Black and white

I mentioned the cruelty - to human eyes - of nest-raiding magpies yesterday. With the coincidence which marks human affairs and which fascinated the writer Arthur Koestler, along comes one of the moth world's equivalents, in name but not in behaviour. The Small Magpie micro is no bully, just a pretty little example of dazzle camouflage, the black and white lent extra interest by the mustardy yellow at top and bottom.

When I was a schoolboy, I remember finding lots of its macro moth namesake, the Magpie, but I have only seen one of those here in seven years. They were studied intensively for genetic variations by the entomologist Sir Geoffrey Keynes, more famous as a surgeon and the brother of the great economist Lord Keynes.

There was more bold colour and patterning just outside the trap in the person of the roosting Cinnabar above, but a notably faded Green Carpet in the eggboxes showed what age tends to do to beauty. This applies particular to anything green in the insect world; the colour fades particularly quickly and permanently. It is rare to find in one of the old collections a vivid green Emerald moth - a lovely family when fresh. Even when hidden from light in closed drawers, their beauty fades.

All three of these were together in the trap. I hope the fresh ones didn't notice the state of their older relative (even though its washed-out colouring has its own charm)

Here is an example, meanwhile, of the moth world's inequitable distribution of glamour in some species, a feature shared by the human race. Both the moths above are male Common Swifts, but one has definitely got the better deal in looks. In the human world, that advantage can often come with a downside such as vanity or unwanted attention; but the number of smart Common Swifts which come to the trap suggests that they are no more noticeable to birds than their dull relatives.

Two new moths for the year next, the Brown Silver-lines and Snout above, the latter named for its Pinocchio 'nose'. There is actually a Beautiful Snout, so I could dwell further on the looks of moths and humans, but I won't.

The trap continues very busy with the nights so lovely and warm. Couldn't we do with some rain though? Here are some of the other residents last night and on Monday/Tuesday:

Silver-ground and Garden Carpets

Clouded Silver - such a delicate, Laura Ashley moth 

Hawks are pouring in - Eyed, Elephant, Poplar and Small Elephant

Straw Dot - also new for the year. My pictures are not good but it has a speck of blue in its 'eyes'

A couple of male Pale Tussocks

Square-spot Rustic

Oh dear, I wrestle with these. Might it be a Small Square-spot? Or the ever-varied Ingrailed Clay? Update: I go for Ingrailed Clay after Edward's comment and further book and internet consultations.

At least I know this one: the lovely Brimstone lighting up the gloom of the trap's dark bowl