Every summer, when I was young, my parents would take me and my brother off camping for a fortnight’s holiday. These camping trips were always carefree and despite the inevitable rainy days stuck in the tent, the middle-of-the-night trip to the loos in my wellies and having to boil our water the ‘old-fashioned way’, I wouldn’t have changed them for anything. Camping does however, expose a whole new world; a world that emerges when everyone else is tucked up in their houses, to flutter and gossip around the nearest light source. I hate to admit it, but I used to be terrified of moths, they would dart and woosh past my hair and were pretty scary creatures.
With experiences like this all too familiar for a lot of us, it’s easy to see why moths can be given bad press. However, a recent trip to RSPB Strumpshaw Fen to try and overcome my fear of these mysterious creatures did not disappoint. Huddled round the large moth trap, we found some beautiful and wonderfully different moths tucked away in every corner. I never realised just how distinguished moths could be and I was even more taken aback with the eclectic and charming names given to some of the species. In our trap that morning we had sandy carpet, lime speck pug, sallow kitten, canary shouldered thorn, blood vein and my favourite of the morning, mother of pearl. Many of these names are attributed to the individual who first discovered it. Some however, are slightly more whimsical in nature.
Now, I said my favourite of the morning was mother of pearl simply because it was so beautiful. Subtle and shimmering, it sat so patiently while we all ooo’d and ahhh’d. This small and delicate moth stood in stark contrast to the bigger stars of the show though. The magnificent garden tiger moth along with some of our other larger moths such as the poplar hawkmoth or the hummingbird hawkmoth (pictured) will really leave you mesmerised.
The hummingbird hawkmoth is by far the most spectacular that i’ve seen this summer and it certainly lives up to its name. They beat their wings at such a speed that you can actually hear them before you see them. However, once you do catch a glimpse you will hopefully be as taken with them as I am. Hummingbird hawkmoths are attracted to flowers with a plentiful supply of nectar, such as honeysuckle and buddleia, so if this sounds like your back garden, be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for this wonderful creature.
If you need anymore convincing about moths, then pop along to an event yourself at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen or any of our other reserves around the region. Check out the website for more information by clicking here