It seems that our several months of almost incessant rain has finally come to an end, and spring is happening. Although I expect that some species will have suffered due to flooding (water vole burrows, soil-hibernating invertebrates...), some are starting to appear. So here's a quick non-technical introduction to a couple of garden-dwelling moths that have made themselves known to me recently.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHc7YXahHnfVBdszaqP89rvjFFsKJLGo2RV9xj9ymbx13WsKAe-t9EbFixiHAPBhLVz87wK8cnN8qxndwlnX0cEoXrXW8BQxlm4nltRXhPB6u940i7OrWiqRLw4KOmt1x50ojxj16pJF4/s1600/oldladylarva1a.JPG) |
A mature larva of the Old Lady moth Mormo maura. Note the bright orange spiracles along the side, and the black marks in the rear half. Approx 60mm long. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmpoD3017QzUhozNrctBGa6LqRHIDwm5qC8fl8DEfaz2GrFQXTl_xeyaR8QYFygenhay1PlWvGcNB-gnfGtzztD3QRXb6TvqAwkqmBP0-m8Tepco5kD_eQ6iBh_ZzTp34M-EWbhuqcZwZ/s1600/oldladylarva1b.JPG) |
Head of larva of Mormo maura - note the shiny, speckled head capsule with ocelli (simple eyes) and small antennae |
M. maura is a common species and I have previously seen adults in our garden, including one roosting in a shed. Ivy (Hedera helix) is one of its main food plants and we have plenty of that so it is not a surprise to see this species.
A couple of months ago, a series of storms destroyed many garden fences (not to mention causing widespread flooding) in the UK and while clearing up the debris, I found several pupae that had been dislodged. Most were put in our 'bug hotel' but a few were taken indoors to be hatched. One of these emerged a couple of days ago and proved to another common species, the Bright-line Brown-eye
Lacanobia oleracea. It feeds on a wide range of woody and herbaceous plants and again is no surprise, but did provide some photo opportunities prior to release.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1TFVb25mhHt1NFsM8Oz9Mu-voJIhVtwPrWPgopEgXuOlqp30J_T4e77Ln_jAr8Q0vvb90QY6QF2WuD8pXIWmfWLxYvP7HorKDgbSbmoCD8-KF-7Jzuo-7Dz-gW8nIFbdDdGiSE-RvOQJ/s1600/brightlinebrowneye1a.JPG) |
L. oleracea - the bright line is along the rear edge of the wings, the brown eye refers to the kidney-spots in this species.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCEhyNk3OW8O38pwpIPpvyL64sj2yCqos4SsUdEmlGa32ECIXuSXYXdVUPnVGM7OKT_jcKOwx_MNm5fKh9qjB6iBENh0vZO0MqRW0YX9hwmiZH6InF1OvVBb2vzYEK73eTT6Gei0F4W_h/s1600/brightlinebrowneye1d.JPG) |
Close-up of the wings showing the scale-patterns. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnl01nkOLsSVDzM5b2o0qi9aw80DC-qahIyucVFwlEx3aPq8hGSjeCtb1X4PdY12XDAiwb6W46CR_pstA7qlfDG8aiv-AknSsTNxTpsmRYTK86CGf1gqhhjtqEoC5RBbTbaicQUCPKY8q/s1600/brightlinebrowneye1b.JPG) |
Side view showing the hairy and tufted thorax. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Xk_6eSwiDtKHx-ksOTBGDYo9OunLk7ahJUVkU3abRhvfps6n1P6TudG8YNTdZ8nSUkLva1HC2stzY5ZKho9LzXxNwZWikoNJCOcFfAajoCn_PCWUwjB6NnKlN6N11f-FvlqDFxANEP0r/s1600/brightlinebrowneye1c.JPG) |
Portrait! |
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