After returning from the excitement of the Shrike on Wednesday evening I decided that luck was with me so, with a few reports of Convolvulus Hawk Moths about, I decided to put the trap out and hope to catch my first one of this Mediterranean species. Thursday morning saw me going through the trap and seeing an enormous moth looking up at me amongst all the normal common insects. It looked exactly like a Privet Hawk Moth from this angle, but of course it's the wrong time of year, so once again lady luck was shining down on me as it was a really well marked and fresh individual Convolvulus Hawk Moth. Amazing that it had flown across from France. Looking at the books I believe it to be a male as these have strong markings and a thicker antenna.
Convolvulus Hawk Moth.
Convolvulus Hawk Moth revealing it's colour.
Before seeing the Shrike on the Wednesday I was hoping to show James a Wall Brown egg. Once again luck was on our side when we saw a female fly into a Rabbit scrape and lay an egg in a position where it was quite easy to photograph it. When first laid the eggs have a light green tinge which it soon loses to become white.
Female Wall Brown nectaring moments before laying an egg.
Wall Brown egg.
Hi. Really beautiful butterflies. I really liked a lot of that Convolvulus Hawk Moth.
ReplyDeleteHello!:) Great captures of the pretty moth, and even greater captures of the Wall Brown egg. I have never seen one, but see the Wall Brown frequently. I'm thinking of making a moth trap, and have bought a book called FIELD GUIDE TO THE MOTHS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
ReplyDeleteHi Breathtaking.
DeleteGood luck with the moth trap. The good thing is that it is almost a year round hobby as even in the winter there are a few moths about.
Thanks for your continued interest.
Bob.
What a beast! THere's still a lot of big moths flapping around at night here, probably old ladies or red underwings
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