It’s Moth Night 2020 today, and although the cool and somewhat windy conditions are far from ideal, you should stand a good chance of seeing this moth using a torch. The name comes from the silvery Y-shaped markings on each of its brilliantly camouflaged forewings. They are migratory and visit Otley gardens for nectar from May onwards. In the late Autumn the cold will kill some, but others will migrate south to winter around the Mediterranean and Black Seas. I find it incredible that such small, delicate creatures successfully travel such distances, and was surprised to hear that moths sometimes land on offshore oil rigs, attracted to the lights. Moths, too, are vital pollinators – a recent University College London study found 45% of moths carrying pollen. Another moth you should look out for tonight is the Large Yellow Underwing.
Photo by Pixabay