYDlz53SMtCzBHivPlTpGW-cmhdE0nGcHd5ZxOdfeJ83d2EX07TAgZIoot7n1IXtAq1EwLzCZ95D3d-OwRWN1M/s2048/23CFDAB7-2BBD-4C6B-83A7-2C0931F9C545.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Dt5SaBBUl8ysoxM1yDAIRF9sPOAxHkZ4kOJGzDHK60ufu39BnhVyZp1QlhS_37fLu6dMkqbhAPoQY45zXLihNLgbUAcOVJyGZfCKuQYDlz53SMtCzBHivPlTpGW-cmhdE0nGcHd5ZxOdfeJ83d2EX07TAgZIoot7n1IXtAq1EwLzCZ95D3d-OwRWN1M/w400-h400/23CFDAB7-2BBD-4C6B-83A7-2C0931F9C545.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-19215751552755882562023-08-31T10:43:00.001+01:002023-08-31T10:43:16.703+01:00Halting hummer<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBaSBW72Y44yaQzXq5k2S20eYnFm993NkI4XNoZUpZEv1PaQ2z3uonQIWNWCZr9FBRptwp_i7UdsLjVJmXMAC6ieS83aX4RasOQQ3gm_Ihz9zY4dMCAr8R9CrJFXBtcJwrR2QF1cnuTEnRBPeJcI4oFYUEWlHRohlt5d_zosRHzWbefUJaRUUCFsGkOk/s1999/IMG_9343.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1999" data-original-width="1771" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBaSBW72Y44yaQzXq5k2S20eYnFm993NkI4XNoZUpZEv1PaQ2z3uonQIWNWCZr9FBRptwp_i7UdsLjVJmXMAC6ieS83aX4RasOQQ3gm_Ihz9zY4dMCAr8R9CrJFXBtcJwrR2QF1cnuTEnRBPeJcI4oFYUEWlHRohlt5d_zosRHzWbefUJaRUUCFsGkOk/w355-h400/IMG_9343.JPG" width="355" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">This is the first time in all my 73 years that I have seen a Hummingbird Hawk moth at rest, other than a couple of specimens which have come into the greenhouse, unknown to me, and expired.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The moth is one of the busiest of its kind, for ever hovering over clumps of lavender and other scented Summer plants, a daylight flyer and therefore often seen, usually to understandable wonderment. "Is that a humming bird?" I've been asked a dozen or more times. And indeed, although small enough, the moth is bigger than some of the smallest humming birds.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVPU6fzDmmcEoky3UIBQt2z--wqfqzmJTBXZaTfbaJGGuQE49PZvp3z174A7fiF0hFl409trFLN_UvhC5FUvlB1fRtxJIpBtlqXSH1QoLH8WjjtZoYJeZfUFIy3cvYLHSqMAF5ZKIQQ2HRV_G_oZNUuP59O3X7zINpbEy4akdY1MJ39Pc7KJ6OnROQas/s1861/IMG_9340.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1861" data-original-width="1651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVPU6fzDmmcEoky3UIBQt2z--wqfqzmJTBXZaTfbaJGGuQE49PZvp3z174A7fiF0hFl409trFLN_UvhC5FUvlB1fRtxJIpBtlqXSH1QoLH8WjjtZoYJeZfUFIy3cvYLHSqMAF5ZKIQQ2HRV_G_oZNUuP59O3X7zINpbEy4akdY1MJ39Pc7KJ6OnROQas/w355-h400/IMG_9340.JPG" width="355" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one was nectaring in the standard, fascinating manner in the grandchildren's garden. Alerted by my wandering past, it nipped up into this large shrub and perched there, out of reach of a decently-focussed photograph but close enough for the above. I was then distracted by the jewel-like flutterings of a group of amorous Common Blue butterflies including the obligingly posing male below. What lovely creations they are!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f01WW9fx-jD4H-7tEEPiKG2MjRrNtl7cs9dLPeHTKmkFe4WL67JQkix4oBZEVTPm1GTYjUwk_jGoX_rf8sTmLNAFFezWZpSEEV8gHIRE3XBkeOGMWKaNNI_tJjLyT0kFOMvGvQamJowzCAQpynEFqgzWSdEJW9NtTxq2RS_MxORUacTykIXjXh93q_Y/s2048/82E365D4-50AC-4023-9642-BD14A85BCF07.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f01WW9fx-jD4H-7tEEPiKG2MjRrNtl7cs9dLPeHTKmkFe4WL67JQkix4oBZEVTPm1GTYjUwk_jGoX_rf8sTmLNAFFezWZpSEEV8gHIRE3XBkeOGMWKaNNI_tJjLyT0kFOMvGvQamJowzCAQpynEFqgzWSdEJW9NtTxq2RS_MxORUacTykIXjXh93q_Y/w400-h400/82E365D4-50AC-4023-9642-BD14A85BCF07.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the world of moths meanwhile, I am currently being visited by Snouts galore, large numbers of boring (to me, sorry, I just cannot get the hang of ID-ing them) brown and grey types like this Flounced Rustic, and also the much cheerier Orange Swift, below that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wse7eOqt5Xh0gdfn5BnvierobYXbwie9ZxBdmzfcQyqnOfY8Hp5Y-yD0j2kYXvrtkon59854F1fkyv87Jzmnk8wOSV-A5Yccy1nuxZEFLJ0bXWrmlcUXHtdmAdt_-xjMkqECAZc71JbcvtrnIPhknmy-gs-fsa2UV9OOd9kNPpNvmE_uArZ5W2i14Mk/s2520/IMG_9399.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2510" data-original-width="2520" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wse7eOqt5Xh0gdfn5BnvierobYXbwie9ZxBdmzfcQyqnOfY8Hp5Y-yD0j2kYXvrtkon59854F1fkyv87Jzmnk8wOSV-A5Yccy1nuxZEFLJ0bXWrmlcUXHtdmAdt_-xjMkqECAZc71JbcvtrnIPhknmy-gs-fsa2UV9OOd9kNPpNvmE_uArZ5W2i14Mk/w400-h399/IMG_9399.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cle5dHzfcebgUyHaNbpaCkd4pjQfPbaqADcZXjd0GL0kPZohJT6qBNHCgCW0nm8Pkkv_g-z2hJXqL7FOJ2IGENugjg248foqzVkyIgg9r56Lob8QxIZRzVa7Z8U5MCYIDHLGmhYxf6C1Hv23moi0USuhNrFVS_aTSvBYAi3_yg4uRrwYpVUbsPwQYXA/s3378/IMG_9401.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3378" data-original-width="3016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cle5dHzfcebgUyHaNbpaCkd4pjQfPbaqADcZXjd0GL0kPZohJT6qBNHCgCW0nm8Pkkv_g-z2hJXqL7FOJ2IGENugjg248foqzVkyIgg9r56Lob8QxIZRzVa7Z8U5MCYIDHLGmhYxf6C1Hv23moi0USuhNrFVS_aTSvBYAi3_yg4uRrwYpVUbsPwQYXA/w358-h400/IMG_9401.JPG" width="358" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Equally welcome, Light Emeralds have emerged in large numbers along with the sinister-looking Box moth, whose voracious caterpillars are genuinely sinister to owners of box hedges, including the National Trust which looks after miles of them. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEGfsXYBP_4SOaU_y6WBx_nCLsBF8LOh-cItQdTf3E0-rMsSiD9-DQ-LkUW_vtLxA6K4BNIdk79rs6LWu32UlwpT_nbnyjQohOFXeJxJkN7SLtKdeqP8YjneAvEdDbEmVkty60XV5rxiBdqOvogPA4yKyz1tfmd92y39jTjAUCquyLT5CMBhUJ1Hygn0/s3191/IMG_9400.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2296" data-original-width="3191" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEGfsXYBP_4SOaU_y6WBx_nCLsBF8LOh-cItQdTf3E0-rMsSiD9-DQ-LkUW_vtLxA6K4BNIdk79rs6LWu32UlwpT_nbnyjQohOFXeJxJkN7SLtKdeqP8YjneAvEdDbEmVkty60XV5rxiBdqOvogPA4yKyz1tfmd92y39jTjAUCquyLT5CMBhUJ1Hygn0/w400-h288/IMG_9400.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneit8OUTUMASOGIZjncaQASeeOlRg2q86F42y0nHbW0x-w5llBAfp1DhV0tZFOGtzJUDHD0RmiVZs3OtS0LcbKSym6WGBH04BqAGyDArOv_FjJKjocylchPCRW2HCiRuUdjD7bJzy_g9HJAQxc6a11cPixCUB1G8pMIHm-BWlQAItmRylsClILpXK4EE/s3527/IMG_9392.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2723" data-original-width="3527" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneit8OUTUMASOGIZjncaQASeeOlRg2q86F42y0nHbW0x-w5llBAfp1DhV0tZFOGtzJUDHD0RmiVZs3OtS0LcbKSym6WGBH04BqAGyDArOv_FjJKjocylchPCRW2HCiRuUdjD7bJzy_g9HJAQxc6a11cPixCUB1G8pMIHm-BWlQAItmRylsClILpXK4EE/w400-h309/IMG_9392.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My star, though, is this Old Lady, below, a venerable-looking dame with a fine turn of speed once disturbed. I watched a large moth like this fluttering high above the trap last night, soon after I had turned it on, but the rival glories of the Blue Supermoon kept whatever it was safely up high and the catch this morning was standard for the time of the year.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OGY2qebVkQiicJgIUnJsDgTzKyKokcgFgWN-1kycp9dqY_--aIp7RPlxx8rjom5iXo6jXHoZVPdSFOSRjC_z0RopZBhQ3TKmQ092qSYJhCpaNIr6u2va0O9WIalcBLddtcrRVP3X_xwXt7lSHpRpm-ShobXFHLa5rAAq_OTcucBNyvtduC620FLQD0A/s2768/IMG_9397.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2747" data-original-width="2768" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OGY2qebVkQiicJgIUnJsDgTzKyKokcgFgWN-1kycp9dqY_--aIp7RPlxx8rjom5iXo6jXHoZVPdSFOSRjC_z0RopZBhQ3TKmQ092qSYJhCpaNIr6u2va0O9WIalcBLddtcrRVP3X_xwXt7lSHpRpm-ShobXFHLa5rAAq_OTcucBNyvtduC620FLQD0A/w400-h398/IMG_9397.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpRc1HbPnVyNcdLYFstvOZWdtot0jujthbcEPP9ogF1PINKUymgzVe4rmhAfvy2_q7krO2yi5ff3jWsRaK3wonJN1UAKVM6zEUO3KZJvUKurJWew1-zBxNfsNxdpVbtKVNt_NYgWf3VuNuqll7iioApARVsCuLmi4xAQAid-pJMv1mBDCD0L5TZwyXV0/s4032/IMG_9394.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpRc1HbPnVyNcdLYFstvOZWdtot0jujthbcEPP9ogF1PINKUymgzVe4rmhAfvy2_q7krO2yi5ff3jWsRaK3wonJN1UAKVM6zEUO3KZJvUKurJWew1-zBxNfsNxdpVbtKVNt_NYgWf3VuNuqll7iioApARVsCuLmi4xAQAid-pJMv1mBDCD0L5TZwyXV0/w300-h400/IMG_9394.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>MartinWainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383027708524885786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-43332896422157557992023-08-19T17:50:00.004+01:002023-08-31T10:46:20.955+01:00A mixed bag<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH0H2uV5Yhsomet5fpvpDQKj2UDJCOgNKVRW9X1nWROOzGPJb4LDekdEkwIfKDwbrggrN_MesH0oeePQy49YQ2KIZiYz1r5yI_9xaEHHbm_6AI9LsSBFQni5whMQc2lPFqliF_y7k_Vdh5MCoxG8B7vvgPg3Bg2M0VJbZRgdoL22e8G8GK9H9xif4JEo/s413/Untitled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="403" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH0H2uV5Yhsomet5fpvpDQKj2UDJCOgNKVRW9X1nWROOzGPJb4LDekdEkwIfKDwbrggrN_MesH0oeePQy49YQ2KIZiYz1r5yI_9xaEHHbm_6AI9LsSBFQni5whMQc2lPFqliF_y7k_Vdh5MCoxG8B7vvgPg3Bg2M0VJbZRgdoL22e8G8GK9H9xif4JEo/w390-h400/Untitled.png" width="390" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How encouraging that we live in a world where young enthusiasts for moths and butterflies, or indeed other insects, can clad themselves in clothes which Linnaeus might well have envied. And how nice that my light trap provided a couple of fine Poplar Hawk moths this week for a couple of friends who had heard of my strange entomological goings-on and came to have lunch and a look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kW_GQRuP9HcUPm-l3Xi1M65WkRlXraSuqq-coTwpXJvu_YKonBGPjHMmD14sIOJsqhhHMnP9WY8sScZRy_AOz43IoygA751H7lMWkTOtY5n0IfRcjopDKw5G3vOrPGBu4CmaoYT4FgOd1OcgGagWfTCtIZjGG7H6FVhZs-m7mXZtYak8VS_ZaHTPSO4/s4032/IMG_8965%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kW_GQRuP9HcUPm-l3Xi1M65WkRlXraSuqq-coTwpXJvu_YKonBGPjHMmD14sIOJsqhhHMnP9WY8sScZRy_AOz43IoygA751H7lMWkTOtY5n0IfRcjopDKw5G3vOrPGBu4CmaoYT4FgOd1OcgGagWfTCtIZjGG7H6FVhZs-m7mXZtYak8VS_ZaHTPSO4/w400-h300/IMG_8965%202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Less happily, the Large, Small and Green-veined White butterflies which are currently floating about like small handkerchiefs have shown their less appealing side by laying eggs on our purple sprouting. Here's the result which I am afraid I am dealing with ruthlessly. We lost the whole of last year's crop to severe frosts and I am determined to salvage this years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqpB3Rg8A2qE2PqC_4WXd2OSuEtCFnopIiIFJVyU44RVzC8CusP2C9yo5A3ygWrnDC_GSjisdSkCAxaeYcBnuzc8HJeGEncKUJM4BdA54dTOPUjuiJT6zlR7er7cY7MPqJRUXySEd-ngFhnrFiXJi9cmLm8Xhn9PYSgZeVaxw0xcpP0k8oFo9_UbdW0Q/s4032/IMG_9055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqpB3Rg8A2qE2PqC_4WXd2OSuEtCFnopIiIFJVyU44RVzC8CusP2C9yo5A3ygWrnDC_GSjisdSkCAxaeYcBnuzc8HJeGEncKUJM4BdA54dTOPUjuiJT6zlR7er7cY7MPqJRUXySEd-ngFhnrFiXJi9cmLm8Xhn9PYSgZeVaxw0xcpP0k8oFo9_UbdW0Q/w300-h400/IMG_9055.