Readers of Rural Review may recall in earlier editions, there have been reports of some interesting moths that have been attracted to a light trap in Barkers Green – Small Eggar, Clifden Nonpareil, and Cinnabar.
However, this year’s weather hasn’t been good for moth trapping, even though they may be around. Nevertheless, in July an interesting species has come to light not seen here before in four years of trapping. It took a while to identify it as Pine Hawk Moth. The find is surprising, because as its name suggests, its caterpillars feed on Pine needles. Thus it is found particularly in coniferous forests, but also parks and gardens, where conifers grow. Although there are plenty of Cupressus and Leylandii around here, they are not suitable foodplants. There are a few individual Pine trees around, so maybe it came from one of those. In contrast to this single find, several other species of Hawk Moth have come to light every year of trapping.
Not all butterflies and moths are found in their adult stage. Again, although there have appeared to be very much fewer butterflies around, it was good to see this nest of Peacock butterfly caterpillars in June, so let us hope that they have survived to adulthood and will appear soon.
