Anyone else like moths or shall I shut up now?

Eichhörnchen · 07-11-15, 09:00 AM

I took this photo of a "Ringlet" when I visited a local butterfly 'hotspot' during my bike ride yesterday.

It's pretty clear where it got that name; the male's top side is a dark plain-chocolate brown with more of these little circles.

Since I heard on the grapevine that we might expect an influx of Large Tortoiseshell butterflies from southern and eastern Europe this summer (normally one of the rarest types you could hope to see in the UK) I thought I might keep a record here of anything unusual I get on our buddleia bushes, or even at the local RSPB reserve; maybe some of the more usual stuff, too.

If you want to, please post pics or descriptions of what you see locally, I'd like to know about it.

If this proves the roaring success we all expect (

) then I might do moths as well, except I'll have to stay off the beer and go out at night for that. Did you know that moths like beer too? Another story...

Aktungbby · 07-11-15, 10:02 AM

In Minnesota we got Luna Moths: here's one at about the right size !

Eichhörnchen · 07-11-15, 11:22 AM

If we had those over here we'd keep 'em as pets.

Stealhead · 07-11-15, 12:04 PM

Luna moths can be found in Florida as well I've seen a few there over the years that fight be as far south as they go.

The Atlas Moth makes a Luna look tiny Atlas can have a 10 inch Wong span they live in Southeast Asia.

August · 07-11-15, 12:33 PM

We had a lot of these growing up.

August · 07-11-15, 12:38 PM

These days I battle an infestation of the winter moth. It's an invasive species with no local predators. Their caterpillars can strip a full grown maple tree in a few days.

THE_MASK · 07-12-15, 05:05 AM

These are endangered from here . Too much forest clearing .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithoptera_richmondia

07-11-15, 09:00 AM	#1
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 15,966 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Anyone else like moths or shall I shut up now? I took this photo of a "Ringlet" when I visited a local butterfly 'hotspot' during my bike ride yesterday. It's pretty clear where it got that name; the male's top side is a dark plain-chocolate brown with more of these little circles. Since I heard on the grapevine that we might expect an influx of Large Tortoiseshell butterflies from southern and eastern Europe this summer (normally one of the rarest types you could hope to see in the UK) I thought I might keep a record here of anything unusual I get on our buddleia bushes, or even at the local RSPB reserve; maybe some of the more usual stuff, too. If you want to, please post pics or descriptions of what you see locally, I'd like to know about it. If this proves the roaring success we all expect () then I might do moths as well, except I'll have to stay off the beer and go out at night for that. Did you know that moths like beer too? Another story... __________________

07-11-15, 10:02 AM	#2
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 28,786 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	In Minnesota we got Luna Moths: here's one at about the right size ! __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness; and I'm not too sure about the Universe"

07-11-15, 11:22 AM	#3
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 15,966 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	If we had those over here we'd keep 'em as pets. __________________

07-11-15, 12:33 PM	#5
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 22,936 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We had a lot of these growing up. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

07-11-15, 12:38 PM	#6
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 22,936 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	These days I battle an infestation of the winter moth. It's an invasive species with no local predators. Their caterpillars can strip a full grown maple tree in a few days. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

07-11-15, 12:04 PM	#4
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Luna moths can be found in Florida as well I've seen a few there over the years that fight be as far south as they go. The Atlas Moth makes a Luna look tiny Atlas can have a 10 inch Wong span they live in Southeast Asia.

07-12-15, 05:05 AM	#7
THE_MASK Ace of the deep . Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,226 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 73	These are endangered from here . Too much forest clearing . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithoptera_richmondia