Mrs Sciencebase spotted this fellow roosting in the garden last night…it was the moth that was roosting, not Mrs Sb. It’s a Purple Thorn. So-called because the larva (caterpillar), which is stick-like in appearance has a spiky projection and the adult has a purple hue to its wings.
Ten-frame focus-stacked shot
Its scientific name (binomial) is Selenia tetralunaria. It has four white crescent moon shapes on its wings, hence the tetralunaria of its binomial. Selenia is the genus and there are a couple of dozen of this type of moth around the world, a fraction of the 180,000 different known moths (and butterflies, same thing)
Day-flying moths among the tops of the sycamores today
Adela reaumurella, the Green Long-horn Moth, is a species of moth belonging to the family Adelidae. It is a small moth with a wingspan of around 12-15 mm. The forewings are metallic green, the hindwings slightly darker. The most distinctive feature of this moth is the long antennae that can be twice as long as the wingspan. The Green Long-horn Moth is widely distributed throughout Europe and parts of Asia. It can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, heathlands, and grasslands.
The species typically has two generations per year. The first generation emerges in May or June, and the second generation emerges in August or September. The larvae feed on leaf litter.
The species is not considered to be a threatened species. However, like many moth species, it is under-recorded and little is known about its population status. As with many Lepidoptera, it plays an important role in the ecosystem as a pollinator of flowers. It is also a valuable indicator species for monitoring the health of woodland habitats.
I have a pheromone lure to attract the male of the lepidopteral species Saturnia pavonia, also known as the Emperor moth. It’s a beautiful creature. The male flies during the day drawn to the sex attractant exuded by the night-flying and less brightly coloured female. I’ve photographed them on the wing in the garden previously and also on a stage with a macro lens, as regular Sciencebase readers will know.
I only put the lure out for a few moments once a week or so, but it never fails. A couple of males turned up today within 20 minutes of the pheromones being released. One of them ended up in the conservatory, frantically flapping on a curtain for a few moments, so I got some fast shutterspeed (1/4000s) shots of him before giving the curtain a bit of a gentle flick to send him on his way and putting the lure back in the freezer until next week. It’s wonderful to know that these beautiful creatures are going about their lives with no care for our human woes.
The Box-tree Moth, Cydalima perspectalis, is an Asian species of moth (usually seen in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, and India), that is gradually spreading, presumably with the advent of box hedges on new housing estates, across the South East of England, and in East Anglia.
It would most likely have arrived as eggs/larvae on imported box plants(Buxus), and it was first recorded in the UK in 2007. Its larvae can rapidly eat their way through a box hedge. Another reason to go native when it comes to planting…although it is probably too late for native box now though.
Box-tree Moth larva, blurry record shot, 10 May 2023
I recorded my first Box-tree moth in July of 2019 and have seen dozens since. It is a quite beautiful, exotic-seeming moth. There is a dark melanistic, form, which is a common genetic aberration in lots of animals; see also the Industrial Evolution of the Peppered Moth.
Melanistic form of the Box-tree Moth to actinic light 13 Oct 2019, VC29
Wiki has more details on its recordings: first seen in Germany 2006, then Switzerland and The Netherlands in 2007, France and Austria in 2009, Hungary 2011, Romania, Spain, and Turkey. Also now in Slovakia, Belgium, and Croatia, and by 2016 Bosnia and Hercegovina. During the preparation to the 2014 Olympics in 2012 it was introduced from Italy to Sochi with the planting stock of Buxus sempervirens. A year later it was seen to be defoliating Buxus colchica. Now present in Toronto, Canada as of 2019.
Recently, I’ve seen a lot of pheromone traps hanging in trees close to a garden box hedge and even at a National Trust property. These traps are commonly used by moth-ers who place a pheromone lure in the trap, and draw in a target species for recording, examination, and photographing. All in the name of citizen science.
Unfortunately, this is not the way to deal with what box gardeners perceive as a pest. Indeed, hanging a lure in your garden will have the exact opposite effect of what you hoped. The females if they are in your area will be drawn to the box plants because that’s the food plant for their larvae. In the meantime, they will be pumping out sex pheromone into the air and drawing in the males who will mate as soon as they encounter the female. If you put out a pheromone lure, you are likely to be amplifying the sex signal and will draw in more males. You will trap some males but it really only takes one pairing on your box hedge for it to be devastated by box-tree moth larvae.
