I hate to be negative about a season, the weather has played a major part in the frequency of putting the moth traps out. When I say trap I mean a device that allows us to catch moths alive, record them , then release them again. This year has been both poor in both quantities, and species overall. We are hoping with this warm, drier weather that the numbers will improve. In a positive we had over 30 macro species, and 12 micro.
Flame Shoulder- Ochropeura plecta
Olive - Ipimorpha subtusa
Dun-bar
Selection of Micro Moths below
From Top left- Large Fruit-tree Tortrix, Scopariinae, Evergestris pallidata
bottom left - Pandemis corylana, Pyralis farinalis (Meal Worm) , Carina quercana
Magpie Moth ( Abraxas grossulariate )
Lesser broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
Common Carpet
Moths play an important part of the lower end of the food chain; both bats and birds feeding their young and themselves are an important foodstuff. On average a Blue Tit chick in the nest will receive about 100 moth caterpillars, times that by a clutch of 10 then that is 1000 caterpillars a day the adult parent birds have to supply. A poor start has its impact, small clutches, dead and starving young. Already bats are being found starving having been unable to feed on flighted moths.
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