Wogan 0 Migrant 1. Just a Rusty-dot Pearl but… #TeamMoth

Climate change is a 'natural' process now occurring ~10 times faster than the average rate after an ice age. Extinction is 'natural' but is now occurring 1000X faster than in past eras (apart from mass extinctions). Biological invasion is now at rates 100000X prehistoric levels of spp colonisations.

Big day tomorrow!! One of the best parts of my job. Join if you can.

My book 'The Tree of Life' is published in the USA and Canada today. Available as book, on kindle and as audio. I would be really grateful for reposts. www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-So... www.amazon.ca/Tree-Life-So...

Last one from the lab today. A right pig's ear of getting the dissected bits under a cover slip, but enough of the spines visible to ID as male Phyllonorycter messaniella. Clearly not quercifoliella as I originally thought, showing the value of gen det. #TeamMoth

More from the lab. These two are both male November Moth, from Kenfig and Weir Quay, respectively. The search for anything other than dilutata continues... #TeamMoth

Another day in the lab. This male Oegoconia from home on 10th October looks good for novimundi I think, which would be my second this year (and the latest listed on the Middx moth site). #TeamMoth

Aggregation of Heralds on a concrete roof and a female Plumed Prominent from last night in Suffolk. #TeamMoth.

Two lifers amongst 45:13 in a maple-packed woodland last night. The target was Plumed Prominent, and by 5.30pm two females had already appeared. An hour later and we were enjoying extravagantly plumed males. A hibernating Agonopterix purpurea was also NFM, with December Moth NFY. #TeamMoth

Set up and ready to go. Three species already thanks to a bit of underground hibernation. #TeamMoth

Grad students! Come join us at IIASA as part of our summer research program!! See our webinars for more info

A shameless plug for my brother, who has created this book! Ideal for children, or if you just enjoy a bit of mindful colouring, etc 🙂 Thanks. #TeamMoth amzn.eu/d/amK2hXu

Moths from the Kew trap last night: one of the 8 Oak Rustic, an apparent Phyllonorycter geniculella (both NFY), and a late Uncertain (calling @ruthnewby.bsky.social). #TeamMoth

▶️‼️𝐀 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐍𝐀𝐅, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰‼️◀️ esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... 1️⃣ it now contains 16,429 plant taxa 2️⃣ removal of outdated data & errors 3️⃣ 117,229 new records 4️⃣ 31% increase in the number of geographic regions

A very disappointing 5:2 in the Camden trap this morning, despite the very mild conditions, with Double-striped Pugs just beating LBAMs. Presumably the other moths were distracted by the supermoon or brought down by the artillery... #TeamMoth

A comprehensive global assessment of the status & trends of alien species for major taxonomic groups. This is an outstanding product of the 2023 IPBES assessment on invasive species. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Hmmm, I seem to be a magnet for alien species. Looks to be Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) pottering around in my office... #biologicalinvasions

London #TeamMoth trap status:

The entire Camden moth trap this morning - the Palpita vitrealis that I saw going in, a Phyllonorycter that looks like quercifoliella (retained), and a nicely marked Double-striped Pug. Disappointing? Yes. Will I go again tonight? Of course! #TeamMoth

Yesterday, @britentsoc.bsky.social published the 4th edition of the popular Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Completely updated and free to download in 3 digital formats: PDF, spreadsheet, and an Android App! Further details at www.benhs.org.uk/publications... #TeamMoth

This is a huge deal for understanding invasive species and ways to prevent and control their impacts. Nice work!

A cold morning in Devon and just 14:9 in the moth trap this morning. The Waved Umber was still sitting where I left it a couple of days back - can't be too many photographs of this species alongside a Merveille du Jour? #TeamMoth

Our nursery in Farage's constituency recently shared details of a half term (this week) family 'Warm Bank' run by local volunteers. My fellow Clacton parents + kids in need can spend time with radiators on, games, a free breakfast, lunch, and cup of tea, and access a clothes and baby supplies bank.

👏🏼😂

A brief flurry of moths after dusk last night in the South Devon coastal car park quickly dried up, giving 11 species. But the 2nd moth in was this Feathered Brindle, lifer #106 for the year. Back in the garden diversity was also down, just 14 species overnight and nothing to shout about. #TeamMoth

Come join us at Rutgers Ecology and Evolution! We are hiring an Endowed Chair position in Watershed Ecology. Please pass it on…. jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/261...