So, how do you deal with an infestation of Box-tree Moth larvae on your bushes? Well, you could go the nasty route and spray pesticide, but that will harm other beneficial invertebrate species. You could make a solution of washing-up liquid, but that’s unlikely to work well. You could pick off the caterpillar and…dispose of them. But, in this area, at least, I’d say your Box are doomed, perhaps better to find another native plant species to replace it for hedging.
If you see this species, there is a major project to record their spread and changing colour forms through the UK. You can record details here.
UPDATE: One Merv in the night and another to join it by morning!
I only started mothing with a scientific trap a little over a year ago (24 Jul 2018, to be precise) but have logged and photographed well over 300 different species since then.
I heard about Griposia aprilina, aka the Merveille du Jour, a few weeks after I started and thought it would be a nice specimen to see. But, its larvae feed on oaks and as far as I know, there are none particularly close to our garden. I was ever hopeful of seeing this little marvel but I didn’t hold out much hope of it ever making an appearance.
This beautifully marked green (and black and white) moth usually emerges in adult form in early October to fly and mate. This time last year, I hadn’t seen one and even though I lit up all the way through the autumnal and winter moth season up to mid-December or thereabouts, Merv never showed.
After our recent wildlife, yoga, and sightseeing trip to the Greek Island of Kythira, I got back to lighting up only a couple of nights ago. Tonight, I was about to head for bed, but thought I would check the trap for Thorns and Sallows only to be rewarded with the little wonder that is the Merveille du Jour. It’s odd that some British moth-ers tend to call it a “Wonder of the Day” when they translate its obviously French name, using the Germanic “wonder”. Either way, it’s a marvellous and wonderful moth.
I’ve seen Hummingbird Hawk-moths, Macroglossum stellatarum, on a few occasions but previously when travelling abroad (specifically, Croatia (2017), Germany (2018), and Italy (2010), and if memory serves many years ago France, 1996). I’ve only ever got awkward, blurry, and low-resolution photos. Earlier in the summer, a friend gave me some red valerian plants, which are a favourite of this species; same friend who donated the snails for our newly resurrected pond, #pondlife.
That was back in early June. I had high hopes of seeing swarms of this bird-like Lep, which is an immigrant to the UK but occasionally seen in numbers when there’s an irruption. But, it seemed like it wasn’t to be, until this balmy September day (just 17 Celsius in the shade though). Finally, a HBHM has turned up. Initially, I wasn’t quick enough with my camera, but at least I saw it before it headed off over our roof. But, then twenty minutes later it was back, or perhaps it’s a second one. I was ready. Shutterspeed 1/4000th of a second, still not fast enough to freeze the moth’s wings in flight, but at least you get the gist.
The moth mothers often abbreviate as the SHC, the Setaceous Hebrew Character, Xestia c-nigrum, turns up a lot in scientific traps from late summer into the autumn. The name refers to a marking on its forewings that resembles the Hebrew letter, nun, and the setaceous means “bristly” and refers to the hairs around the character. Hence my tongue-in-cheek reference to it being the Bristly Nun. The setaceous separates it from a distant relative but fellow noctuid, the spring-flying Hebrew Character, Orthosia gothica, it has the nun, but is clean-shaven and so lacks those bristles.
Setaceous Hebrew Character, Xestia c-nigrum
The SHC also flies in its first brood from May to June, but the second brood seems to be far more numerous August to September. You can see from my records for 2019 here that I’ve seen hundreds, with a peak in August of well over 100 on a single night. Nothing compared to the numbers of fellow noctuid the bombastic Large Yellow Underwing, Noctua pronuba. Apart from subtle variation in marking definition and some size difference, the SHCs mostly look alike. Again, in contrast to N. pronuba, which can vary considerably in their choice of browns and greys.
Anyway, there were no NFY (new for year) moths in the trap this morning, so I focused on the SHC on a whim and placed a small tribe of those from the haul on to my trusty chunk of mossy and lichen-covered bark for a quick photoshoot and a macro closeup or two.
Large Thorn, Ennomos autumnaria, attracted to the UV lamp of the scientific trap, night of 16th September, didn’t get a chance to enter the trap before I potted it to photograph this NFM*.
Large Thorn
The species, like the other geometers we know as Thorns looks like an autumnal leaf, and occasionally quivers when roosting as if to follow the breeze. It’s a relatively large moth, but the “Thorn” of its vernacular name refers to a spike on the larva and is nothing to do with the adult being at all prickly.
