Large emerald moth, taken by Sally Granger
Large emerald
This beautiful, unmistakable moth made its first appearance in the moth trap on Thursday night; definitely an exciting find. Common throughout most of the UK, the large emerald is found between June and August.
Cinnabar moth, taken by Sally Granger
Cinnabar moth
Named after the red mineral of the same name, this brightly coloured moth is often found during the day. As a caterpillar it feeds on the poisonous leaves of ragwort, from which it absorbs the toxins, these remain in the body of the adult moth and leave a bitter taste in the mouth of any predators not deterred by its bright warning colours.
Buff tip moth, taken by David Osborn
Buff tip
The ‘buff tip’ on the wing of this moth makes it striking as it clearly bears remarkable resemblance to a broken twig. These moths are relatively common and have been a frequent feature in the moth trap in recent weeks.
Hummingbird hawk-moth, taken by Richard Revels
Hummingbird hawk-moth
Spotted this week on the planted tub just outside the visitor centre, this is a day-flying moth with a wingspan of around two inches. Its long proboscis and rapid, humming wing beat as it hovers and flits from one plant to another make it easily mistakable as a true hummingbird. It is resident throughout Europe and North Africa and is most commonly seen in the UK in August.
The reserve is filled with wildflowers and butterflies at the moment, but join us on a sunny day and you’ll more than likely spot a few beautiful day-flying moths too!
If you'd like to learn more about moths and other creatures of the night, join us for our Bats and Moths Guided Walk on Friday 1st August, http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-372083