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Moths Page 1

Image Taken on 28 Jul 2006 at 11:03    Image of day on 07 Aug 2006

The Adonis Blue Butterfly is in the news today (7 Aug) as having returned to an old site in the Cotswolds after a 50 year break. We have seen this butterfly here occasionally for a number of years but this year we see are currently seeing it every day. This is the beautiful underwing - the top wing (which shows when the wings are spread) is predominantly sky-blue.


Ref: 20060807_d10_20060728_1103_007 adonis blue butterfly (underwing) (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 29 Sep 2011 at 13:33    Image of day on 13 Nov 2011

The Angle Shades Moth is very common, but doesn't normally oblige with flying on request for the camera!


Ref: 20111113_da1_20110929_1333_100+1447_246_ft1 angle shades moth (phlogophora meticulosa) in flight with autumn hawthorn leaves (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 18 Aug 2009 at 09:29    Image of day on 26 Sep 2009

A few days later we put out the moth trap & one of the hundreds of moths was this Angle Shades moth that flew off right by these Woody Nightshade berries that grow over the heating oil tank.


Ref: 20090926_da1_20090818_0929_137+1027_277_ft1 angle shades moth in flight with woody nightshade berries (aka bittersweet) (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 29 Sep 2011 at 13:23    Image of day on 13 Nov 2011

An atypically very warm few days in Autumn brought out some moths. This is a Barred Sallow Moth which we haven't identified before.


Ref: 20111113_da1_20110929_1323_061+1447_250_ft1 barred sallow moth (xanthia aurago) in flight with autumn hawthorn leaves (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 10 Oct 2010 at 13:48    Image of day on 12 Dec 2010

This Black Rustic Moth looks jet black at rest because all you can see is the top of the forewing, that you can see bottom left, which is opaque black. It is very reluctant to fly to order - this was the only in-flight image over about 6 individuals from 2 sessions a month apart.


Ref: 20101212_da1_20101010_1348_203_ft1 black rustic (aporophyla nigra) moth in flight (crop)(r+mb id@432).jpg


Image Taken on 29 Sep 2011 at 13:49    Image of day on 22 Nov 2011

The Black Rustic moth appears almost black at rest, and the first time you see it fly it is quite a shock when the white rear wing is exposed. Its probably the normal 'don't be seen, and if you are seen, startle the hunter'.


Ref: 20111122_da1_20110929_1349_134+1445_234_ft1 black rustic moth (aporophyla nigra) in flight with hawthorn twig (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 01 Feb 2008 at 15:39    Image of day on 01 Mar 2008

An elegantly poised male blackbird. We see pairs at both sites, but so far not both usably at the same time.


Ref: 20080301_d3a_20080201_1539_028 fb2 blackbird male showing underwing(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image of day on 06 Nov 2005

The male Blackbird was just taking off, showing the wings fully spread.


Ref: 20051106_d3e_26471 fb1 male blackbird with underwing fully spread 2005nov01_06-30-42(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 21 May 2010 at 11:13    Image of day on 28 Jun 2010

The red line along the wing of this Blood-vein moth is clearly visible.


Ref: 20100628_da1_20100521_1113_265_ft1 blood-vein moth (calothysanis amata) in flight (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 21 May 2010 at 10:49    Image of day on 27 Jun 2010

The delicate beauty of the Brimstone Moth knocks us out every time we see one caught in the moth trap


Ref: 20100627_da1_20100521_1049_188+1142_361_ft1 brimstone moth (opisthograptis luteolata) in flight with red campion flower (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 23 Aug 2009 at 12:37    Image of day on 09 Oct 2009

The day-flying Brimstone Moth has wing marks mimicking leaf damage that make it very hard to spot on foliage.


Ref: 20091009_da1_20090823_1237_280+1249_292_ft1 brimstone moth in flight with corkscrew hazel leaf (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 10 Oct 2010 at 13:13    Image of day on 12 Dec 2010

From an autumn moth trap catch of about 200 moths we selected about 20 to try to photograph in flight. Only 2 obliged enough to obtain reasonable images. First what we think is a Bridled Green Moth


Ref: 20101212_da1_20101010_1313_061_ft1 brindled green (q) moth in flight (crop)(r+mb id@432).jpg


Image Taken on 16 Jul 2009 at 13:14    Image of day on 20 Aug 2009

A montage of two images of the Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing moth. On the left in flight showing the startling orange underwing and on the right same species (probably the same insect) taken hanging from a hawthorn twig. The 'purpose' of the colour is said to be to startle predators. It certainly startled us because we hadn't identified the moth before the photo shoot and the first hint of the orange was in this 'first flight'.


Ref: 20090820_da1_20090716_1314_181+1322_214 ft1 broad-bordered yellow underwing in flight & on hawthorn twig (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 04 Jun 2010 at 15:07    Image of day on 16 Jul 2010

We caught both White and Buff Ermine moths in the moth trap on the same night which suggested a simple montage to allow comparison of size, colour and markings.


Ref: 20100716_da1_20100604_1507_291+1413_022_ft1 buff ermine moth + white ermine moth in flight (exact scale montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 29 May 2009 at 15:21    Image of day on 29 Jun 2009

This is the Buff Ermine - a beautiful almost golden colour.


Ref: 20090629_d01_20090529_1521_210+20090530_1322_009 ft1 buff ermine moth in flight with grass heads (montage(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 27 Jun 2010 at 14:53    Image of day on 10 Aug 2010

The Buff tip moth has an incredible camouflage when on wood - it looks like a broken twig end. Doesn't work so well on this leaf but you get to see it's intricacy.


Ref: 20100810_da1_20100627_1453_104_ft1 buff-tip moth hanging from hawthorn leaf (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 27 Jun 2010 at 14:44    Image of day on 10 Aug 2010

Here in flight.


Ref: 20100810_da1_20100627_1444_076+1523_218_ft1 buff-tip moth in flight with hawthorn twig (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 08 Sep 2009 at 20:25    Image of day on 21 Oct 2009

And here actually feeding with the proboscis in a floret. This moth has previously been photographed after being caught in the moth trap - see the image for 12 July 2009.


Ref: 20091021_d01_20090908_2025_055 burnished brass moth feeding on yellow buddleia at night (orig)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 14 Jun 2009 at 13:48    Image of day on 12 Jul 2009

Burnished Brass moths are quite small but really beautiful when the light catches the 'burnished' areas properly.


Ref: 20090712_da1_20090614_1348_394 ft1 burnished brass moth on hawthorn twig (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 08 Sep 2009 at 20:18    Image of day on 21 Oct 2009

We have lived here for 19 years, and enjoyed our yellow buddleia and its visitors by day. Out on a fruitless bat foray on a very mild evening we discovered that it also has a 'night shift'. This is a couple of images of the burnished Brass moth. The first is in flight and shows a partially coiled proboscis


Ref: 20091021_d01_20090908_2018_035 burnished brass moth with proboscis half curled flying to yellow buddleia (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


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