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other butterflies have been absorbing me on walks round the big field near our house, and there are cheerful signs that next year's population is going to flourish. Here's a Brown Argus caught during an interval in a mating dance with a friend (second pic), followed by two Small Skippers which were up to the same tricks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgJj6Q3rLW7nnG3KZKiWVQYSxU5-p6D0Bmvwx8wd684IcVwg0KCRrY8TyUyBLPrPeI2-7xpU5fr3lrXGZje8ONhEWzeRCPKkTPH6vxMPAFMozlIfsyGqx-VPCB9c3_JAiv1SeuDxsIJ2BxjinvBOvWT065k-YX9CfTU8slJ6wOc69KrMNECuVPGCo4dA/s4032/IMG_9030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgJj6Q3rLW7nnG3KZKiWVQYSxU5-p6D0Bmvwx8wd684IcVwg0KCRrY8TyUyBLPrPeI2-7xpU5fr3lrXGZje8ONhEWzeRCPKkTPH6vxMPAFMozlIfsyGqx-VPCB9c3_JAiv1SeuDxsIJ2BxjinvBOvWT065k-YX9CfTU8slJ6wOc69KrMNECuVPGCo4dA/w300-h400/IMG_9030.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17XGFpHsiVfk3J0aw0dtf0ftYdSeJ46HYQzrj_fil1kiphW9zaIsNsY6FXFlEQLHujJeg7RNrXmTrRhxUBZVlzat8C8xSmjGfTsUBx5ZbjEWvm0XC-Y8QUEckA-tUEwkSsakk5Vb78ijjvUsRm6NY3ikiOAqosRogjlgGEvWh1WoR4lSU4bSqaEVFSUs/s2272/IMG_8542%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="1907" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17XGFpHsiVfk3J0aw0dtf0ftYdSeJ46HYQzrj_fil1kiphW9zaIsNsY6FXFlEQLHujJeg7RNrXmTrRhxUBZVlzat8C8xSmjGfTsUBx5ZbjEWvm0XC-Y8QUEckA-tUEwkSsakk5Vb78ijjvUsRm6NY3ikiOAqosRogjlgGEvWh1WoR4lSU4bSqaEVFSUs/w336-h400/IMG_8542%202.JPG" width="336" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGqs3licEyMtvNkFoa8G_YLb1fBw6wg-i1XSCWZr0mn_nfo-EdNgPuAbGjusVTtmCMv4Dt0mk9rpK2WZefNDrSGTm_HDsjafkmTKAIVALct6cMzjls64w6MgBMu_c1IKmCjI2DkGIHc80gU9SqsQ52SQ0nYEJmN9IT830TNIpEtkW56shdNkk9pqb588/s1657/IMG_8527%204.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1657" data-original-width="1569" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGqs3licEyMtvNkFoa8G_YLb1fBw6wg-i1XSCWZr0mn_nfo-EdNgPuAbGjusVTtmCMv4Dt0mk9rpK2WZefNDrSGTm_HDsjafkmTKAIVALct6cMzjls64w6MgBMu_c1IKmCjI2DkGIHc80gU9SqsQ52SQ0nYEJmN9IT830TNIpEtkW56shdNkk9pqb588/w379-h400/IMG_8527%204.JPG" width="379" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And just for good measure, here's a contented and very beautiful male Common Blue whose mating perhaps took place earlier in the day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXU5OPuV6Jl1xsjxSzj09DPgybGxQdeKLsHGkaS1Ecz9z46aa7t4e5-slJweWrNFv1xkRq3uDk6UzQRO7Jv71AcescI7ThjLgNYM-sKdQZF4cHHuMimfbVufmF9dPLQnj3qSicpc53Uin7dn8tpj8q7Zoef9jR0-BvPWIzDHUI25UstnIL5jbYiZJUwo/s877/IMG_8128%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="752" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXU5OPuV6Jl1xsjxSzj09DPgybGxQdeKLsHGkaS1Ecz9z46aa7t4e5-slJweWrNFv1xkRq3uDk6UzQRO7Jv71AcescI7ThjLgNYM-sKdQZF4cHHuMimfbVufmF9dPLQnj3qSicpc53Uin7dn8tpj8q7Zoef9jR0-BvPWIzDHUI25UstnIL5jbYiZJUwo/w343-h400/IMG_8128%202.JPG" width="343" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My morning checks on the moths are watched closely at the moment by this robin, whose appearance on Instagram received 'likes' from both the American and the Iranian croquet associations. This got me wondering wistfully if the world's problems could be sorted out over croquet but the game is so competitive that I doubt it. My granny, who was a saintly woman in all other respects, was utterly ruthless when she had a mallet in her hand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY--5tKClc6_wL2NOa_28e9-S3-ravuHBKjnND-BUvoWi98trasi1R8uJ3H0YdM2iiBiz-P3tCJDkEfWWFbtRgjgJJd2AKlnkyo8SWElZc-G-oEhGXTM-4BpaDz-bSo4aQYBBMxmO8PNvrIQp7-u-w86g0WACeAyG38tl52MOoS4_z90S-8lNbPm_X04Y/s1162/IMG_8920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1099" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY--5tKClc6_wL2NOa_28e9-S3-ravuHBKjnND-BUvoWi98trasi1R8uJ3H0YdM2iiBiz-P3tCJDkEfWWFbtRgjgJJd2AKlnkyo8SWElZc-G-oEhGXTM-4BpaDz-bSo4aQYBBMxmO8PNvrIQp7-u-w86g0WACeAyG38tl52MOoS4_z90S-8lNbPm_X04Y/w379-h400/IMG_8920.JPG" width="379" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some recent moths - from the top, reading left to right: Satin Wave (I think), Green Carpet, Spectacle, <i>Anania Coronata</i> micro, Common Plume micro, Straw Underwing, a pair of Grey Daggers, another Common Plume and a Pebble Prominent.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3jp-zHlHrxww3IEPX-tUY2uYAQhEnl7pDyh-Jg4w_XjAurBBxbkzaU3TEHfuP94gGXwSEl-ixlx4bQUD6ryBheKVz79P-S0Osl2TJfh0vszjhboKdKfe5rPNdM21DN5zDo_e7ixlaWAkxgSRm6yXTiacPKeWmYISekrHUXllYK7ywnzEgU4KxUEnN4Y/s2048/B10F4344-9F73-4F30-8497-5B9AE7FBBA2F.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3jp-zHlHrxww3IEPX-tUY2uYAQhEnl7pDyh-Jg4w_XjAurBBxbkzaU3TEHfuP94gGXwSEl-ixlx4bQUD6ryBheKVz79P-S0Osl2TJfh0vszjhboKdKfe5rPNdM21DN5zDo_e7ixlaWAkxgSRm6yXTiacPKeWmYISekrHUXllYK7ywnzEgU4KxUEnN4Y/w400-h400/B10F4344-9F73-4F30-8497-5B9AE7FBBA2F.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And in the second composite: Iron Prominent, Brimstone, Willow Beauty, female Small Scallop, <i>Endotricha flammealis</i> micro, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Garden Pebble micro, European Corn-borer micro and Small Waved Umber. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rLJ6XMBFFhfBWdmpGChqFqaeNT8kfdku1RXppQ05X17jIT9_zZsS0uZA_F7gvZ9EEtsOXqRzxL1j4A5DRrQPXpTlq1F9669pdWJtS3X7nOVwQrSSRaq3B45TM-aRJX5JYo-LXDEg1dtv_9epKB81I8MEgd21_oKA8ft3H3OaQq3d9in9syX_Z6oqWAE/s2048/65FB3866-3920-4EF8-A046-9308FFAC1AE3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rLJ6XMBFFhfBWdmpGChqFqaeNT8kfdku1RXppQ05X17jIT9_zZsS0uZA_F7gvZ9EEtsOXqRzxL1j4A5DRrQPXpTlq1F9669pdWJtS3X7nOVwQrSSRaq3B45TM-aRJX5JYo-LXDEg1dtv_9epKB81I8MEgd21_oKA8ft3H3OaQq3d9in9syX_Z6oqWAE/w400-h400/65FB3866-3920-4EF8-A046-9308FFAC1AE3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, a couple of dragonflies, the top one a Small Red Damselfly I think and the second one - which I saw near Exmouth - possibly a female Black Darter. <b>Update: See Conehead in Comments who, helpfully as ever, suggests that they are actually Ruddy Darter dragonflies, the top one female and the bottom one probably male but my camera angle is not good enough to be certain. Many thanks as always.</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsr08LdGxu7CUp6zwI2QDrxmDFDNFmtPOfmg7ME--TcsNXWIvgCUxgm8IUVDd5Hr5EVtD-x0hYp7KO9Y9ImRJs8mmNPRSMC5TQiDQqlqhYIAxMwz3BVfGKBfebhWOavaCeWbX3nH4_l7CMGxGaKY1wTbEvcYq8h0uvN1N8gkVPzFhXQwWUNiVPMmc0hEE/s2048/A12A43B9-A876-43A1-ADFD-0DD732AEA7FA.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsr08LdGxu7CUp6zwI2QDrxmDFDNFmtPOfmg7ME--TcsNXWIvgCUxgm8IUVDd5Hr5EVtD-x0hYp7KO9Y9ImRJs8mmNPRSMC5TQiDQqlqhYIAxMwz3BVfGKBfebhWOavaCeWbX3nH4_l7CMGxGaKY1wTbEvcYq8h0uvN1N8gkVPzFhXQwWUNiVPMmc0hEE/w400-h400/A12A43B9-A876-43A1-ADFD-0DD732AEA7FA.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>MartinWainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383027708524885786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-90386823804800838882023-08-18T07:08:00.004+01:002023-08-18T19:21:06.945+01:00Spider's prey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJ4Q1Eji8JKRwXmvmx6jhaGaDK_KmvGtE-ZBPxNBRXQ7AeqGYDg3g_-XOIYku_k-ACdA5-TTcD-dG9gEWxeDWcVTKpk-CNjKcIWmRxvVjcd9aKuI_LRWKrehFAy0N8gNu34fgkl9jq0OaGLzAwVKLw5YbDncJhRmMdCAx2J6ssVzvHGsZW_WZ4tspN3k/s4032/IMG_8781.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJ4Q1Eji8JKRwXmvmx6jhaGaDK_KmvGtE-ZBPxNBRXQ7AeqGYDg3g_-XOIYku_k-ACdA5-TTcD-dG9gEWxeDWcVTKpk-CNjKcIWmRxvVjcd9aKuI_LRWKrehFAy0N8gNu34fgkl9jq0OaGLzAwVKLw5YbDncJhRmMdCAx2J6ssVzvHGsZW_WZ4tspN3k/w300-h400/IMG_8781.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p>It was my great-niece Connie who spotted it - a Red Admiral strangely poised in mid-air, like a kestrel but without its wings moving. Upside-down as well. We crept up, looked more closely and saw what we had feared: it had been trapped by a spider in a large but scarcely visible web.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzYZxgEoGvfQtTgiFgWoBVr84o0yB_jydEZonbobELc_91xGkcLXyOMifAIHZooPCXIvnJQJuBfks8lssHbr4TVCm5RjlCXnlKuL7hM06qlGr1rDkuOpFoZdUQttRAOcc0kXiJtjDhJF5pSwwY0Vz_5n8lp4wv08HvXlMqmaaFYKKisXflPvZkKgQq98/s4032/IMG_8779.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzYZxgEoGvfQtTgiFgWoBVr84o0yB_jydEZonbobELc_91xGkcLXyOMifAIHZooPCXIvnJQJuBfks8lssHbr4TVCm5RjlCXnlKuL7hM06qlGr1rDkuOpFoZdUQttRAOcc0kXiJtjDhJF5pSwwY0Vz_5n8lp4wv08HvXlMqmaaFYKKisXflPvZkKgQq98/w300-h400/IMG_8779.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It appeared to be dead but when I swiped the air nearby, it twitched feebly and then began to struggle. I circled my hand around it and it came free but still attached to pieces of the spider's silk. Down it went but its flapping wings freed it in time to avoid a crash and it escaped a little drunkenly into the safety of some shrubs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiam9EGJPVIBugR1l3Fp4lWlcM1T77YMzPls2HX79IkZ0wM3BkyLJap577-HHeG6YajDYwZPCycMRiOAnoiS8GPp59b4Bi53VBoF_GmeXE8yr97hqB7leFgAt4xPfnhguDPXtO6AoWlZGXVgPCKMPcTlPeOtw1jo4cr2UBZ2-EQlPSMp5HNSfBDgayyKK0/s4032/IMG_8782.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiam9EGJPVIBugR1l3Fp4lWlcM1T77YMzPls2HX79IkZ0wM3BkyLJap577-HHeG6YajDYwZPCycMRiOAnoiS8GPp59b4Bi53VBoF_GmeXE8yr97hqB7leFgAt4xPfnhguDPXtO6AoWlZGXVgPCKMPcTlPeOtw1jo4cr2UBZ2-EQlPSMp5HNSfBDgayyKK0/w300-h400/IMG_8782.