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While I've had an interest in moths for a while my wife has been taking them much more seriously over the last few years and so we now run a couple of traps regularly in the garden and even occasionally on the marshes. While I just can't get too excited by all the micros (some of which require dissection to identify) I will try and identify - and sometimes photograph - the more distinctive macro moths.
For the last few days my wife has become obsessed with finding (or at least seeing) a "new" moth to her, the Crimson Speckled. This is a species originating from Southern Europe and North Africa which rarely reaches Britain. However, over the last couple of weeks there has been an unprecedented influx of this species. When I say this is a rare species we're talking about only around 100 records ever in the UK and, locally, only 1 ever in Norfolk and a handful in Suffolk. For whatever reason we are currently in the midst of an "invasion" by this species with (that I know of) over 20 in Suffolk this weekend and 4 or 5 in Norfolk.
So far we've had none at home although not for want of trying! We did, however, venture out to Ness Point at Lowestoft yesterday afternoon to see one found by one of the local birders ... and which then remained where found for the rest of the afternoon. Here are a couple of pictures of the moth . Although it will sometimes come to a light trap it seems most records this weekend have been found during the day.
Good luck to anyone looking for them: I certainly think it's one of the best looking UK moths I've ever seen (even if not the best pictures I've ever taken!)
For the last few days my wife has become obsessed with finding (or at least seeing) a "new" moth to her, the Crimson Speckled. This is a species originating from Southern Europe and North Africa which rarely reaches Britain. However, over the last couple of weeks there has been an unprecedented influx of this species. When I say this is a rare species we're talking about only around 100 records ever in the UK and, locally, only 1 ever in Norfolk and a handful in Suffolk. For whatever reason we are currently in the midst of an "invasion" by this species with (that I know of) over 20 in Suffolk this weekend and 4 or 5 in Norfolk.
So far we've had none at home although not for want of trying! We did, however, venture out to Ness Point at Lowestoft yesterday afternoon to see one found by one of the local birders ... and which then remained where found for the rest of the afternoon. Here are a couple of pictures of the moth . Although it will sometimes come to a light trap it seems most records this weekend have been found during the day.
Good luck to anyone looking for them: I certainly think it's one of the best looking UK moths I've ever seen (even if not the best pictures I've ever taken!)
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