Early ..

Day 295 #365DaysWild

Early Grey moth. Not attracted to our moth light but

drawn to our faulty garage wall light where it waited this morning.

Early by name and nature. One of our earliest moths of the season.

Grey suggests dull or bland- but neither with delicate patterning, especially on a ‘crisp’, newly-emerged individual.

Its larval food plant is honeysuckle of which we have plenty. There were no honeysuckle plants in the garden when we arrived.

We’d gathered juicy red seeds from the native honeysuckle that was fruiting by the footpath near Butlers Hill tram stop - then grew the seedlings onto strong young plants before planting them out.

Some of our plants have now scrambled their way four metres up birch trees. Others have bulked themselves into our hedges. Great as a nectar source and their succulent berries are enjoyed by invertebrates, birds and mammals in the autumn and winter.

Subsequently we’ve added cultivars and different species to the mix for variety and colour.