A rather worn Orange Sallow
Also around the trap at the same time a worn Orange Sallow (worn, but NFM*) and a Centre-barred Sallow, both very autumnal in appearance.
First appearances in 2019 of various moth species to the scientific trap. Some of these were new for the year (NFY) as I’d seen them in 2018. Some were NFM, new for me.
17 Sep Large Thorn
17 Sep Orange Sallow
15 Sep Clepsis consimilana
15 Sep Beautiful Hook-tip
13 Sep Brown-spot Pinion
13 Sep Barred Sallow
10 Sep Common Marble
7 Sep Centre-barred Sallow
4 Sep Feathered Gothic
4 Sep Eudonia angustea
3 Sep Yellow-line Quaker
25 Aug Frosted Orange
25 Aug Jersey Tiger
7 Aug Straw Underwing
6 Aug White-spotted Pinion
5 Aug The Lychnis
5 Aug Rosy Rustic
5 Aug Wax Moth
4 Aug Twin-spotted Wainscot
4 Aug Pale Prominent
4 Aug Flounced Rustic
4 Aug Red Underwing
30 Jul Yellow-tail
28 Jul Peacock
27 Jul Mouse Moth
27 Jul Oak Eggar
27 Jul Square-spot Rustic
26 Jul Acrobasis suavella
26 Jul Argyrotaenia ljungiana
26 Jul Blastobasis adustella
26 Jul Bordered Pug
26 Jul Garden Rose Tortrix
26 Jul The Crescent
26 Jul Small Scallop
25 Jul Canary-shouldered Thorn
25 Jul Common Carpet
22 Jul Acleris forsskaleana
21 Jul Buff Footman
21 Jul Tree-lichen Beauty
18 Jul Copper Underwing
17 Jul Codling Moth
17 Jul Dusky Sallow
17 Jul Garden Dart
17 Jul Bulrush Wainscot
17 Jul Small Emerald
13 Jul Celypha striana
13 Jul Hypsopygia glaucinalis
13 Jul Ypsolopha scabrella
12 Jul Barred Straw
12 Jul Straw Dot
12 Jul Least Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
12 Jul Box-tree Moth
11 Jul Bordered Sallow
11 Jul Coronet
11 Jul The Herald
11 Jul Lozotaeniodes formosana
11 Jul Marbled Clover
11 Jul Rhyacionia pinicolana
10 Jul Straw Dot
10 Jul Ruby Tiger
9 Jul Meal Moth
7 Jul Small Ranunculus
6 Jul Buff-tip
6 Jul Old Lady
5 Jul Green Silver-lines
5 Jul Lesser/Common Rustic agg.
5 Jul Rose-flounced Tabby
3 Jul Brown-tail
3 Jul Clay
2 Jul Brown-line Bright-eye
1 Jul Morophaga choragella
1 Jul Single-dotted Wave
1 Jul Flame
27 Jun Buff Arches
26 Jun Phoenix
26 Jun Yellow Shell
26 Jun Rustic/Uncertain
26 Jun Small Grey
25 Jun Rhodophaea Formosa
25 Jun Smoky Wainscot
25 Jun Oak Lantern
25 Jun Bramble shoot Moth
24 Jun Barred Yellow
24 Jun Donacaula forficella
24 Jun Elder Pearl
24 Jun Ringed China-mark
24 Jun Swallow-tailed Moth
24 Jun Varied Coronet
23 Jun Dwarf Cream Wave
22 Jun Broad-barred White
22 Jun Clouded Silver
22 Jun Double Square-spot
22 Jun Scorched Wing
22 Jun Thistle Ermine
21 Jun Spinach
21 Jun Lilac Beauty
21 Jun Scalloped Oak
20 Jun Cochylis atricapitana
20 Jun Common Footman
19 Jun Light Arches
19 Jun Mottled Beauty
19 Jun Freyer’s Pug
19 Jun Pyrausta aurata
19 Jun Udea olivalis
19 Jun White Satin Moth
18 Jun Chrysoteuchia culmella
17 Jun Crassa unitella
17 Jun White Plume
16 Jun Agapeta hamana
16 Jun Large Fruit-tree Totrix
15 Jun Foxglove Pug
15 Jun The Shark
14 Jun The Snout
14 Jun Fenland Pearl
13 Jun Bordered White
13 Jun Least Carpet
12 Jun Swallow Prominent
10 Jun Small Elephant Hawk-moth
9 Jun Pale Mottled Willow
8 Jun Gold Spot
8 Jun Green Pug
8 Jun Hawthorn Moth
8 Jun Setaceous Hebrew Character
6 Jun Silver Ground Carpet
6 Jun Privet Hawk-moth
6 Jun Riband Wave
6 Jun Brown House Moth
6 Jun Hook-streak Grass-veneer
4 Jun Peppered Moth
4 Jun Large Nutmeg
3 Jun Elephant Hawk-moth
2 Jun Poplar Grey
2 Jun Burnished Brass
2 Jun Treble Brown Spot
2 Jun Gold triangle