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Connie was duly hailed as the Butterfly Saviour but it was a handy lesson for the children, and for all of us there, about the ruthless side of Nature. Most people are naturally kind to animals and rightly so but animals have no reason to be kind to one another and seldom are.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the moth trap meanwhile, I have had my first visit from one of my Top Moths, the beautiful Black Arches with its bold dazzle camouflage upper wings and a pink-striped body which is normally hidden from sight. This one obligingly perched on the roughly transparent trap-cowl so you can make out the pink through the age-battered plastic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkOMdxtQwn3_HwzTAnq-irr23NJaihcQHG2JjEnPmOU2kjIMfI-7wqtAm5UeSAQohnssiHx8HoJ9KOi_y_QgbR5nfQThqBK6I3OEOeRZx9GPsip4TIhdm8082djET6cr2ZnOHNFEOvx3ToTsYu_mAhT5pnL7BvSrPZuXJHwZnhKNx6k0Ehxwj9qLIkII/s4032/IMG_8427%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkOMdxtQwn3_HwzTAnq-irr23NJaihcQHG2JjEnPmOU2kjIMfI-7wqtAm5UeSAQohnssiHx8HoJ9KOi_y_QgbR5nfQThqBK6I3OEOeRZx9GPsip4TIhdm8082djET6cr2ZnOHNFEOvx3ToTsYu_mAhT5pnL7BvSrPZuXJHwZnhKNx6k0Ehxwj9qLIkII/w300-h400/IMG_8427%202.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwckVXmx8d4tEFk-PcUgStYqbaGMv2Kxpk5sZ8ldYLKxcUVp8SQLzedWTz2DXbYssXUhh0h-YVNDyGNZHtcAY-CVGYRuYwgFvRLyvRqg1S00BTpH0SSDGEvm-fYuo_pihHLOx8MVtKpDES9nq04pphxt3xn5HNaPY9FCAFugq46Pf2Z5ZdgvIrilBw64/s4032/IMG_8428.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwckVXmx8d4tEFk-PcUgStYqbaGMv2Kxpk5sZ8ldYLKxcUVp8SQLzedWTz2DXbYssXUhh0h-YVNDyGNZHtcAY-CVGYRuYwgFvRLyvRqg1S00BTpH0SSDGEvm-fYuo_pihHLOx8MVtKpDES9nq04pphxt3xn5HNaPY9FCAFugq46Pf2Z5ZdgvIrilBw64/w300-h400/IMG_8428.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The only downside to this beautiful creature for me is its dull and inappropriate name, especially in the world of moths where naming has been taken to inspired lengths. The Americans, however, call it the Nun Moth and you can find sites online asking questions such as 'Which is the bug that looks like a nun?' I can't say that it resembles any nuns that I have seen or met, but at least the idea is more interesting that yet another Arches moth, alongside the Light and ubiquitous Dark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A more serious downside for those who are not simply beguiled by moths is that the species is seen as a threat to hardwood trees, like the Gypsy Moth featured in my last post. The Americans in particular are worried by this; the awful prospect of an invasion of tree-munching nuns.</div>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-8316126689546128812023-08-17T18:31:00.002+01:002023-08-17T18:31:29.537+01:00Travelling moth<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-yG445S3Z2C1LLH5-q4DKmacFcIWLFcK6i3dxYfKmKgGGmTd5IjxnSDizWBoSF3tLbtZrXATJMWP9DEPQGeTu26a2Q9n2ObGPvNDb6jw8d73i9S72r24E2M6cVHA4-s_lY9CqOetK03I7cK8yBhnE5lTLedRgTVjQSDplPVlMeMWK8qBK2em_q-iUNk/s4032/IMG_8984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-yG445S3Z2C1LLH5-q4DKmacFcIWLFcK6i3dxYfKmKgGGmTd5IjxnSDizWBoSF3tLbtZrXATJMWP9DEPQGeTu26a2Q9n2ObGPvNDb6jw8d73i9S72r24E2M6cVHA4-s_lY9CqOetK03I7cK8yBhnE5lTLedRgTVjQSDplPVlMeMWK8qBK2em_q-iUNk/w400-h300/IMG_8984.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ten years ago, it would have been a big surprise to open the light trap and find the guest shown above. But the Gypsy Moth has staged a dramatic comeback since just before the pandemic, when the trickle of some 30 records since the 1950s began to turn into a flood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92gQZUCJnAkBdyTkMOvwg8vv0sljXMEq0nA3vTGeXfnQn87ox6W2GUH2XtpMsRV2whzOYuhDPIvORABEaTy23-cvMhSxpwzcn97Unm-8SivEnlCkRb5XoVYvDVN6pIAZrXjxKPALic3ZomE-hF1tvW7BMYQ2korL6kY5zi3CUOWlKmcsArtmVQ8xyfU0/s3412/IMG_8976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3412" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92gQZUCJnAkBdyTkMOvwg8vv0sljXMEq0nA3vTGeXfnQn87ox6W2GUH2XtpMsRV2whzOYuhDPIvORABEaTy23-cvMhSxpwzcn97Unm-8SivEnlCkRb5XoVYvDVN6pIAZrXjxKPALic3ZomE-hF1tvW7BMYQ2korL6kY5zi3CUOWlKmcsArtmVQ8xyfU0/w355-h400/IMG_8976.JPG" width="355" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I saw my first example at the grandchildren's home in east London in August 2019 when my keenly entomological granddaughter came rushing out to ask me what it was. A year later, two of them came on the same night to the trap here. I haven't seen any since then but plenty of other people have, across the South of England. News has spread as rapidly, because the Gypsy's caterpillars are a serious threat to many trees and are on the world list of Top 100 invasive pests. Quite a distinction.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qOJqGhVY27k1Lvz0-gDCVX1Rxo4RxKdRyxnZfok1xXiqUMSOyzlpyOg07ahDN2CksI-ZvfOivOacVtMTpE_siZZAul8_JhiyLq8Zt0UNO4rVg-kdxz6kcXZIiVjRIVdm9DAmo4juZeA1cGC8jY6OQCoyu2c4oyJL-S7cYDO4I5IOd7uDtfhLmg1ZWY8/s1527/IMG_8979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1517" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qOJqGhVY27k1Lvz0-gDCVX1Rxo4RxKdRyxnZfok1xXiqUMSOyzlpyOg07ahDN2CksI-ZvfOivOacVtMTpE_siZZAul8_JhiyLq8Zt0UNO4rVg-kdxz6kcXZIiVjRIVdm9DAmo4juZeA1cGC8jY6OQCoyu2c4oyJL-S7cYDO4I5IOd7uDtfhLmg1ZWY8/w398-h400/IMG_8979.JPG" width="398" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However voracious, the moth is an interesting species with the female only very seldom seen to fly in spite of her having larger and more beautiful white and creamy wings than the male shown here. He gets the terrific antennae instead. There used to be a distinct British sub-species in the Fens but draining and tree clearance led to its extinction with the last one recorded in 1907. When a colony sprang up in Redbridge, north London, in 1995, it was eradicated by pest controllers. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0LukGh-w7UBjHVjtkgoRXmAJtO16fD2JHIrNBehnE53qlofZ0RvFGSjWhPQLgMVrA51T8Jwo-NV1YuUQ7XQuLovezXpd435XsMHlBkdYdWwTBbzDZ-hebkIL02KtxCC8esZGuefgyYCczr1zwiOVpHdpR2_naHbJ6mWiuJ1V4vU7_o31rzv0h6YztAg/s3024/IMG_8980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1963" data-original-width="3024" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0LukGh-w7UBjHVjtkgoRXmAJtO16fD2JHIrNBehnE53qlofZ0RvFGSjWhPQLgMVrA51T8Jwo-NV1YuUQ7XQuLovezXpd435XsMHlBkdYdWwTBbzDZ-hebkIL02KtxCC8esZGuefgyYCczr1zwiOVpHdpR2_naHbJ6mWiuJ1V4vU7_o31rzv0h6YztAg/w400-h260/IMG_8980.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Moths such as the Redbridge ones and my visitors are described in Home Office terms as 'immigrants', 'former residents' and 'adventive', the last a term meaning having a toehold but not fully at home. Yet. The way things are going, we will be seeing more and more Gypsies, just as the very destructive Box Moth is clearly here to stay. One last distinction: its tiny caterpillars have a few meals of tree leaves then climb as high as they can and dangle, allowing themselves to be caught by the wind and sometimes blown as far as half-a-mile. An ingenious example of dispersal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfw67CAP6IY7KjTZ5yCInKW2Slqdfv8SuAfLA7FMs39zL_-FdRG5suiJ63wPWiGM28hOZY2Jx7iaofi1LUOs7zHXxq8CstkFdVZXHyCtOAWy3RuvPNoeRK9QiiYRz4X8X7T7jAAlgoI5A_jYTnjyDv82WIMq7LCaRqJlZsdB4pB43E_std1boinseqsw/s4032/IMG_8985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfw67CAP6IY7KjTZ5yCInKW2Slqdfv8SuAfLA7FMs39zL_-FdRG5suiJ63wPWiGM28hOZY2Jx7iaofi1LUOs7zHXxq8CstkFdVZXHyCtOAWy3RuvPNoeRK9QiiYRz4X8X7T7jAAlgoI5A_jYTnjyDv82WIMq7LCaRqJlZsdB4pB43E_std1boinseqsw/w400-h300/IMG_8985.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A head as good as the Gypsy's belongs to the Canary-shouldered Thorn which is coming to the trap in some numbers at the moment and is extremely well-named. I first photo-ed this one at 7.15am before tucking the eggboxes away in our shed, out of reach of the robin. At 5.30pm, it was still around and sound asleep so I took it out on a leaf into the garden for a photoshoot closer to Nature.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnzrAGiZZyW-bEs2FVaTnETGZHXNfKjGprcf0Sfitm_pZKRvpm7rcfXeDKQXPDU_bYK9qgF5h5rRJEv4K32OzoJdFuBw0QQHCgnF6w7IVRWEqvlNUNmMe6BUzeeFcUx7juyA51fMEI8T18mOv2sbr2yWOiGXDyjhZ8DfG10X59DB1sbkQisYVYWp0bck/s4032/IMG_9014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnzrAGiZZyW-bEs2FVaTnETGZHXNfKjGprcf0Sfitm_pZKRvpm7rcfXeDKQXPDU_bYK9qgF5h5rRJEv4K32OzoJdFuBw0QQHCgnF6w7IVRWEqvlNUNmMe6BUzeeFcUx7juyA51fMEI8T18mOv2sbr2yWOiGXDyjhZ8DfG10X59DB1sbkQisYVYWp0bck/w300-h400/IMG_9014.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another recent moth which hung about for a whole day and night was the Lesser Swallow Prominent below which I first photographed at 8.15am. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UBlVK-BWl4tv8mKpgPtoajTg3kS74HrM6uZbJQ-8p8c1PMajKY9tCYvlQcI0NsQwqZm-rRxXeuriXDw_dXp3rcNPmlHb1pid1dWrC4HexH4s5lv3n8JNK5Uh9Jo0Cqm_BhNiyY_YytIZdsl_Ubhfpfj4bGP7XtoRfWWklfdU4PCZolPxJAbFXPnUkew/s4032/IMG_8441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UBlVK-BWl4tv8mKpgPtoajTg3kS74HrM6uZbJQ-8p8c1PMajKY9tCYvlQcI0NsQwqZm-rRxXeuriXDw_dXp3rcNPmlHb1pid1dWrC4HexH4s5lv3n8JNK5Uh9Jo0Cqm_BhNiyY_YytIZdsl_Ubhfpfj4bGP7XtoRfWWklfdU4PCZolPxJAbFXPnUkew/w400-h300/IMG_8441.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was then distracted by other things and it wasn't until the next morning that I went back to the trap, which I had left outside, by which time there had been quite heavy rain. Guess who was there? the same moth, sound asleep in spite of water drops covering its back like large beads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cI8JEddgsc4I_1jCuhT2KcGBWfNJTOxdrAnzQRsmVq---ZOx_6tasjhh8iYMBxKC9FJS67ylxjtRVOiWSd4IhtWK9L1tnv-R5qnVEh6n2xb5kUWxJLTYiaWr5dehrItNY2LCjcHYEmJHkI1rqnsCzH_LChCtJzTH58A-Q1Tq0mcblNT27Ki-JoY863E/s4032/IMG_8476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cI8JEddgsc4I_1jCuhT2KcGBWfNJTOxdrAnzQRsmVq---ZOx_6tasjhh8iYMBxKC9FJS67ylxjtRVOiWSd4IhtWK9L1tnv-R5qnVEh6n2xb5kUWxJLTYiaWr5dehrItNY2LCjcHYEmJHkI1rqnsCzH_LChCtJzTH58A-Q1Tq0mcblNT27Ki-JoY863E/w300-h400/IMG_8476.