Didn’t last long as moths quickly dried up, but one lifer to show for it at least…

Yes, trying again. Too windy for the Devon coast path so trying the shelter of the car park… #TeamMoth

An uptick in moth numbers in Devon, with 44:20 overnight. Feathered Thorn was NFY, and Vestal the highlight of a little crop of migrant species (4 RDP, Rush Veneer, L-album Wainscot, Turnip). I also got a quite well-marked Epirrita, and a very late Waved Umber for @ruthnewby.bsky.social. #TeamMoth

The age of warnings is over. The climate and nature crisis is already here, threatening our food, health and national security. On 27 Nov, top UK experts deliver the official briefing our leaders urgently need. Make sure your MP attends❗️ #TimeToStepUp www.nebriefing.org

Poor conditions overnight in Devon but decided to trap anyway under the cover of the porch. This Feathered Ranunculus was the best of 11:7, and fine despite a dubious choice of bedfellow. #TeamMoth

The Premier League table is interesting - not so obvious who Arsenal are going to be runners-up to this year. #EPL #PremierLeague

Quality over quantity in the 14:8 in the Devon garden moth trap this morning. In addition to the Mervs, Radford's Flame Shoulder was NFY, a perfectly coiffured punky Pearly Underwing hinted at migration, and Green-brindled Crescent always nice to see. #TeamMoth

"Because science rejects claims to truth based on authority and depends on the criticism of established ideas, it is the enemy of autocracy. Because scientific knowledge is tentative and provisional, it is the enemy of dogma. "

Thought I'd give it a go this evening as I'm in Devon. Already worth it with les deux Merv. #TeamMoth

Interested in island life and arthropods? There's a new PhD project advertised at the University of Birmingham to study the evolution of 'island syndromes' in a chosen group of island arthropods, with both museum and fieldwork-based research are expected. More details at: centa.ac.uk/studentship/...

#RecordOfTheWeek today is a magical Sorcerer (Aedia leucomelas), found at Kenfig National Nature Reserve by Tim Blackburn (@mothyblackburn.bsky.social) during a moth trapping session. This is the first Welsh record for this very rare immigrant species! #TeamMoth #MothsMatter

Welcome to the annual ‘How Many Mervs?’ competition! If you’re not familiar with the fabulous Merveille du Jour moth, they look exactly like lichen! Good luck! #teammoth #mothsmatter #ukmoths #bugsky

1. It's fascinating to see, as you can from the responses to the post below, how many daft things people believe, to justify their continued meat eating. So let's examine a few of the common myths in the following thread. 🧵

Squeezing out the last few moths of 2025 in Camden, with another 25:7 this morning. This Yellow-line Quaker was species #714 for the year (712 adults, 2 caterpillars). #TeamMoth

Butter, milk, beef, chocolate and coffee are responsible for much of the UK’s food inflation, with climate change the key driver of rising grocery bills #climatecrisis @eciu.net HT @carbonbrief.org www.ft.com/content/ced8...

27:7 in the Camden moth trap this morning was mainly Large Yellow Underwing and Double-striped Pug (11 each), but also a bit of migrant action with Rush Veneer and this uncooperative Palpita vitrealis. #TeamMoth

Interested in a PhD in ornithology? Funding available for projects at the interface of ecology, behaviour & evolution from Oct '26 working on long-term population studies of tits at Wytham, based in @biology.ox.ac.uk in the new Life & Mind Building in Oxford www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

The Sorcerer from Kenfig last night. Finally got up the courage to remove it from the pot (after some others had seen it). As far as I know, fourth British record and first for Wales. Thanks to everyone for moral support during my meltdown. But, what a moth! #TeamMoth

Decent evening of mothing at Kenfig NNR yesterday. Aside from the magic one, another lifer in Agonopterix umbellana, only my 2nd (and 3rd) Autumnal Rustic, and a total of 10 NFY also included Green-brindled Crescent and Yellow-tail. #TeamMoth

F*ck me! #TeamMoth

A bit breezy but got to give it a try… #TeamMoth

That Fox Moth caterpillar was NFY, but this Acleris rhombana (I believe) just now is a lifer. Of course no tube and only my phone camera, but still a good start to my Welsh moth list... #TeamMoth