However moths are well worth learning about and they're not all small, dull coloured night time creatures. Many moths in fact are beautiful day flying insects. Here are just some of the moths I've seen in the past few years
cinnabar moth, Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, June 2018
silver carpet moth (I think!), Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, June 2018
narrow bordered 5 spot burnet moth, Musselburgh, July 2016
brimstone moth, Colinton Tunnel, Water of Leith walkway, Edinburgh, June 2013
This is just a very small selection of moths in and around Edinburgh. but it gives a sense of the variety of patterns and colours you can find in these lovely insects.It's not just the adults either! Some moth caterpillars are very easily spotted like these cinnabar moths on Arthur's Seat in August 2016
and Caroline Gill has written a very interesting post about leaf mining moth larvae on her Wild and Wonderful blog here.
The Moths Matter campaign will show how moths are important pollinators, why they are key parts of the food chain and how they are sometimes even more beautiful that butterflies.
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Like butterflies, the UK’s moths are in trouble with many once common species struggling in the face of habitat loss and climate change.
Every month over the next year, the Moths Matter campaign will focus on a different theme, from spotting springtime caterpillars, planting a garden to attract night-flying visitors, to searching for Hawk-moths in hedgerows. There will be online moth quizzes and downloadable ID guides to help you get to grips with our most striking species. Blogs and video posts will help you learn more about moths and find out how Butterfly Conservation is working to protect moths across the UK.
Hello, great post and photos. Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteSo many different textures and shades ...
ReplyDeleteI love moths, outside!
ReplyDeleteHi Jenn, yes moths indoors can be a problem, though only clothes moths bother me. We've had some very pretty moths fly into our house on occasion.
ReplyDeleteRabbits' Guy - yes there's such a huge variety of moths out there
Eileen - thanks!
I always prefer to see any moths outside!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thank you, CGP, so much for the mention. I'm so pleased you have done this post, and I totally agree that moths can sometimes be very colourful! I would love to see an Emperor moth one of these days... #Moths#Matter
ReplyDelete