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJquC6oJzraH7sOp5pcXWX58L6zPUkO8qvB9Ega7hxHKxk8cy2JYvye1fRYDxNvfsYVNpdDcgtPBxgJ--ir2Z_MNiHrZNm_CIna-EB8uAxR3CklzFIea7jzVOkAxY8Gwa7n-R-4T8SPcLA3L69jaGnkYGInXdGm3Cwd2Q8N202JRdg46weBqT5wEeJnA/s4032/IMG_8477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJquC6oJzraH7sOp5pcXWX58L6zPUkO8qvB9Ega7hxHKxk8cy2JYvye1fRYDxNvfsYVNpdDcgtPBxgJ--ir2Z_MNiHrZNm_CIna-EB8uAxR3CklzFIea7jzVOkAxY8Gwa7n-R-4T8SPcLA3L69jaGnkYGInXdGm3Cwd2Q8N202JRdg46weBqT5wEeJnA/w300-h400/IMG_8477.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More soon on other delightful visitors but to conclude for today, here's a composite of pictures taken during a couple of hours' gardening in the sunshine. It shows, going across top to bottom, a familiar Peacock butterfly, a Small Skipper, a female Common Blue, a Brimstone, a Mint Moth, a very battered Silver Y moth, a Small White butterfly, a Shaded Broad-bar moth and a Large White. Happy times!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu_Juhn_nTj-Xjp5ie6EswHP8zkwWxjbb-019Bx9xILKqD8mjxT54A4P11bFJx_O9eI9aW_nfaQjN0vA6XyHF2TR815kvfoFsCckxpkApbjDI0bECdnWkpln-jfdwX1QFdp2hGQSic2UQn5WwE8f2yJv1FvqbPMjmvw1ytVFJzZEG-ttYYs9t11z73KY/s2048/EE5ECCBA-0FC3-4C93-BC70-E59906BA3A9B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu_Juhn_nTj-Xjp5ie6EswHP8zkwWxjbb-019Bx9xILKqD8mjxT54A4P11bFJx_O9eI9aW_nfaQjN0vA6XyHF2TR815kvfoFsCckxpkApbjDI0bECdnWkpln-jfdwX1QFdp2hGQSic2UQn5WwE8f2yJv1FvqbPMjmvw1ytVFJzZEG-ttYYs9t11z73KY/w400-h400/EE5ECCBA-0FC3-4C93-BC70-E59906BA3A9B.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>MartinWainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383027708524885786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-5362985546437178632023-08-15T07:47:00.001+01:002023-08-17T18:33:45.621+01:00What a surprise<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcOp5Q1uRUjiP0i7RVXCxuF0t_mxFoTA1LJX-ujg7D22A_4LOWoi2D-QNFiWqP8HZO6rnylUdST-ux3zOSqPpdLfmqiwoc_Oak6TqiaOLqYt6kJbq8bxqlh1GeWqK8xCsevvGedKr4SFbz_HNwTMF-8zDuVdFmZHU5rpgPBxqrYMoKEV0UR1WPR7D3rI/s1042/IMG_8482.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="967" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcOp5Q1uRUjiP0i7RVXCxuF0t_mxFoTA1LJX-ujg7D22A_4LOWoi2D-QNFiWqP8HZO6rnylUdST-ux3zOSqPpdLfmqiwoc_Oak6TqiaOLqYt6kJbq8bxqlh1GeWqK8xCsevvGedKr4SFbz_HNwTMF-8zDuVdFmZHU5rpgPBxqrYMoKEV0UR1WPR7D3rI/w371-h400/IMG_8482.JPG" width="371" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">I have had plenty of excellent moth surprises since we moved from Leeds in 2013 and I re-lit the lamp to shine just north of Oxford. New hawk moths, abundant middle-range species and the glorious arrival of the Clifden Nonpareil. But I never expected the same thing to happen in the very much smaller world of UK butterflies.</p><p style="text-align: left;">There are only 59 species of these compared to over 3,500 types of moth. Yet this year has seen two completely new arrivals in our garden and immediately around. I mentioned my discovery of the very elusive Black Hairstreak <a href="http://martinsmoths.blogspot.com/2023/06/tempted-down-from-treetops.html">back in mid-June</a>; now its delightful cousin the Brown Hairstreak has come to visit us for the first time. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I was patrolling the edge of our lawn on a lovely sunny day two weeks ago to take a photographic record of the butterflies and day-flying moths. I found Speckled Woods in a well-shaded corner and then moved on into the sunlight by the main flower border where the likes of Meadow Browns and Hedge Browns often flutter around.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My eye was caught by one of them which I took to be a Hedge Brown until the last minute. As I pressed the iPhone camera button, I realised that it was something else; a little smaller and more brightly orange. The moment took me back to a year ago when I saw my first-ever Brown Hairstreak in the car park of the Premier Inn at Newhaven, just as we arrived back on foot from the Dieppe ferry after a week in France. That one was so vividly russet-orange that I mistook it at first for a Comma.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I told our local hairstreak expert about the latest arrival and he was interested that, like the Newhaven one, it was truanting from its usual habitat of hedgerows and ash trees. Interestingly too, it appears to be drinking dew from the Day Lily's petals, rather than nectaring on the stamen. Given hairstreaks' fondness for aphid honey, perhaps it had found a watered-down variant of this favourite tipple.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8lVhi_YugBQc1PUpDpw4YYV44bTlUqby9g6gPg4aPN27ej471awcjrxks6U5X11RY3pR3-f2MHchLR6-8oYkhvT06lrKYOhOK_U1HPL79QFae0tEGglJ5fQy2cRmnl0BTWWAg56QT1at1SR9746KJCcCOOkEfG1HqOyWE_P3NP2UX4FlAF2KnngrgKc/s832/tiger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="832" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8lVhi_YugBQc1PUpDpw4YYV44bTlUqby9g6gPg4aPN27ej471awcjrxks6U5X11RY3pR3-f2MHchLR6-8oYkhvT06lrKYOhOK_U1HPL79QFae0tEGglJ5fQy2cRmnl0BTWWAg56QT1at1SR9746KJCcCOOkEfG1HqOyWE_P3NP2UX4FlAF2KnngrgKc/w400-h354/tiger.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other exotic day-flyer much in evidence at the moment is the Jersey Tiger which seems to be rampant in the South of England now. We played Spot-the-Tiger with my grandchildren and a larger version of the photo above, which shows the back of their car. Below is the moth's more appropriate refuge after our game had scared it off up into some bushes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDxHj-RdI4zGqCLnL1oAHgYKvn9xPkGDVTa4-0OPAO1xDyRIPvshAhfV_OtGitrg05fQnZtXwsfJE9LrL_18beI-3w4cpAJKbMLAH9gFvZ0ACKZ6poH9bLXIEEJrnjnKA3DsrATpe78qYcqsXODla2Cz1UpNWRY-dHzroZ3dXZ79uO3flLE8OnPbLj7I/s4032/IMG_8588.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDxHj-RdI4zGqCLnL1oAHgYKvn9xPkGDVTa4-0OPAO1xDyRIPvshAhfV_OtGitrg05fQnZtXwsfJE9LrL_18beI-3w4cpAJKbMLAH9gFvZ0ACKZ6poH9bLXIEEJrnjnKA3DsrATpe78qYcqsXODla2Cz1UpNWRY-dHzroZ3dXZ79uO3flLE8OnPbLj7I/w300-h400/IMG_8588.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mentioned <a href="http://martinsmoths.blogspot.com/2023/07/far-from-home.html">the other day</a> that this is the insect which congregates in vast numbers in the mis-named Valley of the Butterflies on Rhodes - which seems to have been spared the wildfires, thank goodness. Here is a picture from an online visitor's log of just one small part of the valley's horde.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78Ep-G5Wzf8gNwuJ83VWkxk1iNKoWTjMfuouiuKxasbbioOp9C4hzs0IDSBv9-TUsJCKmEUs4RIUdEv_N4Yf-xIlgRic2_r0x3sIxxNQ-ZtAlh-xFh9wrMsLgxkta2W3q_wQrGxiVrL3u5dJ_2slbvFfBq-odVxjyc4cNdlR7UUnRAWprwdrE4_6zvK8/s1170/IMG_7869.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1170" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78Ep-G5Wzf8gNwuJ83VWkxk1iNKoWTjMfuouiuKxasbbioOp9C4hzs0IDSBv9-TUsJCKmEUs4RIUdEv_N4Yf-xIlgRic2_r0x3sIxxNQ-ZtAlh-xFh9wrMsLgxkta2W3q_wQrGxiVrL3u5dJ_2slbvFfBq-odVxjyc4cNdlR7UUnRAWprwdrE4_6zvK8/w400-h266/IMG_7869.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last time we were down at the grandchildren's in Wiltshire, I saw another one fluttering about an outside light and then yet another in a nearby bush. We have just spent the weekend in Topsham near Exeter at a family gathering and, lo and behold, what should be sharing our B&B but the Jersey Tiger in the third picture.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu30uvB25E-TvzpzgVKnD6fjpYQDFLWLWCIOMIjR39L-4UH-Lq0zDuOBit33ZMgJEU_fv8sEzr5V1kqAO7akbOLI9uU8ArUC5ZEoVg9G3tMuTKmhMy0Un5yrdhEeaWfY9ZoVCeEIys15Xr1A_dL1c3i76U_zK_j55_-mJU6cJ1m9YFLKaaGc5HO1bteXU/s1134/IMG_7805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="877" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu30uvB25E-TvzpzgVKnD6fjpYQDFLWLWCIOMIjR39L-4UH-Lq0zDuOBit33ZMgJEU_fv8sEzr5V1kqAO7akbOLI9uU8ArUC5ZEoVg9G3tMuTKmhMy0Un5yrdhEeaWfY9ZoVCeEIys15Xr1A_dL1c3i76U_zK_j55_-mJU6cJ1m9YFLKaaGc5HO1bteXU/w309-h400/IMG_7805.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6StWHC97mYF63rNGAPhJlnO87V05Vqh99rFtIjSZqAUu0fmiP_p3bYKZiOS0xb4ZQ7ZOLwGSftK-nd-1METz_dAgi5d1GoliAcckUcQQF1sBhC6PomV4OQPNQ4hMQmfAp55urjbZr8cpT1pSLXdevXi-s3UATJ8PmOWvT9Xwn2b-A6nMsXuhLupv7d0s/s3328/IMG_7804%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3328" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6StWHC97mYF63rNGAPhJlnO87V05Vqh99rFtIjSZqAUu0fmiP_p3bYKZiOS0xb4ZQ7ZOLwGSftK-nd-1METz_dAgi5d1GoliAcckUcQQF1sBhC6PomV4OQPNQ4hMQmfAp55urjbZr8cpT1pSLXdevXi-s3UATJ8PmOWvT9Xwn2b-A6nMsXuhLupv7d0s/w364-h400/IMG_7804%202.JPG" width="364" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8j_OxT_SaDsQY19x7Agf7RDRHoe0nwjPv_TsB-j6SBnWDaT0kTyWJ4IseAnf0KvMGemedsXJrx37QNEbZBhDjXvg936buXh-FMKnAG-cCHZaKbOSgXM5YAtzbW5zebYNMTVsHW2FK3X1c2ropcKJeq96C55uTUvmP38pZZ-7cxnoankhxv-9oV31JN8A/s3168/IMG_7800.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="3005" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8j_OxT_SaDsQY19x7Agf7RDRHoe0nwjPv_TsB-j6SBnWDaT0kTyWJ4IseAnf0KvMGemedsXJrx37QNEbZBhDjXvg936buXh-FMKnAG-cCHZaKbOSgXM5YAtzbW5zebYNMTVsHW2FK3X1c2ropcKJeq96C55uTUvmP38pZZ-7cxnoankhxv-9oV31JN8A/w380-h400/IMG_7800.JPG" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here below are the results of another afternoon's meander with the iPhone, this time in the grandchildren's garden. And below that is one of their dragonflies, a White-legged Damselfly, <a href="http://martinsmoths.blogspot.com/2023/07/far-from-home.html">kindly identified by Conehead </a>in the previous Jersey Tiger post, which is always to be found on the same small unmown patch of their lawn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWKPKVHO-L_d0dVXZKUJ1f6iwLNWWhq8EIKD38s-yAEuvZpni3a18eBYEACJFoGANNCiP1MolIJtKyhGRbIhVNo19GFHGgXjIz1ThqHwW1Z8-NAtqPnlEIDSk4IEwZQ_zOh17du8qsp7pzyUhTq9J1awMomeFZ5cv5xermDBSGyXPDw7KVG7qjTbbppQ/s2048/8E821411-E44F-42FE-ABAF-D120515FDB3B.