Sunday, 4 March 2007

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)


Back in December I said one of my hobbies was "Mothing". This involves catching, identifying and then releasing the moths I find in the garden. I've only run a moth trap a few times so far this year, and up until yesterday with no success. Last night yielded my first two moths of the year, two Common Quakers, a common moth that flies early in the year. They have a wing span of about 3.5 cm so are considerably smaller than most butterflies.

3 comments:

tut-tut said...

Tut Tut's husband here:

I wonder if you have ever come across the fascinating predator/prey relationship between some moths (primarily in the family Noctuidae) and bats that hunt them. Many of these moths can "hear" the ultra sounds emitted by hunting bats and evade capture. If you'd like to hear more, please let me know, and I'll forward a few references.

Tony Morris said...

Hi Tut-tut's husband:
There's a small bit in "The Natural History of Moths" by Mark Young, but it's not something I know much about. I'd appreciate the references. Are you into Leps?

isa said...

Never realized how visually attractive a moth can be!