Some Moths during April

 This April has been rather dry, with some reasonably mild night-time temperatures and I have managed to put the moth-trap out on numerous occasions. 

Although moth numbers have continued to be quite low, the variety of species has started to increase and here are a few images of moths that have been attracted to the trap during April.

Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria) (male)

Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) (male)

Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) (male)

Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)

White-spotted Pug (Eupithecia tripunctaria)

Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis)

Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)

Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens)

Pale Pinion (Lithophane hepatica)

Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis)

 

Mandarin Duck

 We have just returned from a weekend away with friends in the New Forest. The weather was beautifully sunny, but just a little too cool and breezy to see any butterflies on the wing.

However, a Sunday morning walk into the forest provided some interesting moments.

The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) is an introduced species from East Asia and has successfully established itself in southern England, largely as an escapee from ornamental collections. I rarely pay them much attention when I see them on village ponds but in their wild state they are a woodland duck, nesting in tree holes. With its mature trees and network of shallow, gravel-bottomed streams, the New Forest offers the Mandarin Duck plenty of ideal habitat to breed in.

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) (male)

(female)

Later on my walk, I came across a Nuthatch nest hole high up on an oak trunk. I sat and watched for about 20 minutes as the occupant busily sculpted the entrance with mud to its desired specifications.

Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) (at nest hole)

Moths in Early Spring

After a very slow start to the year with regard to moth numbers attracted to the garden moth-trap, the mild and sunny weather over the last couple of weeks has seen a modest increase in their numbers. 

As is usual with moth-trap catches at this time of year, the great majority of moths attracted to the light are of the Orthosia family. They quickly become warn and uninteresting with age but are rather smart when freshly emerged.

Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)

Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)

Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)

Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)

Oak Beauty (Biston strataria)

Small Brindled Beauty (Apocheima hispidaria)

Streamer (Anticlea derivata)

Hibernators Awaken

 Although hibernating butterflies can be tempted from their winter slumber on any mild and sunny day during late winter, there is nothing like a prolonged spell of warm sunny weather in early spring, to bring them out in multiple numbers.

Such has been the case over the last couple of weeks and I have spent as much time sitting and watching butterfly activity as I have labouring in the wood, hacking away at rhododendron roots.

Here are some images of our four common hibernaters in Britain.

Peacock (Aglais io)

Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (male)

A Tangle of Toads

A few days ago I visited one of my local National Trust properties where I am guaranteed to find plenty of  toad activity in the garden pond during March.

The main entertainment occurs when males tangle with each other in order to gain prime mating position on the back of the female. The successful male forms an almost unbreakable clasp with his forelegs around the chest of the female.

Common Toad (Bufo bufo) 

Prominent Moths

 Since the beginning of 2022, I have only managed to get the moth-trap out for a couple of  marginally suitable nights, with only one moth being attracted to the light. Having looked at the weather forecast in my area for the next week, there appears to be little opportunity to put the trap out in the near future.

Within the moth family of Notodontidae, there is a group of moths known as the Prominents which I have always found fascinating. I find them to be subtly beautiful moths and their cryptic markings in various shades of grey and brown offer superb camouflage when they roost amongst twigs and leaf litter.

The group is named after the prominent tufts that protrude from the hind edge of the forewings. These tufts help to break up the outline of the moths when they are at rest. With the exception of a few species, they are a relatively common group. 

I have put together some images of Prominents that regularly appear in my garden.

Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) 

Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac)

Great Prominent (Peridea anceps)

Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)

Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula)

Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina)

Scarce Prominent (Odontosia carmelita)

Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)