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWKPKVHO-L_d0dVXZKUJ1f6iwLNWWhq8EIKD38s-yAEuvZpni3a18eBYEACJFoGANNCiP1MolIJtKyhGRbIhVNo19GFHGgXjIz1ThqHwW1Z8-NAtqPnlEIDSk4IEwZQ_zOh17du8qsp7pzyUhTq9J1awMomeFZ5cv5xermDBSGyXPDw7KVG7qjTbbppQ/w400-h400/8E821411-E44F-42FE-ABAF-D120515FDB3B.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bHGxEY_Jig19wHcraryZJRjTZ4AxZFiGwADRMyZoDhtmhggs1oPmAhLDZ-vsJhX_He2GBPR-8Mm9nlF7HyYv8xuO_zLumr0y6Ds4qv3zApYLndSjWxiZBup579CFd5YcvwV9dt7EngW4pPS_uFc1fZYu7yGJHupxPXFYGi_SjEOdIkJrR-MU1RPfrgU/s2864/IMG_7830.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2864" data-original-width="2693" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bHGxEY_Jig19wHcraryZJRjTZ4AxZFiGwADRMyZoDhtmhggs1oPmAhLDZ-vsJhX_He2GBPR-8Mm9nlF7HyYv8xuO_zLumr0y6Ds4qv3zApYLndSjWxiZBup579CFd5YcvwV9dt7EngW4pPS_uFc1fZYu7yGJHupxPXFYGi_SjEOdIkJrR-MU1RPfrgU/w376-h400/IMG_7830.JPG" width="376" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the moth trap, numbers remain high but arrivals are predictable and I have had no newcomers for some time. Below we have a Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, I think, and a Dusky Sallow followed by the hedge-munching but rather handsome Box Moth, a good old Elephant Hawk, one of the Summer's stayers and around since May, a Silver Y embracing a Common Footman watched by a micro-moth to which I will return for ID at some stage, and finally the excellent front breeches of a Ruby Tiger.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdYK5Go_eaTIXxvJGNayPB5wmRKwm946mOizSt2ceuiOzx3Jj3TcDxye45Goh0BKOfNOPqHCu8KQkFRgqQR6ltDuaO0X5Pb9ajLcOy8V_OlhrCrEtNvOHw9hd7k18jeooBIfHxuUkDBLwbW35M72lvCJjYxHPO8_l4TJfwd4ZZawsc5QMc1YceygrEkc/s2934/IMG_7742.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2204" data-original-width="2934" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdYK5Go_eaTIXxvJGNayPB5wmRKwm946mOizSt2ceuiOzx3Jj3TcDxye45Goh0BKOfNOPqHCu8KQkFRgqQR6ltDuaO0X5Pb9ajLcOy8V_OlhrCrEtNvOHw9hd7k18jeooBIfHxuUkDBLwbW35M72lvCJjYxHPO8_l4TJfwd4ZZawsc5QMc1YceygrEkc/w400-h300/IMG_7742.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWqbl9WcIPEutwpeZHXwVlPm-1Pgd6dpM3E0SyO6fhGAJUm8qvZxf7kJampu9Fv5YWF7J_kv5QdXp7Jq4Mgg4eacBzJSyhBiVHCl-4RMgXS7mYhmKEM0uYZ-snYhzHhlOsQEdTEeWTwTWmxMXl96iOfY17ChC7ny0NxqsvAFfvtVPMRsi3PKEr_dlz1k/s2967/IMG_7734.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2828" data-original-width="2967" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWqbl9WcIPEutwpeZHXwVlPm-1Pgd6dpM3E0SyO6fhGAJUm8qvZxf7kJampu9Fv5YWF7J_kv5QdXp7Jq4Mgg4eacBzJSyhBiVHCl-4RMgXS7mYhmKEM0uYZ-snYhzHhlOsQEdTEeWTwTWmxMXl96iOfY17ChC7ny0NxqsvAFfvtVPMRsi3PKEr_dlz1k/w400-h381/IMG_7734.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN-OG2-8d2P_dnsGMkOnm7wrZ79lsY_wmLuFo4sUv_kGT0RQP1PVGibz44PMTGinrin3AW-nBJ9Uk2vOcaK_FVqc27FO3-qMfsYQjLTUryxdxBFUTowXJP4nF5TB2dCCkVPo3G0Dew1JR3o5mYxiGFeak57bL5D1ovWm7PBUPgqFxqWVVPP062T1qeGQ/s3185/IMG_7733.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3185" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN-OG2-8d2P_dnsGMkOnm7wrZ79lsY_wmLuFo4sUv_kGT0RQP1PVGibz44PMTGinrin3AW-nBJ9Uk2vOcaK_FVqc27FO3-qMfsYQjLTUryxdxBFUTowXJP4nF5TB2dCCkVPo3G0Dew1JR3o5mYxiGFeak57bL5D1ovWm7PBUPgqFxqWVVPP062T1qeGQ/w380-h400/IMG_7733.JPG" width="380" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWXLBWz0HIJqWPn04l0-UOYycZTnSzkfdeSQi_7Ep9vJuuwpi5tlnVInHcDSo0croK3zXaHpl-7Gj99Dw6RXstXAIy3P1tXs1iKpQ93gfvGjWAoTVoKvluBC0NdrNTNQ6OSvZEvHVBhdgGs-f9fw13mcYWN0OZEHptimf0wwjl7uiqX6MsZNyA8QzhwE/s1237/IMG_7729.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1237" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWXLBWz0HIJqWPn04l0-UOYycZTnSzkfdeSQi_7Ep9vJuuwpi5tlnVInHcDSo0croK3zXaHpl-7Gj99Dw6RXstXAIy3P1tXs1iKpQ93gfvGjWAoTVoKvluBC0NdrNTNQ6OSvZEvHVBhdgGs-f9fw13mcYWN0OZEHptimf0wwjl7uiqX6MsZNyA8QzhwE/w400-h378/IMG_7729.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_ba7yxw_c_gEV6WD_WcH9tKAOUZiuTbuY1S7RiWfb1cY3LSOqC4elzraSfiG5ieZqPeMC6rcBFCn9GNuquzL8IJ6UaB-0NrJA0-1YYNfAzebWwwfqZaEdSwu6ysdGvX0g1GQVbEnxoLvLok1wPvMddJSS_FvXuzXYnueDvHYMGbhBOPThCqMHcQBT1s/s2465/IMG_7725.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="2465" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_ba7yxw_c_gEV6WD_WcH9tKAOUZiuTbuY1S7RiWfb1cY3LSOqC4elzraSfiG5ieZqPeMC6rcBFCn9GNuquzL8IJ6UaB-0NrJA0-1YYNfAzebWwwfqZaEdSwu6ysdGvX0g1GQVbEnxoLvLok1wPvMddJSS_FvXuzXYnueDvHYMGbhBOPThCqMHcQBT1s/w400-h351/IMG_7725.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-18020495707193634772023-08-14T10:04:00.001+01:002023-08-14T10:04:43.413+01:00Now the lady's turn<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkanIeGOmY3xs5lDZJ8M1k33MUfUElasda938wLLtKwLxK9e0USjn7ONJu0aL2MSmwYI_kx-e45rg7B_LGdyj6wXGJEv7BrNrh-LgGZ0VDfcWrN5_foaq-0QvH82JxEklM_b-cAXegQ6EvIMv7Ei0PJFBvXwAYGRGcWnDXVqcHOBRIkdXFwbvmcYxayng/s4032/IMG_8398.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkanIeGOmY3xs5lDZJ8M1k33MUfUElasda938wLLtKwLxK9e0USjn7ONJu0aL2MSmwYI_kx-e45rg7B_LGdyj6wXGJEv7BrNrh-LgGZ0VDfcWrN5_foaq-0QvH82JxEklM_b-cAXegQ6EvIMv7Ei0PJFBvXwAYGRGcWnDXVqcHOBRIkdXFwbvmcYxayng/w300-h400/IMG_8398.JPG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">After the glory of a male Holly Blue with open wings, described in the last post, I've now been lucky enough to find a female of the species which was willing to offer me a similar if smaller glimpse. Here she is, with the soft greyish-blue shading on the outer wing, as I waited patiently by a hedge in north Oxford, murmuring explanations to curious passers-by in an undertone which luckily didn't send her skittering off elsewhere. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihVOvQYZjIDu-AUhOXDU96kj3CNNGV38fRpaZIbDxZR5BgXd9d0ScKMD6TqsAe9GiIEdaEtQk1BxCTHBGKGLct-8MBRFBSrnUtPc9PhEq1Sy3oloyzsWLwyLDCvtMXt4OU0sFouWZWUOT7R6aPG817241o0QrdEfLdLehnJIvggRF8RGa65MOf93jC3s/s4032/IMG_8397.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihVOvQYZjIDu-AUhOXDU96kj3CNNGV38fRpaZIbDxZR5BgXd9d0ScKMD6TqsAe9GiIEdaEtQk1BxCTHBGKGLct-8MBRFBSrnUtPc9PhEq1Sy3oloyzsWLwyLDCvtMXt4OU0sFouWZWUOT7R6aPG817241o0QrdEfLdLehnJIvggRF8RGa65MOf93jC3s/w300-h400/IMG_8397.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqjFKCMrVlVyO8jz8gNk_PBNwn3onG7fGfcaQ9dNKntoyaDO6Ef1oAHaboMui17rE-LwSBwAjY2MMSeOWWugqHg_JaV444OoIZmf0Vxqf6JQBqi0iEr5HnHFNa6nlSdDIqh9zDREtr1ouma5h2z4He2D-gS4lwQtOaJJ3KtMD7WEUCOjD5dQHXTRUXSc/s4032/IMG_8394.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqjFKCMrVlVyO8jz8gNk_PBNwn3onG7fGfcaQ9dNKntoyaDO6Ef1oAHaboMui17rE-LwSBwAjY2MMSeOWWugqHg_JaV444OoIZmf0Vxqf6JQBqi0iEr5HnHFNa6nlSdDIqh9zDREtr1ouma5h2z4He2D-gS4lwQtOaJJ3KtMD7WEUCOjD5dQHXTRUXSc/w300-h400/IMG_8394.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_6vbFNbL9XAMGRt9QZNG8CCCtHpPyh9ybea_hF-9D03_NKRbvWCyJrMRkL6_lAm-WDbUfdtt679wXdy7ToGHB3YOqwIdgJtrSJWdcpx-Ks6BSVpfGmCUqR5u9szYo6HoimTFm-jYQLp2pyYBuxIIn4Xu810K99TeH9lx-vItGha9W_ahHUdevu0iYCg/s4032/IMG_8392.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_6vbFNbL9XAMGRt9QZNG8CCCtHpPyh9ybea_hF-9D03_NKRbvWCyJrMRkL6_lAm-WDbUfdtt679wXdy7ToGHB3YOqwIdgJtrSJWdcpx-Ks6BSVpfGmCUqR5u9szYo6HoimTFm-jYQLp2pyYBuxIIn4Xu810K99TeH9lx-vItGha9W_ahHUdevu0iYCg/w300-h400/IMG_8392.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hope I haven't overdone the pictures but it is such a treat to find a Holly Blue prepared to show more than the lovely, but very common, view of the chalky underwings. Here they are below, when the butterfly moved to examine the hedge's flowers after a thorough inspection of - I imagine - aphid and other small insect traces on the leaves.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9QAa_LJvYKV87Z2mE3a-u5lYS3Eei5Aw_5qe-gRezJ7phl20rxACze5kEx7MY0IBRNNQ_LS5ddN14qB8d-fi2QBeKn66euQqlCy4zrfXUW8cXa1rPYhLOTTv-Df-22QYRlP3_yOD5Pi1xGQ-9df7D0iyL4TDMgnYJzZGq5LhvRtZ1zjMdKq06i42sn0/s4032/IMG_8390.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9QAa_LJvYKV87Z2mE3a-u5lYS3Eei5Aw_5qe-gRezJ7phl20rxACze5kEx7MY0IBRNNQ_LS5ddN14qB8d-fi2QBeKn66euQqlCy4zrfXUW8cXa1rPYhLOTTv-Df-22QYRlP3_yOD5Pi1xGQ-9df7D0iyL4TDMgnYJzZGq5LhvRtZ1zjMdKq06i42sn0/w300-h400/IMG_8390.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The weather has been up and down this month but that hasn't stopped me lighting the trap now and then, and I have a much more handsome robin in attendance this year. I was never very found of its regular relation in past years, which looked like a bruiser and veteran of fights with other males. This one has a lovely ruff in addition to the famous redbreast.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ5BXHJkamU-J3JtCEp0ervUh8ApaBiN6zumUwQ26Ukz77IywSUYe8BoJp5oo4DuLxXjm9a4A1Odd5kTpSY7IqYRGGt5F3GhaVFDcLIHHIqO7KTQ5GLreSvprnXLAYUgNBpUziJ5SOwiDtT8EgIkhIycGhHXEedbiUAge-h-ogDwk7hMwpuMI8Ao8Owg/s2740/IMG_8269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2740" data-original-width="2522" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ5BXHJkamU-J3JtCEp0ervUh8ApaBiN6zumUwQ26Ukz77IywSUYe8BoJp5oo4DuLxXjm9a4A1Odd5kTpSY7IqYRGGt5F3GhaVFDcLIHHIqO7KTQ5GLreSvprnXLAYUgNBpUziJ5SOwiDtT8EgIkhIycGhHXEedbiUAge-h-ogDwk7hMwpuMI8Ao8Owg/w369-h400/IMG_8269.JPG" width="369" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wanted an interesting moth to come on my younger son's birthday and the Yellowtail below obliged me. It isn't rare but this one posed in a very satisfactory way even if the yellow which gives it its name is completely obscured.