Tussocks and Admirals

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.

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.

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.

The coincidence of finding a narrowboat called Butterfly on the same morning was followed by a second nautical encounter. Not for nothing are these insects called admirals. I took my sculling boat Clementine 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 Clemmie's hull and then on the cosy woollen shoulder of my sweater.

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.

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.