Box Tree Moths appear to be around here earlier and in numbers this year after lows in 2025 and 2025. Peak is likely for mid September. Cydalima: renowned perspectalis: transparent (-ish) #MothsMatter

Chinese Character: the famous bird-scat mimic. V distinct among the other hook-tips. Cilix glaucata: from the glaucous, sea-green-blue colour. The mark on the wing is said to resemble the Chinese character for ‘mountain’. So, a moth that carries a mountain on its forewings. #MothsMatter

Iron Prominent - slightly faded, but the pose was difficult to resist. Notodonta dromedarius: refers to the very distinctive camel-like humps on the larva. #MothsMatter

First Dot Moth of the year in our Cardiff garden. Melanchra - a black complexion persicariae - from one of the larval food plants. I have a particular attachment to Dot Moths as they were among my first ever catch here - 14 years ago this week #MothsMatter

Buff-tailed Bumblebees in a ramshackle corner of the garden today…

Clouded Border: the Rorschach ink-blot test of moths, with very few ever the same. Lomaspilis marginata. The genus refers to the ‘stained’ or ‘spotted’ fringe, and marginata emphasises the marginal marks #MothsMatter

Single-dotted Wave: a regular but seldom stays for a pic Idaea dimidiata From Mt Ida - where the Gods/Goddesses watched the *Trojan Wars, referencing the ethereal qualities of the whole genus dimidiata: the pattern of marks divides the wing in two #MothsMatter *the aftermath is in cinemas now!

Royal Mail special stamp issue on moths! #mothsmatter shop.royalmail.com/special-stam...

Common Emerald - but not such a commoner by it’s scientific name Hemithea - a demigoddess aestivaria - of summer #MothsMatter

July Highflyer - turning up on schedule… #MothsMatter

Vapourer. Considered to be uncommon in Glamorgan, and only trapped twice in the garden before this week. Orgyia antiqua. Orgyia implies outstretched arms - as in this image. Not sure why Linnaeus used ‘antiqua’ - meaning ancient or old. Perhaps a comparison with O. recens - the Scarce Vapourer?

New data on insect pollinators show a dramatic decline in hoverflies across Great Britain between 2017–2024. 📉 Around one third reduction in abundance & number of hoverfly species recorded as part of @pomscheme.bsky.social www.ceh.ac.uk/press/new-da... 1/ @jncc.bsky.social 🧪

While we cook in Europe, it's worth remembering that this isn't just a European story. Across the Arctic and other high-latitude regions, temperature anomalies are reaching extraordinary levels, with some areas forecast to be >10–20°C above historical averages. The climate signal is global.

Talk to me some more about climate change being a hoax…

Oak Nycteoline - the first in the garden in 14 years of trapping - conveniently harmonising with my iPhone case. Nycteola revayana: ‘Nux/Nyx’ = night. Revay was a French entomologist. Thinly distributed across Glamorgan and linked to Oak woodland. #MothsMatter

Long-term warming trend for Cardiff, Wales. Plot your own region here: showyourstripes.info/c/europe/uni... #showyourstripes showyourstripes.info/c/europe/uni...

Large numbers of Hydropsyche spp. in last night’s moth trap. The angler’s Grey Flag or Marbled Sedges.

Light Arches from last night. Apamea lithoxylaea - mixing words for stone and wood to reflect the grainy, sandstone coloured wings. #MothsMatter

That's so interesting! I didn't realise one of my favourite moths was named after one of my favourite mammals 😊

The Miller: pretty regular here reflecting how near we are to parkland trees. Beautifully named by Linnaeus after the colour of Mountain Hares: Acronicta (dusk) leporina (hare like). #MothsMatter

L-album Wainscot: only the second in the garden. The first was in September 2023 #MothsMatter

Peppered Moth being peppery. Designed to hide on modern garden walls. #MothsMatter

Sensitive content warning. The grim sight of many dead fish of several species in my local stream today - Cardiff’s Roath Brook. This is the tragic reality of a serious pollution incident. I know that Natural Resources Wales have been on site and are investigating the possible source.

From hedgehogs and bats to butterflies and newts, the UK’s wildlife is disappearing fast – and our government is letting it happen. I’ve just signed @friends-earth.bsky.social’s petition calling for urgent action. Add your name: action.friendsoftheearth.uk/petition/tel...