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniczPxmdZQAc1nXY5fv29siDEmJKtiydW85HPU1CBayjup9yfcse5M1TdzhkJspxfKHoa8qiB4dQ0L-LnGisaF2fRL1_QgwIHb5DjA5pyzVTMweZ9NEqqmxka5EtT21S2KBUnOOnFT5BA7Sc_hdqUVEtuG2I0jIaGtXPyv-7OOm2iuttydzSjTlM1by4/s2626/IMG_8023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2626" data-original-width="2406" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniczPxmdZQAc1nXY5fv29siDEmJKtiydW85HPU1CBayjup9yfcse5M1TdzhkJspxfKHoa8qiB4dQ0L-LnGisaF2fRL1_QgwIHb5DjA5pyzVTMweZ9NEqqmxka5EtT21S2KBUnOOnFT5BA7Sc_hdqUVEtuG2I0jIaGtXPyv-7OOm2iuttydzSjTlM1by4/w366-h400/IMG_8023.JPG" width="366" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other visitors recently have included the Scalloped Oak below, a very pretty Least Carpet, both forms of Riband Wave - a shaded ribbon and a clear one - lots of modestly opalesque Mother of Pearls and a nice combination of another, paler Least Carpet and a Lime-speck Pug, the last known to me from its excellent mimicry camouflage as the Bird Poo Moth.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6JeBh64nxMupbhA7xNWtc7657d5FykJuikyNaYj_GVNtS4ewEisiWrHvFktxvKUevFkqoEvC1jqAkomjeTZY6r2SuC1M5Ogp5EX_WfZ_6dKiVY1X-lEsswMsMxU6LNEjDvQC7Fv1-2L1zt-j19OozbEseUE_gzNmERLFoVu2ewQVy1Og0Gu8StNnR-w/s4032/IMG_8019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6JeBh64nxMupbhA7xNWtc7657d5FykJuikyNaYj_GVNtS4ewEisiWrHvFktxvKUevFkqoEvC1jqAkomjeTZY6r2SuC1M5Ogp5EX_WfZ_6dKiVY1X-lEsswMsMxU6LNEjDvQC7Fv1-2L1zt-j19OozbEseUE_gzNmERLFoVu2ewQVy1Og0Gu8StNnR-w/w400-h300/IMG_8019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTdyGjXL9QXODw6vdvPhv0_jm0IFVakMpTykvSDoh15NTAdvSpRcb4NR0F8giZ544oJrU6WZQDrME3IbtAmV83goJZRZhH93ZMLncCUlkTq89GDX691sqQzJnU2Hdw2i4bEq0UfTCKRw_GHbrkWWYwv56HGQcyjNcyZiJVthp_Wg1xNf7P4sjWDer9aM/s4032/IMG_8018.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTdyGjXL9QXODw6vdvPhv0_jm0IFVakMpTykvSDoh15NTAdvSpRcb4NR0F8giZ544oJrU6WZQDrME3IbtAmV83goJZRZhH93ZMLncCUlkTq89GDX691sqQzJnU2Hdw2i4bEq0UfTCKRw_GHbrkWWYwv56HGQcyjNcyZiJVthp_Wg1xNf7P4sjWDer9aM/w400-h300/IMG_8018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTh1VaSLKfI9VGMv8R2mfa9DIwQkIIa9DUZeEInQfNcSYjBS2JqdJCsv137vaPBLhddF0xJBQKa5IILdyQSVeFo3KgJQRvSjsK9gZQZ-4O13qs0iVM_EnfLDbSGO1wxznjfp2fghRUubT_67z7eeSZ-aIInQm0JB4hN0kFwc7G4GPF6kbRP9Yo-qfm5A/s4032/IMG_8016.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTh1VaSLKfI9VGMv8R2mfa9DIwQkIIa9DUZeEInQfNcSYjBS2JqdJCsv137vaPBLhddF0xJBQKa5IILdyQSVeFo3KgJQRvSjsK9gZQZ-4O13qs0iVM_EnfLDbSGO1wxznjfp2fghRUubT_67z7eeSZ-aIInQm0JB4hN0kFwc7G4GPF6kbRP9Yo-qfm5A/w400-h300/IMG_8016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimce5qi43Edght0z7ZN3Q2emFCTHzpMydYv9e7fkOlk03j3VjaDpFC56REURP-UskocN_2Nw8CGUJqJnjL9RFyM74IiOcHChhCg21zi9duaTBltqGLJbX3YYYISjmvS_0h-R7gr3Dzf4ChZkMlHLkAxia04xcy3F0MUEWF8HdlGr-nqUwy_Dm7u7tVud0/s4032/IMG_8012.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimce5qi43Edght0z7ZN3Q2emFCTHzpMydYv9e7fkOlk03j3VjaDpFC56REURP-UskocN_2Nw8CGUJqJnjL9RFyM74IiOcHChhCg21zi9duaTBltqGLJbX3YYYISjmvS_0h-R7gr3Dzf4ChZkMlHLkAxia04xcy3F0MUEWF8HdlGr-nqUwy_Dm7u7tVud0/w400-h300/IMG_8012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wDxVj4vs7rdAoUQQmxK-EnAYC9hECt-Ox70PBO5vGq3PdmRINKundeJ7Ka5UsQaCBHfeHj_ave_ydOMSVjcS_uvS91fCGZdFiLl2AcgeAxSAGQctq4KMgIW2ug9qOH6MNzaqgbvQimiz4W1a56d5fVvMGgVmXyHGXfFFYv_W48yjyd1plpu4fnVL-84/s4032/IMG_8015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wDxVj4vs7rdAoUQQmxK-EnAYC9hECt-Ox70PBO5vGq3PdmRINKundeJ7Ka5UsQaCBHfeHj_ave_ydOMSVjcS_uvS91fCGZdFiLl2AcgeAxSAGQctq4KMgIW2ug9qOH6MNzaqgbvQimiz4W1a56d5fVvMGgVmXyHGXfFFYv_W48yjyd1plpu4fnVL-84/w400-h300/IMG_8015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bMEyt_HEOPnmyAY7Y-uRSIHvyrxagwgnw9Lc-bpwmg1MzuWp2OGyphnl6yz7uWZiWotMMLrI47_jsPNkmrUoz2r7XL1PoD9lSMAYfUfXBqhyBYpfQC5FS_KT4SfhhgUk8-KqhPiDSLiMm0ERfw1XHQFrdw5BzliVigKT6VKVj0-BiEb7aBi3W25S8tE/s4032/IMG_8013.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bMEyt_HEOPnmyAY7Y-uRSIHvyrxagwgnw9Lc-bpwmg1MzuWp2OGyphnl6yz7uWZiWotMMLrI47_jsPNkmrUoz2r7XL1PoD9lSMAYfUfXBqhyBYpfQC5FS_KT4SfhhgUk8-KqhPiDSLiMm0ERfw1XHQFrdw5BzliVigKT6VKVj0-BiEb7aBi3W25S8tE/w400-h300/IMG_8013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQvQT8uY0pL57xOucLdihawxx8f6b5VEstZQ4z0dhSpQG7emOf1zoGxdXK6JjFde7itwP0V848YvZ6kczq8s93t8i0hNnppqE276JenYfsk0ztFOD3SzogtQi_H4egliHD9aiRk0ZmewzGF7YHo6AmRvYoeHmfgLKpBgnA1E_YFqKXWjfmtRCT7dpvYA/s4032/IMG_8011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQvQT8uY0pL57xOucLdihawxx8f6b5VEstZQ4z0dhSpQG7emOf1zoGxdXK6JjFde7itwP0V848YvZ6kczq8s93t8i0hNnppqE276JenYfsk0ztFOD3SzogtQi_H4egliHD9aiRk0ZmewzGF7YHo6AmRvYoeHmfgLKpBgnA1E_YFqKXWjfmtRCT7dpvYA/w300-h400/IMG_8011.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-37139318166959887472023-07-30T14:29:00.000+01:002023-07-30T14:29:03.523+01:00Singing the Blues<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-s0fo-EgKLkw2YaM8IgKuS637VGrtRwITpFh4yCAPt09yiU9STY2Hczk6QVT-KWaL8BQxsAw2TZY4m2bYLpKw6R97omYCp5DiHX0VV0GDw9JVB1k-EfMI2uxeQlmkRfXYTACrNxJMTQOA2AQjWECsjaJlGLjBdWL_i1fvzbpSTEAAAxz8jB3biNC_qc/s4032/IMG_7382.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-s0fo-EgKLkw2YaM8IgKuS637VGrtRwITpFh4yCAPt09yiU9STY2Hczk6QVT-KWaL8BQxsAw2TZY4m2bYLpKw6R97omYCp5DiHX0VV0GDw9JVB1k-EfMI2uxeQlmkRfXYTACrNxJMTQOA2AQjWECsjaJlGLjBdWL_i1fvzbpSTEAAAxz8jB3biNC_qc/w300-h400/IMG_7382.JPG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">I must have spent hours in the course of my life stalking Holly Blue butterflies in the hope that they will open their wings while at rest and reveal the beautiful blue of the upper sides. At last it has happened - appropriately on P's birthday and even more happily, thanks to her spotting this obliging, beautiful example.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqG0n3ZrpSNVu1ieQkyLgZTjBDQNd_uRD5bcZCpy4TwGz7PNGyPQkqsZ6czzEqvgpHg8PI18RabZ2IFAeQj237mP_D7S0hffvMNQQmV8eM6yg9CyCnkcD5CC-8Dmh0AZH9QMTmiZ1XwA2UIqRt6lLr_Y73Kgt6UCob7ye8gARi62O2z9crI-Rysq9plk/s4032/IMG_7383.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqG0n3ZrpSNVu1ieQkyLgZTjBDQNd_uRD5bcZCpy4TwGz7PNGyPQkqsZ6czzEqvgpHg8PI18RabZ2IFAeQj237mP_D7S0hffvMNQQmV8eM6yg9CyCnkcD5CC-8Dmh0AZH9QMTmiZ1XwA2UIqRt6lLr_Y73Kgt6UCob7ye8gARi62O2z9crI-Rysq9plk/w300-h400/IMG_7383.JPG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">It's not such a good photo but I'm including the second picture because it shows the butterfly going to the max; a Heavenly sight for which I am extremely grateful. My third and fourth pictures show this graceful little creature as you usually see it - and there is nothing second-class about the lovely chalky blue of its underwings. It's just that they are very, very familiar.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutb29r6lYvMmXVjQ0ASw7YKb8Db8w9K1GDGJLohGLxC_dEMH5lcbDf79rpJtfMbcHWCxgBXM8GnfDwbSXU9viRvuqkTUG8_2YP55E47HTq5-XFo4rc5bkeX0qbX18V8jorl-UTOt1kzA0_aKSglRbWHDYHDY3xGBx5n3o58Qjie_EKjXVXMGXeZDDGcI/s4032/IMG_7814.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutb29r6lYvMmXVjQ0ASw7YKb8Db8w9K1GDGJLohGLxC_dEMH5lcbDf79rpJtfMbcHWCxgBXM8GnfDwbSXU9viRvuqkTUG8_2YP55E47HTq5-XFo4rc5bkeX0qbX18V8jorl-UTOt1kzA0_aKSglRbWHDYHDY3xGBx5n3o58Qjie_EKjXVXMGXeZDDGcI/w300-h400/IMG_7814.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSWoXmLJuebk01jFfQ7XY3kLgrhu1wa3O40LExhEdoUZxwEto29zIlC7Y8lCj4tMgC5QpvPguPVRFVho1R9nlrEshHVFujksWUPzYocjhUCq4hwlwEfPSxNiK-ZXJmTQMkSkubVZvr8T8T27H4wzpMQicgViwCjVcwZG_1kWOx58xRxz8N-BVVsMoe6g/s4032/IMG_7815.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSWoXmLJuebk01jFfQ7XY3kLgrhu1wa3O40LExhEdoUZxwEto29zIlC7Y8lCj4tMgC5QpvPguPVRFVho1R9nlrEshHVFujksWUPzYocjhUCq4hwlwEfPSxNiK-ZXJmTQMkSkubVZvr8T8T27H4wzpMQicgViwCjVcwZG_1kWOx58xRxz8N-BVVsMoe6g/w300-h400/IMG_7815.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is also remarkably widespread; we have plenty here as we did in Leeds and I regularly saw them when the grandchildren were in very urban Walthamstow as I also do now that they are in Bradford-on-Avon where the two pictures above were taken last week. So was the one below, which shows a Holly Blue's shadow on the leaf it has chosen as a hiding place. If you see a little blue scrap darting about in your garden, I reckon that it's most likely to be a Holly Blue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnUv_gqFxSxJYLkG0e5z5QMiBQ_lWo4UrIr10Fq_CnUdBUD7dxy9WA4QwGBgpCE7HTwvz-WtEeRIcu8ekwbgsE3e4_L-JhwrQvvI4M5wEccMAqgOdUNw7od1ja3yhJR0xSOPgQISYRSLEd1V2cM3aJlNtnkVBoVIaXnz37UixWrtnsnWE8hEFiVzty-0/s4032/IMG_7432.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnUv_gqFxSxJYLkG0e5z5QMiBQ_lWo4UrIr10Fq_CnUdBUD7dxy9WA4QwGBgpCE7HTwvz-WtEeRIcu8ekwbgsE3e4_L-JhwrQvvI4M5wEccMAqgOdUNw7od1ja3yhJR0xSOPgQISYRSLEd1V2cM3aJlNtnkVBoVIaXnz37UixWrtnsnWE8hEFiVzty-0/w300-h400/IMG_7432.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Less happily, I am finding the Box moth all over the place as are other moth enthusiasts. It's also a rather beautiful insect but not if you own a box hedge. The caterpillars are voracious to a degree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIKCu72kzf_gqczQ29oE_tLqjaF8oLpprZA9zAbKh6Gmj4R9TBXDja5pOY6xl-0XrIM5Y1bYXA8D5pHJ-gybfDjToxgbmTxFh_-Hzp33d8qU2MyGFLthRcNjnJGjrnEvRu4GyNU_MGsqQSuSeY9LKPnvD0lRSFx_WeRsbUcepgmtsm4U2e7_5GDlRFCs/s2048/78DC13F5-7495-45D4-B5DB-7CB5AB328966.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIKCu72kzf_gqczQ29oE_tLqjaF8oLpprZA9zAbKh6Gmj4R9TBXDja5pOY6xl-0XrIM5Y1bYXA8D5pHJ-gybfDjToxgbmTxFh_-Hzp33d8qU2MyGFLthRcNjnJGjrnEvRu4GyNU_MGsqQSuSeY9LKPnvD0lRSFx_WeRsbUcepgmtsm4U2e7_5GDlRFCs/w400-h400/78DC13F5-7495-45D4-B5DB-7CB5AB328966.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All manner of moths are visiting at the moment and here's a small selection. The first picture going left to right by row shows the micro <i>Syndemis musculana</i> (I think), Pebble Prominent, Smoky Wainscot, Common Rustic, Pale Prominent, Least Carpet, Angle Shades, the pretty micro <i>Anania coronata</i> and another micro which I have yet to ID. The second has the micro <i>Donacaula forficella</i>, a very worn Lackey, a Marbled Coronet, the micro <i>Pammene regiana, </i>an unknown Carpet-ty type moth,<i> </i>Treble Lines, Common Swift, Light Emerald in its fresh green glory which sadly fades, and finally a Blood-vein.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzz76nlzBGqeIY91LZuJdq0Alc7XzJgrdDHtU4HRd_WTnKz_L-FWo62EQS4bKNlo8fQLquPMy-X4XCKZSQS6fiPYFpj6SEDstvTMKraocJe1gZ_S4ayvARr45aUYYTy75kwhNBsnBFFU9fPrPVkfMnXthOjZzuzqn-1pQheFbjOR8-uFOO2tG5L4Q_nc/s2048/5873A875-0B27-4F0D-A00D-8FC6C70FBE88.