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)
moths
Black arches moth recorded for the first time in 100 years
The National Biodiversity Data Centre announced on its Facebook Fan Page yesterday that it has received a record of a Black Arches moth (Lymantria monacha) from Camolin Woods in Co. Wexford. This is the first record of this species occurring in Ireland for 100 years. It was last recorded from a site in Glengarriff, Co. Cork in 1914. See the Facebook post below for more … [Read more...] about Black arches moth recorded for the first time in 100 years
Book Review: Britain’s Day Flying Moths
Moths are brilliant. Here in Ireland we have only 34 butterfly species -- including residents and frequently encountered migrants. We have, to date, more than 1,330 recorded moth species on the island. They come in all sorts of shapes colour and sizes and are a fascinating group of oft-overlooked insects that play a crucial role in the maintenance of a healthy, functioning … [Read more...] about Book Review: Britain’s Day Flying Moths
Moths: from the classroom to the garden
Regular contributor Albert Nolan introduces some school children to the wonderful world of Irish moths, and explores some of the other wildlife that makes the most of his mothing endeavours. I clasped my hands awkwardly while the students recited their morning prayers. As the words echoed around the classroom I wondered if the mysteries of religion were on a par … [Read more...] about Moths: from the classroom to the garden
Moths.ie: a photographic guide to Ireland’s Moths
Moths.ie is a really useful starting point if you’ve seen an Irish moth and are looking for a quick ID. The family thumbnails let you quickly “narrow the field”, while the detailed species pages let you pinpoint with relative certainty exactly which species you’re looking for. While there really is not substitute for a good moth field guide, if you don’t have one handy, and … [Read more...] about Moths.ie: a photographic guide to Ireland’s Moths
Poplar Hawk Moth… a different view
Seeing the fantastic insect photographs being posted to the Ireland’s Wildlife Facebook Page this month prompted me to browse my photo archives, and I thought I’d share this with you on the blog. The poplar hawk moth (Laothoe populiis) an incredibly striking insect… based on a 1981 distribution map it can (or at least could) be found all over Ireland, but because, like many … [Read more...] about Poplar Hawk Moth… a different view
