Happy New Year all!
Same thread as before but a whole year of moth hunting ahead of us. You don't need lots of expensive equipement to set up light traps, a budget of around £20 should be enough, have a look on the old thread HERE or ask again, there is always (almost) someone who knows. Wendy is our surrogate mum & has a house & shed full of caterpillars & pupas & breeding adults!
The moths are still coming to feed on the rope in the garden. All you need is to dissolve 0,5Kg of sugar in 0,5 litres of wine, by gently heating up & stirring. Then pour the mixture into an old pan & put in a natural fibre rope or cord. (Don't put the ends in as it gets messy). Leave to soak a day & hang in the garden from a tree or bush or between posts. Then go back just after dark & see who's feeding. I tend to pop out about every half hour until bedtime. Then the fun starts as you try to get the camera settings right for the photos. The rope tends to work for about 3 days & then needs redipping during the day before the 4th night. Here are some "library pictures"
My rope is now a lot shorter as I only have 1 tree & just loop it from one low branch, it needs to be about 4ft from the ground. Here is one from 30 December, a Chestnut
Everone is welcome!
Best wishes
Hazel in Southwest France
Almost definitely H, just popped out to get some Valerian to see if it prefers them to the dandelion!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
You do spoil them Wendy!
Interesting critter
WendyBartter said:New kid on the block found inside kitchen by back door (nearly went up the hoover!)
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Regards, Hazel
At 3cm long it could also be Tyson! LOL Fancy doing a few rounds with a heavyweight?
LOL Wendy !!! love it.
post edit: I think Wilma wagtail would love to invite it over for breakfast lol (Hannibal Lecter springs to mind) !
Ha ha H, good job she's miles away up country from mine & my fat green caterpillar is safe in its box on my table!
Interesting in that after recoiling from dandelion leaves when offered it didn't do same for the Valerian ... not eaten any yet but may well not as it's a fair size already so may pupate soon! Fortunately I have many healthy young plants in garden!
However I had to visit nursery down the road today to purchase two pots of common privet in order to feed my next expected incumbents .... Oooooh, wonder what they will be???
Wow would HM come into the name?
Nooooooo, will be something I've not had before though!!
Heard from Steve Ogden who supports your ID for Angle Shades!
Is it a UK species or exotic?
Exotic, should pick them up Tuesday!
Angle Shades not interested in eating, crawled between the sheets of kitchen paper, may find pupa there soon, fingers crossed it hasn't been parasitised!