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzz76nlzBGqeIY91LZuJdq0Alc7XzJgrdDHtU4HRd_WTnKz_L-FWo62EQS4bKNlo8fQLquPMy-X4XCKZSQS6fiPYFpj6SEDstvTMKraocJe1gZ_S4ayvARr45aUYYTy75kwhNBsnBFFU9fPrPVkfMnXthOjZzuzqn-1pQheFbjOR8-uFOO2tG5L4Q_nc/w400-h400/5873A875-0B27-4F0D-A00D-8FC6C70FBE88.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One or two others. First a Common footman and the spindlier Scarce Footman for comparison, and then finally a composite of a Yellowtail, Waved Umber, Ringed China-mark micro very unusually showing its lovely underwings, Latticed Heath (which links to pretend to be a butterfly), Canary-shouldered Thorn and something teeny which, again, I have yet to ID. All suggestions for this and other one above, are most welcome.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTjAt7hwrOM6KqvEBDwtW-oPw4HAGEwyyxWa8fnK2bj6seasZ1DMe_d5qigwHFHK53Hn9Q7YmTOsA-rhiplaWDRNm_FykCZAgJhn-auwjQ9npvrRxb1lhS7Qr6LCVwR2yHJJx_PO_Aq6JcS_OslUAfUgoIKmfG7C5BT0XBB5Zu240u6mT-fPiX2gc5ys/s2048/94596912-8C9D-4024-9C93-29A57097C921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTjAt7hwrOM6KqvEBDwtW-oPw4HAGEwyyxWa8fnK2bj6seasZ1DMe_d5qigwHFHK53Hn9Q7YmTOsA-rhiplaWDRNm_FykCZAgJhn-auwjQ9npvrRxb1lhS7Qr6LCVwR2yHJJx_PO_Aq6JcS_OslUAfUgoIKmfG7C5BT0XBB5Zu240u6mT-fPiX2gc5ys/w400-h400/94596912-8C9D-4024-9C93-29A57097C921.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1HqjlQbrB_aJvdhoMwGpjOoevkomrzFHBJ82HKRibchTyrT2inuji9ZJeyQyCcZAVCUDXALs9Qo2Jvs6ILw76t45tvLdMzR7YAgCb-ixUb-78TLLynt_CVDYXT76PjtBRhNpXtX8CMsvAYJf2kfm4KNM_htxgnMSQt7-pTr9h9weftFHBuTOk3fbBBc/s2048/3724BF5A-0C79-4169-997C-D8FB347FC6A8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1HqjlQbrB_aJvdhoMwGpjOoevkomrzFHBJ82HKRibchTyrT2inuji9ZJeyQyCcZAVCUDXALs9Qo2Jvs6ILw76t45tvLdMzR7YAgCb-ixUb-78TLLynt_CVDYXT76PjtBRhNpXtX8CMsvAYJf2kfm4KNM_htxgnMSQt7-pTr9h9weftFHBuTOk3fbBBc/w400-h400/3724BF5A-0C79-4169-997C-D8FB347FC6A8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-16656985631528935042023-07-24T13:23:00.003+01:002023-07-24T13:23:31.190+01:00Miniature marvels<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYygCFl_wmXdUZQXbdWIxk98kEzQTq1U-m2lJRNk68T9zq51vrui-AFp5E3gLjTipfGeMU8qC20HQA_6k7mwwHbgDu8EWmRcxUTgvJZJSSQm3uZUGPlyJCvm4SMt-SAn8Vl6zGzhb2IySP9_dnRxZddEbQuwdvQbhWUfYKdvFHcDvdMGpcmZ77OaXsnxU/s2048/766BD9B3-F705-4AAC-9147-4E7C1791A784.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYygCFl_wmXdUZQXbdWIxk98kEzQTq1U-m2lJRNk68T9zq51vrui-AFp5E3gLjTipfGeMU8qC20HQA_6k7mwwHbgDu8EWmRcxUTgvJZJSSQm3uZUGPlyJCvm4SMt-SAn8Vl6zGzhb2IySP9_dnRxZddEbQuwdvQbhWUfYKdvFHcDvdMGpcmZ77OaXsnxU/w400-h400/766BD9B3-F705-4AAC-9147-4E7C1791A784.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Continuing with the theme of fingers from my last post, Emily is going through a spell of yellow nails which add a certain zip to the moths which she much enjoys hosting on each hand. Actually, the first on the top left is one of the many Peacock butterflies which she has hatched from caterpillars, followed by three examples of the battering which moths get from their flying adventures - two raggedy Swallowtails and a very worn Lackey. Then we have the jewel-like micros <i>Acleris holmiana</i> and <i>Acleris forsskaleana</i>, a Willow Beauty, and the micros <i>Chrystoteuchia culmella</i>, <i>Syncopacma larseniella</i> and <i>Aethes rubigana</i>. What ponderous names for tiny scraps!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiZPcnIh7zysq8AstHTatX2XVv7-ps4W2Qg_TQo7Ee0QAD2LRzl06mrF3crXLOEFWj6-bE_-xP8Ufuzg4IvPcUJikU2vFH5W5Rt1Y34MpfN1zaI8aZgukYtM3e-LX4cD4iC1DKd79xz8sgQSAxuTSbOKlW2wGRMvaw8T9znRc1isoQ_aWNgG4lUAKX-g/s1562/IMG_7024.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="1562" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiZPcnIh7zysq8AstHTatX2XVv7-ps4W2Qg_TQo7Ee0QAD2LRzl06mrF3crXLOEFWj6-bE_-xP8Ufuzg4IvPcUJikU2vFH5W5Rt1Y34MpfN1zaI8aZgukYtM3e-LX4cD4iC1DKd79xz8sgQSAxuTSbOKlW2wGRMvaw8T9znRc1isoQ_aWNgG4lUAKX-g/w400-h354/IMG_7024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the moths-on-fingers department, the beautiful Elephant Hawk is keeping up its visits here as strongly as the Poplar Hawk and is if anything more attractive to young visitors. Not just on hands either - see below.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbMnLNrepsqNQFc-cJWW1b3k22olsFpO7S5e5BkWxhW46x_EUedpYXqhexBIvVR-9pNb-2RFuMbt3S6Oq0YkFOBEGgGT6lzhk5aA-0R0QYcJUiJk0-bdpdhY5yPevvpjGEBI_HiHv4QmY6N2xXE5YSsghVGV4BQwT1-Aj8Cpq17cTx-cnVlTkhRp3ZZc/s1205/IMG_7028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1205" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbMnLNrepsqNQFc-cJWW1b3k22olsFpO7S5e5BkWxhW46x_EUedpYXqhexBIvVR-9pNb-2RFuMbt3S6Oq0YkFOBEGgGT6lzhk5aA-0R0QYcJUiJk0-bdpdhY5yPevvpjGEBI_HiHv4QmY6N2xXE5YSsghVGV4BQwT1-Aj8Cpq17cTx-cnVlTkhRp3ZZc/w400-h384/IMG_7028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEt9U8CF9_-8UD25LSaY4AbmKFUyn2NjcYsTXoTGkjiuW_BpyZKZA0eeISh0JHvlCimS6IgR5uHZ26R-xL4inOmzGShmHWwKECqFUm2dQSMU0662GEl9_jm6Ul7oGxRc1BJ-kI-QQYhL-16SBFCi8823cAbFFR5wvcHtLk7ybdS9JMsAJXcz4IMtxdCV8/s4032/IMG_6822.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEt9U8CF9_-8UD25LSaY4AbmKFUyn2NjcYsTXoTGkjiuW_BpyZKZA0eeISh0JHvlCimS6IgR5uHZ26R-xL4inOmzGShmHWwKECqFUm2dQSMU0662GEl9_jm6Ul7oGxRc1BJ-kI-QQYhL-16SBFCi8823cAbFFR5wvcHtLk7ybdS9JMsAJXcz4IMtxdCV8/w300-h400/IMG_6822.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This Poplar Hawk's perch took me back to 2011 when Emily's Mum and Dad took us to see the famous Monarch butterfly migration in Mexico and one of the majestic insects plumped for a similar resting place on my daughter-in-law's head.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgCpTCBRzN49bYCnWGgLPQSFHM5XnWuXV5juLa-jA65oHMxQmSE4Qiu6GdAbqj2jtCAu5Ffw8McJzXE8DaJULxm8FN3x4gHYtqghADBYBhAiWtFla9oo2wTcqy1Dhj0WbeznRblsaHWCCIDFmV-HFUCT_5tEZlOwGLeiCXs-a5E6pLovjX1vxBMRuHoY/s1988/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%2013.11.08.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="1988" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgCpTCBRzN49bYCnWGgLPQSFHM5XnWuXV5juLa-jA65oHMxQmSE4Qiu6GdAbqj2jtCAu5Ffw8McJzXE8DaJULxm8FN3x4gHYtqghADBYBhAiWtFla9oo2wTcqy1Dhj0WbeznRblsaHWCCIDFmV-HFUCT_5tEZlOwGLeiCXs-a5E6pLovjX1vxBMRuHoY/w400-h300/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%2013.11.08.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Youngest brother meanwhile hosted another Poplar Hawk before letting it go and sun itself on a nearby wall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeayQJN5lVvPY7XJls07glRB3vqQt2K5NA_U_oBSIUNX_4w74TGEITLWB50vBOJt6EU2fn9oeL98TrbhObw1Ci4LhY1mcOOSDKEVUTGeFVcUxRkW8PeTbTsQjkzv7wSCJdixFZ0gxJ2jkMODCElAf313ZxVtUsAExv_UZkWPgoQNUj3oq9ZMVAJc31Yc/s2121/IMG_6872.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2121" data-original-width="1914" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeayQJN5lVvPY7XJls07glRB3vqQt2K5NA_U_oBSIUNX_4w74TGEITLWB50vBOJt6EU2fn9oeL98TrbhObw1Ci4LhY1mcOOSDKEVUTGeFVcUxRkW8PeTbTsQjkzv7wSCJdixFZ0gxJ2jkMODCElAf313ZxVtUsAExv_UZkWPgoQNUj3oq9ZMVAJc31Yc/w361-h400/IMG_6872.JPG" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJYIoqCxHai_Fy1BtjTHIQY7uAmm6hMJv2LPYFGO3Hf5n05hZoxvu72HpjWcpDs5pYwMuYKTDho2tX_CKTltEvt1c0uuj_7BVB3d2AgsX_nMab_OKicvTwfEJlfG5IE3Huwj93XAgm01Psc5EqKdU1hTGkp3t_mgr4U4jrjY23RY7a7frlveVaK-w6aA/s2648/IMG_6817.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2632" data-original-width="2648" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJYIoqCxHai_Fy1BtjTHIQY7uAmm6hMJv2LPYFGO3Hf5n05hZoxvu72HpjWcpDs5pYwMuYKTDho2tX_CKTltEvt1c0uuj_7BVB3d2AgsX_nMab_OKicvTwfEJlfG5IE3Huwj93XAgm01Psc5EqKdU1hTGkp3t_mgr4U4jrjY23RY7a7frlveVaK-w6aA/w400-h398/IMG_6817.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other regular beauties keep arriving meanwhile and here are some of them: one of the Thorns; I am useless at distinguishing between them, a Smoky Wainscot, a Heart and Dart, an opalescent Mother-of-Pearl, a Marbled Green, a Blood-vein, a Dun-bar, a Silver Y and a locally common Lunar-spotted Pinion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qLy5h5lgvNSleQj3tcXDdMEPv81VLVCHTb_Hsrz7rhC4I5Sd6x2gwAVSJhWcIQUOpgoH-4N65wg1ZHwI1HrN9qkw235IWx3ib_X8AL03b5Uv-URuUFlipJ7HbW0YdYjdmHMej6bNvy5Zf3tls42b-u6BsHgK-fxXkrptraAmQgs3kuCKF8mP-n_0w8g/s2048/42BA9FB1-6936-4E25-87AB-D6CEFC94B287.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qLy5h5lgvNSleQj3tcXDdMEPv81VLVCHTb_Hsrz7rhC4I5Sd6x2gwAVSJhWcIQUOpgoH-4N65wg1ZHwI1HrN9qkw235IWx3ib_X8AL03b5Uv-URuUFlipJ7HbW0YdYjdmHMej6bNvy5Zf3tls42b-u6BsHgK-fxXkrptraAmQgs3kuCKF8mP-n_0w8g/w400-h400/42BA9FB1-6936-4E25-87AB-D6CEFC94B287.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Martin Wainwrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276936577536929319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939528489287886153.post-18133700608244472142023-07-23T08:50:00.001+01:002023-07-24T16:15:01.323+01:00Far from home<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiiuP6jQDXEg97xzAEeuDNabTMGDqY3e9zVD5Q8fK3BtH58ix5j0giFaYfA1HA8bBZFJaRGa3mAI_o0WleLUI_XwS3zWaKsmGhGvDH4qPDEHz7E7CxIyqfEyiY8ySGX_czrdZ8mym89jTkIcFu26-kNwR8H8_pflcMoxgZF7sp2BUIU_1920NM1-8yeU/s2048/FB094BBC-CA34-4AB5-A28C-C87E8B8056A1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiiuP6jQDXEg97xzAEeuDNabTMGDqY3e9zVD5Q8fK3BtH58ix5j0giFaYfA1HA8bBZFJaRGa3mAI_o0WleLUI_XwS3zWaKsmGhGvDH4qPDEHz7E7CxIyqfEyiY8ySGX_czrdZ8mym89jTkIcFu26-kNwR8H8_pflcMoxgZF7sp2BUIU_1920NM1-8yeU/w400-h400/FB094BBC-CA34-4AB5-A28C-C87E8B8056A1.