Spring 2012 - Glasgow & SW Scotland Branch of Butterfly ...

Why not Moths? – They are Just as Wonderful as Butterflies
A singularly lovely summer afternoon alongside a cascading burn
running down to join the River Nith near its origin in Ayrshire. Around us
on all sides is a maturing forestry plantation, which as part of a Wider
Countryside Butterfly Survey has revealed little in the way of butterflies.
Six-Spot Burnets © Jo Davis
23 On the Spot – April 2012
It’s a commercial monoculture that does
little for biodiversity. But here in this glade,
unmolested by the commercial ambitions
that surround us is a natural break about
200yds wide filled with a rich collection of
native grasses, plants, shrubs and
mosses. At last some butterflies Ringlets
and Green Veined Whites and here a
month earlier the area was populated with
Orange Tips. In six week’s time the valley
will be awash with Scotch Argus. Yet
these are much to be expected. More
interesting are the day flying moths to be
found here, all equally exquisite as their
butterfly brethren.
We have found an Emperor moth languishing on the heather. A
Vapourer moth, Common, Twin-spot and Silver Ground Carpet
moths, Barred Straw, Northern Spinach, Latticed Heath, Small
Angle Shades, Chimney Sweepers, Fox Moth, Straw Dot and the
ubiquitous immigrant the Silver Y have all turned out to greet us during
our surveys, some in larger numbers than any of the butterflies. Best of
all was a stunning little moth, the Haworth’s Minor, found flying along
the woodland edge on a particularly dreich afternoon.
Don’t these names alone make you want to find out more and look into
their lives. True some moths have the epithet ‘Drab’, but even these are
qualified such as the Clouded Drab a lovely little noctuid that welcomes
in the spring throughout the UK. It has very variable markings, with
regional variations and graces the moth trap in my garden every April. It
will in yours if you consider investing in one.
So mothing is both a day and a night time activity. If you are
adventurous, moths can be searched for by torch light on nectaring
plants at night - try your buddleia or honeysuckle. Or by use of the
sugaring technique, whereby a mixture of black treacle, brown sugar and
rum is painted on tree trunks, fence posts or telegraph poles – old
experts say at exactly ‘4ft 9ins’ from the ground!