2 Jun Spruce Carpet
1 Jun Small Magpie
1 Jun Dark Arches
1 Jun Buff Ermine
31 May Eyed Hawk-moth
31 May Large Yellow Underwing
29 May Cinnabar
27 May White Ermine
23 Jun Dwarf Cream Wave
28 May White-point
27 May Garden Pebble
26 May Tawny/Marbled Minor agg.
23 May Willow Beauty
22 May Treble Lines
21 May Light Brocade
21 May Oak Hook-tip
20 May Bee Moth
20 May Common Pug
20 May Twenty-plume
20 May Common Marbled Carpet
20 May Apotomis betuletana
20 May The Shears
20 May Common Swift
20 May Dingy Footman
19 May Small Dusty Wave
19 May Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
19 May Pale Tussock
18 May Rustic shoulder-knot
18 May Chocolate Tip
18 May Lime Hawk-moth
18 May Small Clouded Brindle
17 May Flame Shoulder
15 May Coxcomb Prominent
15 May Puss Moth
14 May Heart & Club
14 May White-shouldered House-moth
9 May Vine’s Rustic
8 May Heart & Dart
8 May Light Emerald
8 May Yellow-barred Brindle
3 May Clouded Border
1 May Angle Shades
27 Apr Latticed Heath
25 Apr Maiden’s Blush
24 Apr Turnip
24 Apr Bright-line Brown-eye
24 Apr Least Black Arches
23 Apr Lime-speck Pug
23 Apr Iron Prominent
22 Apr The Spectacle
22 Apr The Nutmeg
22 Apr Pebble Prominent
22 Apr Waved Umber
21 Apr Brimstone
21 Apr Sallow Kitten
21 Apr Beautiful Plume
21 Apr Chinese Character
20 Apr Cabbage Moth
20 Apr Scorched Carpet
19 Apr Red Twin-spot carpet agg.
18 Apr Nut-tree Tussock
18 Apr Pebble Hook-tip
17 Apr Streamer
11 Apr Muslin
7 Apr Shuttle-shaped Dart
20 Mar Emperor
29 Mar Early Thorn
24 Mar Garden Carpet
20 Mar Chestnut
20 Mar March Moth
16 Mar Silver Y
14 Mar Diurnea fagella
14 Mar Double-striped Pug
10 Mar Pale Pinion
9 Mar Dotted Border
8 Mar Early Grey
6 Mar Twin-spotted Quaker
4 Mar Small Quaker
1 Mar Clouded Drab
24 Feb Oak Beauty
23 Feb Hebrew Character
23 Feb Pale Brindled Beauty
22 Feb Common Plume
22 Feb Light-brown Apple Moth
22 Feb Acleris cristana
20 Feb Common Quaker
As autumn rolls on the number of specimens and the diversity of moths to the scientific trap tend to fall. The dedicated keep lighting up for rarities, vagrants, and of course, the Sallows, the Thorns, later the Merveille du Jour moths and then the December Moths.
Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula) on a chunk of bark, proper shot, taken after the safety shot
That said, it was warm yesterday and stayed balmy all night (minimum of 16 Celsius) albeit a bit wet at some point. So, 93 specimens of 24 species, which is quite a high for mid-September, I think especially given that it was down to 10 species of 35 moths previous trapping night.
Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula) in the lid of the moth pot, safety shot
A new one for me was Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula). It flies June to August and then a small, second brood emerges in September. Increasingly common, the larvae eat lichen growing on a wide range of trees.
Now, some people might wonder why this one is called the Beautiful Hook-tip. Well, it’s got those hooked tips to its wings. but is it beautiful? It certainly is, like any creature created by millions of years of evolution, but also just look at the symmetry, the geometry, the subtle colours and hues of those wings, especially the rusty edges of the forewings curving inwards from their hooked tips. How can you not see that as beautiful?
The moth mothers often abbreviate as the SHC, the 