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">In one of those coincidences which are actually not random, two friends have separately sent me pictures of Jersey Tiger moths, one in a garden in built-up Walthamstow and the other in what its finder aptly describes as 'the rather brutal surroundings of Reading station car park'. The moth strayed North in the early 1990s from the Channel Islands where it has long been common and has since flourished in the South of England with - and I may proudly quote from the Moth Bible - 'occasional records elsewhere north to Leeds (one in 2008)'. </p><p style="text-align: left;">We lived in Leeds then and have a photo of a Jersey Tiger outside our greenhouse, taken not long before ID-ing another one spotted by my younger sister on holiday in Lyme Regis. We also saw masses by a waterfall on holiday in Turkey 20 years ago; the species is the one which forms a famous spectacle in season at the 'Valley of the Butterflies' in Rhodes.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The best I have seen, though, were at Kardamyli at the top of the Mani peninsular in the Peloponnese. They kindly allowed me to photograph their even more spectacular underwings which glowed orange in the bright sunshine of Greece.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYRgs0oRRdQkzFKutXsvjvE5COGqnojm2jJHA_4S8S27IG0VBMBFhKe9WTYCIUorS-XWBdeoYti6GSM4PkgwQe6BU0g-c9N-tCPzDg3psjtxaU8enIFfzbllDC3H4gl5kBY9cKBx97rG8O01ihrE_YJ_7LH8ko8yVwLGeL3o3B31btL69vcM50GnwZbE/s396/Jersey%20Tiger.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="392" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYRgs0oRRdQkzFKutXsvjvE5COGqnojm2jJHA_4S8S27IG0VBMBFhKe9WTYCIUorS-XWBdeoYti6GSM4PkgwQe6BU0g-c9N-tCPzDg3psjtxaU8enIFfzbllDC3H4gl5kBY9cKBx97rG8O01ihrE_YJ_7LH8ko8yVwLGeL3o3B31btL69vcM50GnwZbE/w396-h400/Jersey%20Tiger.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of my correspondents was startled that his find was a moth not a butterfly, understandably because like the more common Scarlet Tiger, the Cinnabar and the Burnet moths, Jersey Tigers are both brightly-coloured and day-flying. But somehow, I cannot see the Greek tourist authorities acknowledging their mistake as graciously as he did. There would be less interest, sadly, in a Valley of the Moths.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPtadrWAkU_RSzJiINPMdpPNn3-fWoPjNW4tWyddnjeSu4KA-42yO3ruE9SaZ92uiDoHPEqFrlVXpCaZ6-5Zn3hM-Q56cyzU-6ug0rl6OOdBW79aMEqzCspxcatI5-bxCf5NRQaUYOsf0Zbv40XZvVK_jus_ybtonc6tHy0FVxfAxo-YnQdkzQjDaNa0/s4032/IMG_7597.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPtadrWAkU_RSzJiINPMdpPNn3-fWoPjNW4tWyddnjeSu4KA-42yO3ruE9SaZ92uiDoHPEqFrlVXpCaZ6-5Zn3hM-Q56cyzU-6ug0rl6OOdBW79aMEqzCspxcatI5-bxCf5NRQaUYOsf0Zbv40XZvVK_jus_ybtonc6tHy0FVxfAxo-YnQdkzQjDaNa0/w300-h400/IMG_7597.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've often featured the Yellowtail but can't resist posting more pictures of it, partly because the shenanigans of chasing or tickling it into showing the reason for its name are so enjoyable. This one led me and a friend who was very keen to see the tail from one perch to the next. Finally, above and below, it gave us a glimpse.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOh1-_LRuiUquZ9D1nQRP5oDaiSOVcMXSH8hqoBUv1CGdUnkTr-o_wyel0xx74nX_nTpgMZYYwYfar5zOJvaDstRgFMyndN3yv5706ZDlUouLFwJCbpSI_BQJDZM9vb8TKlnqmMcrhYhS4Tby_C-Yl1LnZueuMHHdHB4FYCzEnJgGYX8V6QmWaJTTKK8/s1765/IMG_7594.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="1765" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOh1-_LRuiUquZ9D1nQRP5oDaiSOVcMXSH8hqoBUv1CGdUnkTr-o_wyel0xx74nX_nTpgMZYYwYfar5zOJvaDstRgFMyndN3yv5706ZDlUouLFwJCbpSI_BQJDZM9vb8TKlnqmMcrhYhS4Tby_C-Yl1LnZueuMHHdHB4FYCzEnJgGYX8V6QmWaJTTKK8/w400-h398/IMG_7594.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here it is at rest in its usual pose, below, hiding the yellow but with the small brown smudges which distinguish it from the similar White Satin. While we're in the white and yellow part of the spectrum, here's one my top favourite flowers in the garden, a giant, floppy fried egg of a Romneya poppy, complete with worshipping hoverflies. <b>Update: very many thanks to Conehead in Comments below for revealing to me that these are Marmalade Hoverflies. I never knew that such delightfully-named creatures existed.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXm1KqH5DlkoYp34T6urqfMLDWt8n_nj_gJGXU1VaQEeaxDSjxLbHJT6tSrmm9GNk3K3O8eI8qOeFCsImEYvpsm4J2XCYNXqZTI9Hrxk0Lk8z_AI5j_a6-fZy4W3XK2rMJmhoogbSUVnrO7W6t6Rtaguu0xWZa7n0-YiARIkMy7lxUkTD41YBwZ5wG740" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2466" data-original-width="2322" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXm1KqH5DlkoYp34T6urqfMLDWt8n_nj_gJGXU1VaQEeaxDSjxLbHJT6tSrmm9GNk3K3O8eI8qOeFCsImEYvpsm4J2XCYNXqZTI9Hrxk0Lk8z_AI5j_a6-fZy4W3XK2rMJmhoogbSUVnrO7W6t6Rtaguu0xWZa7n0-YiARIkMy7lxUkTD41YBwZ5wG740=w377-h400" width="377" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then take a look at the sulphurous yellow of this Brimstone, with the tiny specs of glorious orange on each wing. I was lucky to get a photo of the topwings though the reason was more melancholy, the poor butterfly had either been hit by a car or crash-landed because of the slipstream. It was on the tarmac right at the edge of the road as I biked past, still alive and feebly moving but very battered.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3jz4s7-JaPQIUWHoWfxAm-HxNPFeHkaGO5DJ4brPONganivj2TcS1Q_TTQgmmVR7lP_w5C1msIZqD30GTsmEZxJlMleWnZ_iF306cEsjdLPwIhXe2Fd3rq1SzV-aGkT0I2eVPS9Kiqbb9NYYMH3dbLyw45fdcsRQhsCbPb-itaqQBnTLEFFdKG9GheM/s2048/466D78CE-2F19-4EF4-8746-639E95614A63.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3jz4s7-JaPQIUWHoWfxAm-HxNPFeHkaGO5DJ4brPONganivj2TcS1Q_TTQgmmVR7lP_w5C1msIZqD30GTsmEZxJlMleWnZ_iF306cEsjdLPwIhXe2Fd3rq1SzV-aGkT0I2eVPS9Kiqbb9NYYMH3dbLyw45fdcsRQhsCbPb-itaqQBnTLEFFdKG9GheM/w400-h400/466D78CE-2F19-4EF4-8746-639E95614A63.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are a couple of Brimstones in the garden recently, showing their inevitable resting position with the wings tightly furled and the resemblance to a leaf remarkable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSYEVCyvhIrfS0CcePlwPMhqG6ZzAsss7Ib4wUbGtMX7mohROr5Iw78j3zRAFlWh5seteg3cQYG8GR4XcgblqCEORkw3i8Zn0JfIqy8p48zzynKGNX_r4Olv5Dwvi_0DL_X-_tN5VfBNH1AXudpJ8VfoRolVW7jyLUUF5YyJmCzNMUi2zshPoKp997t2g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSYEVCyvhIrfS0CcePlwPMhqG6ZzAsss7Ib4wUbGtMX7mohROr5Iw78j3zRAFlWh5seteg3cQYG8GR4XcgblqCEORkw3i8Zn0JfIqy8p48zzynKGNX_r4Olv5Dwvi_0DL_X-_tN5VfBNH1AXudpJ8VfoRolVW7jyLUUF5YyJmCzNMUi2zshPoKp997t2g=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLCXZLuYSIs-uJOkXnT-jgpvEZcAqeQfybBt4N43YnEkFYy_kKuWlY6n_JN15gJJ4CIPFkGSnvRl_pMxPhvAxn6_kgk3ddgv7U_0J6cF0u3yqI2PJDugTxoQuoZ0k3XK0QYS7MXkw2zIpCllJAbd6umk0MuOPxKTssyWUb_Nn3bQdwytXTxiz4HmKl92o" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLCXZLuYSIs-uJOkXnT-jgpvEZcAqeQfybBt4N43YnEkFYy_kKuWlY6n_JN15gJJ4CIPFkGSnvRl_pMxPhvAxn6_kgk3ddgv7U_0J6cF0u3yqI2PJDugTxoQuoZ0k3XK0QYS7MXkw2zIpCllJAbd6umk0MuOPxKTssyWUb_Nn3bQdwytXTxiz4HmKl92o=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't resist adding the two other primary colours in the form of flowers - chicory or Ragged Sailors, or Corn Dog or many other things, which is another of my top ten, and the glorious poppies which are everywhere round here for an awful lot of the Summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNFkY6zMbuP_j2lo7jHx7tVrL3CjB5KHYMKNZeyTljfpFgN0OLIOcfVgMbgxffGx7dkP8E-OU7H-zTU_ZijiumbBPDk3IGwfjCErtvyjBtrrS6YO-rs1ABiqiQunRxcSkUNzL-Cb2y_-TydgbnDk5ffF3xOG7b6D4yzGrGw9ZJ_Mhak0Lg2kslEX35tiU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNFkY6zMbuP_j2lo7jHx7tVrL3CjB5KHYMKNZeyTljfpFgN0OLIOcfVgMbgxffGx7dkP8E-OU7H-zTU_ZijiumbBPDk3IGwfjCErtvyjBtrrS6YO-rs1ABiqiQunRxcSkUNzL-Cb2y_-TydgbnDk5ffF3xOG7b6D4yzGrGw9ZJ_Mhak0Lg2kslEX35tiU=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8NAPvMnn6PmLH5FfywfGYpxDxDciHF10R3sx8VxnoQ-A82MCOnlJ-fzEQFMyaYf7uzzN_1shLgWi8sloUDGS6FnHVLOsnmuixOxHFNIgi0fkELAmPd7C5YPTnFWDNCt9YvVMNl6re2wrY2HfgebfLOHi7ZCCUw1TOAsvLUqaBsNn0VpBSgspcqjrbW1c" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8NAPvMnn6PmLH5FfywfGYpxDxDciHF10R3sx8VxnoQ-A82MCOnlJ-fzEQFMyaYf7uzzN_1shLgWi8sloUDGS6FnHVLOsnmuixOxHFNIgi0fkELAmPd7C5YPTnFWDNCt9YvVMNl6re2wrY2HfgebfLOHi7ZCCUw1TOAsvLUqaBsNn0VpBSgspcqjrbW1c=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, some other small neighbours. The Soldier Beetles are running wild with lust on our nettles and hogweed, a curiously portly little wasp has been buzzing around <b>Update: thanks to Conehead in comments again, this is actually a 'Batman' Hoverfly, nick-named on account of its thorax emblem; its official name is Myathropa florea</b>; then a great-niece found this pupa tucked neatly into a drystone wall, a Lacewing and a Small Red-eyed Demoiselle <b>(No - Final update from the inexhaustibly knowledgable Conehead: this is actually a White-legged Damselfly as in C's comment below) </b>vie for delicacy and I've even included a humble fly because of its perch on Elfrida, the calm stone goddess who oversees our garden.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpXnxET2YREZe9voudiOxFjRL-crfTZBkNEgtcdGJwtGLzHvnvdXy9Y4okjCSovHvEnoeqcyAOgh-_K1cb-G8vXCLW_qBqgGanQtGIhLVJgWuZ6P-EQG36TK3Yc_PIeFb-0-neX0Pr1M0_JRXTtn9sxF5qCjTOETNc40qxjE_yGa59y2n3Ry3AvNoaZQ/s1487/IMG_7548%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1487" data-original-width="1314" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpXnxET2YREZe9voudiOxFjRL-crfTZBkNEgtcdGJwtGLzHvnvdXy9Y4okjCSovHvEnoeqcyAOgh-_K1cb-G8vXCLW_qBqgGanQtGIhLVJgWuZ6P-EQG36TK3Yc_PIeFb-0-neX0Pr1M0_JRXTtn9sxF5qCjTOETNc40qxjE_yGa59y2n3Ry3AvNoaZQ/w354-h400/IMG_7548%202.JPG" width="354" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1WpBvkME3Q6P9jhc6vUcfwF-NhQHMbJRc_oVgVj26EQobAqsHXDWZQcexo2eu_3h1xuY0lJk9Yki6KSuIzptvjUivm0vZ7bn6X441b6OXZdwFDrRPk_ItMuugl9ag74t6s5HxGJ7uTZizHT2PLRhCseXy7osS4uX2_7slrvRjFt1wZv9s1dRjjLBnH8k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1132" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1WpBvkME3Q6P9jhc6vUcfwF-NhQHMbJRc_oVgVj26EQobAqsHXDWZQcexo2eu_3h1xuY0lJk9Yki6KSuIzptvjUivm0vZ7bn6X441b6OXZdwFDrRPk_ItMuugl9ag74t6s5HxGJ7uTZizHT2PLRhCseXy7osS4uX2_7slrvRjFt1wZv9s1dRjjLBnH8k=w400-h366" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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