Moths are really beautiful insects - if you look carefully look at them they are really diverse in form, and some are exceptionally pretty with really complex markings.

As it's that time of year, I thought I'd try my moth trap last night for a couple of hours in my back garden.
It's a canvas sided box with a funnel with a black light source on top. Moths gather around the light, and some slip into the box via the funnel. It doesn't harm them at all - you just release them by unzipping it.

I live right in the centre of Dover near the Dour, so these are fairly typical beasties to be found around here. Here are a few of the better pics; hope I've got them right:


Moth Trap


Marbled Green (I think)


Oak Eggar (huge!)


Riband Wave


Swallow-tailed Moth


Don't know!

Phil, Thank you for showing us them.

Phil, is the last one "upside down" moth?

Beautiful, beautiful moths. I love them.

all very good, like the marbled green one best.

Gorgeous - and the moths!!

Bern

I like the oak fella.. he is very pretty indeed..

has joined the institution of marriage!!

Has anyone else noticed how many grass hoppers there are or do they just like my grass ?

is a lucky man with a beautiful wife and three wonderful kids .

Mark, I had one creeping up my wall the other night. I put a glass near it and it jumped in - then I put him out on the lawn.

Phil - love your photos, but I find moths a bit creepy, don't know why though lol x

not seen one grasshopper this year, had loads over the last few years, that and crickets.

Thanks!

Yes, a lot of people have a phobia about moths. I suppose it's because you just can't see them coming at night and many have a rapid fluttery motion. Butterflies aren't too bad to learn as we have only about 60 species in the UK and many are very distinctive, mind you I give up with the Fritillaries and Blues without a book.

Moths are a different kettle of fish, there are around 900 species in the UK, and that excludes the micro-moths. I just don't know where to begin...Some have amazing names, sometimes descriptive such as Light Crimson Underwing or Black Arches, and sometimes completely inexplicable such as the L-album Wainscot or the Setaceous Hebrew Character. I kid you not.

Phil, lovely picture`s mate, and a pity butterflies won`t keep still long enough to be imaged. You made me think of the year before last when the wife decided to put blue solar powered light`s round the lilac tree. A few weeks later, the rich green leaves were clearly to be seen have been eaten away at the top. Someone mentioned ants or earwigs, and a it`s a sad fact that a number of ants must have paid with their lives after I sprayed the tree and base with antkiller, for something that wasn`t their fault. The leaf eating continued until next door`s brother said about the blue light`s attracting the moth`s. Removed the lights, which solved the problem. Anyone else experienced that?

I really do not see the signal.

Great photos Phil, I prefer butterflies but I can cope with moths. Yes Mark I have noticed lots of grasshoppers whilst I've been in various cemetries lately.

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Not as great at Phils, but I caught this fella the other day



Excuse the state of my mum and dads carpet, I hadnt hoovered that morning, but puts its size in perspective.. you can see a dogs hair along the top!!

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Oh, very nice. That'd be a Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) according to my bible (I think). It looks the same species as the one above, albeit a much better angle.

YUK YUK YUK.

321 days to go..........................................................................

Phil i should give you the key to mums and dads then because they are just everywhere up there.. this was taken at 4 in the afternoon!! Dogs dont give a monkeys and just ignore them..

Loving the new camera as well..can you tell?! LOL!

has joined the institution of marriage!!

Don't worry Melissa. Just wait for the SPIDER thread.

erm... can we not have on of those...

has joined the institution of marriage!!

Oh no please i hate things like that, dont get me wrong im an animal lover ( after all i got married lol) but cant stand looking at them or having them near me thats moths, butterflies or the dreaded S word, eugh

321 days to go..........................................................................