Photo of Elephant Hawk-moth © Joan Hughes
This year I was determined to spend at least one night out of doors observing wildlife. I was delighted therefore to read about the Higgs/Redford mothing night on the MKNHS website. My knowledge of moths was minimal and dated from childhood when they were viewed as inveterate and alarming pests. I remember on hot summer nights when doors were left open and lights switched on, giddy monsters would hover around lightbulbs casting huge terrifying shadows on living room walls.
When the day came (20th July) I anxiously observed the weather hoping for a dry evening. It had been quite warm all day, but overcast. As instructed, I packed a torch, a camping chair, some water and a sweater for later in the evening. Instinctively I added my raincoat, a necessity on almost every outdoor event this year.
As I drove away from my home around 8.30pm I was dismayed to note some spots of rain on the windscreen, but happily nothing more sinister materialised. Reaching the rendezvous point I got a warm welcome from a member of the Bucks Invertebrate Group, this event being a joint venture between themselves and MKNHS. Then it was a slow drive up a narrow lane to reach the chosen site, a small clearing in College Wood. I parked up and after saying hello to the select group already assembled, I got out my camping chair and sat down to wait. It was still light and I was glad I had bought my book to pass the time.
There were several moth traps set up around the site, consisting of white cloths lit by lamps. Another more sophisticated type consisted of a tent-like structure with a light in the middle designed to attract moths from all angles.
Soon after sunset my first moth presented itself. It was Epinotia tenerana. (Although encouraged to use the Latin names, as a novice I found the colloquial names both charming and easier to remember). Epinotia tenerana is otherwise known as the Nut Bud moth, a beautiful little creature with forewings the colour of a hazelnut. After this initial sighting, the moths came in thick and fast and, overall, I was introduced to twenty-three different species, many quite stunning: Deilephila elpenor – the Elephant Hawk moth, for example, with its big colourful splashes of golden-olive and deep pink, or Leucoma salicis – White Satin with its soft, glossy white wings reminiscent of a sumptuous hooded cloak. Not only was each moth uniquely interesting to observe, I was captivated by the variety, the subtlety and the fragility of these frequently overlooked invertebrates. As an added bonus I saw my first ever glow-worm!
The evening went all too quickly and at around midnight it was time to say farewell. This was a night I shall always remember, and I am very grateful to those present willing to share their time and expertise with a keen but very amateur MKNHS group member. A list of the moths I had the pleasure of getting to know is given below.
Joan Hughes
Nut Bud – Epinotia tenerana
Garden Grass-moth – Chrysoteuchia culmella
Drinker – Euthrix potatoria
Chinese Character – Cilix glaucata
Brimstone Moth – Opisthograptis luteolata
Dark Umber – Philereme transversata
White spotted Pug – Eupithecia tripunctaria
Red Twin-spot Carpet – Xanthorhoe spadicearia
Large Yellow Underwing – Noctua pronuba
Green Oak Tortrix – Tortrix viridana
Oak Knot-Horn – Phycita roborella
Clay– Mythimna farrago
Yellow Shell – Camptogramma bilineata
Clouded Border – Lomaspilis marginata
Elephant Hawk moth – Deilephila elpenor
Buff Arches – Habrosyne pyritoides
Black Arches – Lymantria monacha
White Satin – Leucoma salicis
Bordered Beauty – Epione repandari
July Highflyer – Hydriomena furcata
Spectacle– Abrostola tripartite
Coronet– Craniophora ligustri
Burnished Brass – Diachrysia chrysitis
See also Andy Harding’s report of the evening, which includes a link to the full Species List prepared by MKNHS and BIG