Brussels Lace: first caught in our Cardiff garden in 2023 but typically associated with limestone areas such as Gower. Cleorodes lichenaria: reflects larval herbivory on lichens. Cleorodes indicates similarity to the genus Cleora - meaning ‘glory’ but also the wife of a Spartan king #MothsMatter

Up in London yesterday to help launch the public vote on which animals the @bankofengland.bsky.social should put on UK bank notes: a tough choice among 18 species from freshwater, terrestrial and marine realms: you can vote below. Please circulate! app.keysurvey.co.uk/f/41844465/6...

Here's another look at the progression of the global surface temperature anomaly for the month of May, 1940 - 2026. Do you see that spike in 1998? It was the result of the massive 97/98 El Nino. That (and more) could happen in 2027. Stay tuned!

First Dark Arches of the year in our Cardiff garden: one of the 10 most common macro moths here with just over 2% of all records #MothsMatter

Upwards of 40-50 Swifts over Cardiff’s #RoathPark Lake under lower cloud and v light rain this morning

Always worth a look at a Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulinus Korscheltellus - to honour the German zoologist Eugen Korschelt - famous for studying egg formation in insects lupulinus - ‘little wolf’. Linnaeus thought the larvae fed on Hop roots: Humulus lupulus #mothsmatter

My wife has just sent me this pic from Paris/Neuilly on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne: Great Capricorn Beetle Cerambyx cerdo - 5 cm!

Arctic ocean passes 'irreversible' chemical tipping point oceanographicmagazine.com/news/arctic-...

Phryganea grandis in the moth trap this morning: the Large Red Sedge (m). One of our biggest caddis. Phryganea implies a twig or dry stick.

Treble Brown Spot: on the edge of its range here, and scarce across Glamorgan - but fairly regular in our Cardiff garden. Idaea trigeminata #MothsMatter

V fresh Green Arches from last night’s trap. Anaplectoides prasina ‘prasina’ - leak-green (Croeso y Gymru!) Anaplectoides: implies similarity to the genus Aplectoides - named from the unfolded resting position of the wings #mothsmatter #teammoth

A v early Phoenix from last night’s trap: should peak in July Eulithis prunata Eulithis implies ‘good stone’ - from the sandstone colour of moths in the genus ‘prunata’ suggests feeding on Prunus, which isn’t correct as the larvae feed on Ribes. Seems mistakes were invented long before ChatGPT

Freshwater Policy and Practice is now open for submissions! We welcome work focused on freshwater systems, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, and estuaries. Submit your research ▶️ https://ow.ly/vYwr50Z3k2E #FreshwaterPolicyandPractice #FreshwaterScience #WaterPolicy 🧪

It’s taken a couple of years to get Hayrattle established in the front lawn from wild seed - but this year we have well over 150 spikes. Low fertility and freezing the seed has been key. #NoMowMay #wildflowers #restorationecology #Rhinanthus

#LydiaWhite (a former student) and I looked effects of trapping effort on moth species accumulation a few years ago (actinic trap, Cardiff, 4 yrs data). Most species come from 30-50% of the effort - but the curve never stops increasing. *There are ethical dimensions to trap effort* #MothsMatter

Lobster Moth: a first for the garden in 14 years of trapping Stauropus fagi Stauropus (cross-footed - refers to the larval ‘legs’) fagi: feeds on Beech (among other trees in mature woodland) #MothsMatter

The original Snail Mail… #SnailMail

Second Small Mottled Willow of the year in Cardiff #MothsMatter #MigrantMoths

The local opportunist is back…

Rustic Shoulder Knot - surprisingly for such a common moth, the first here in 14 years of trapping. Apamea sordens: the specific name implies grubbiness or dirtiness. Rustic is a bit more polite.

Dactylorchids of various species (and hybrids?) now flowering in Nant Fawr Meadows, Cardiff. These two look like Heath- and Common Spotted, but S Marsh is sometimes in the mix at this site

Just had this from @btobirds.bsky.social: the remains of a 2yr old Oystercatcher ringed in Llanelli in Nov 1990 was recently recovered in the Isle of Man after 35.5 years, so around 37 yrs old. The age record is a 43 year old bird recently found on the east coast www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...

Packed house for #BeaversAcrossBritain @beavertrust.org conference Day1

Heading north…

Lesser Whitethroat at the reservoir entrance just now (11.38 Monday) philb609.bsky.social

A friendly reminder of where the balloons from fast-food restaurant chains end up.