The adult emperor moth is a truly spectacular insect. On the wing in April and May, the male of this large, day-flying moth species is a particularly striking sight, and can easily be mistaken for a butterfly due to its bright colours. It is a fairly widespread species, one that favours open scrub habitat on heath land, moorland, fens, along field margins and hedgerows, … [Read more...] about Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia)
Invertebrates
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
With a flash of black and red wings the red admiral adds a splash of welcome colour to our gardens and woodland from late-spring to mid-autumn. This striking butterfly is a migratory species that makes its way up from the Mediterranean, moving north as the weather warms.Resident populations in North Africa and southern Europe breed early in the year. Then, as the weather … [Read more...] about Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Bumblebees
The slow, lazy buzz of the bumblebee is a fundamental part of the Irish summer. These fat, furry, ponderous bees trundle from flower to flower, collecting pollen and nectar to support their growing colony. They liven up the summer garden, and provide an invaluable pollination service to the plants they visit.We have 18 species of bumblebee in Ireland, all of which have … [Read more...] about Bumblebees
Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera)
The freshwater pearl mussel is a bivalve mollusc that lives in clean, fast flowing rivers and streams. It is one of the longest lived invertebrates in the world, and with a lifespan of up to 130 years is Ireland’s longest living animal.Like all bivalve molluscs the freshwater pearl mussel has a shell that consists of two halves connected by a flexible hinge that can be … [Read more...] about Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera)
Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
The butter-yellow wings of the male brimstone are a true herald of spring, and are credited by some as the inspiration behind the word “butterfly”. These pretty yellow butterflies are quite common, especially around open woodland, and are often the first butterflies to be seen in spring. Brimstones emerge from their winter hibernation as soon as weather conditions start to … [Read more...] about Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
