Moths in July

The warmth of the day and a still evening awakened moths in our Cedar Walk.

Clouded silver moth

Moths have had a poor period. Very few on the wing along the lane and disturbingly quiet here.

That quietness must have impacted bats too. We have brown long-eared bats here. They hunt moths, not by sonar alone, but by using their acute hearing to catch moths on the wing. They can hear moths breathing. That is hearing as acute as that of a toddler whose parent crawls out of the bedroom, thinking the child has finally settled. Only to discover they haven’t.

Swallowtail and scalloped oak moths

But last night must have been good for the bats. 185 moths of 48 species is our best count since August 2022. Some full bat stomachs - I hope.

August thorn and wormwood pug were new species for us - the later only distinguishable from the currant pug by a dark band on the upper abdomen.

My personal favourite was the elegant swallowtail. Six of these beauties. Ghostly in flight.

Thirty one humble uncertain/rustics - our most numerous.