With the very Spring like Friday we dusted off the moth trap and put it out for the first time in 2023.
The bees were active during the day with both hives collecting the white pollen, as yet we are unsure what from, and generally making the most of the warmth.
Incidently the black on the wooden hives is insulation through the winter months as we are always hearing of failed bees from cold thin walled hives.
Brindled Beauty
This moth caused a bit of confusion due to its flight period, books say March to May, but the larger size of this male, plus brighter colours distinguish it from the Pale Brindled Beauty, see below. I can only speculate that it's early emergence is a result of temperatures hitting 15 degrees C.
Paled Brindled Beauty
This was the moth we were expecting in January / February. With a couple in the moth trap we were able to compare the Pale and the above Beauty. Again a male, the female being wingless and hard to find.
Early Moth
This moth is what the name says, 'Early'. Flight period is Jan to Feb, with the larvae feeding on our local hawthorn and blackthorn.
Dark Chestnut
With moths around every month of our British year the Dark Chestnut flight period is Oct to Feb, but records indicate a month or so either side of the official.
Again its larvae food plant is the thorns, but also shallows and oaks, all present at the Trust.
Dotted Border
This moth has a flight period of Feb to April. Like so many winter moths the female has almost stumps for wings.
This is a darker morph, a male with a food plant of oak and other broadleaf trees.
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