Friday night was Moth Night in Abbey Fields, with David Brown, county recorder for the larger species in Warwickshire since 1971. For over two hours, David led a group of about 25 members and non-members of Friends of Abbey Fields in their search for these fascinating creatures.
Nick Booker reports: The evening was clear and initially balmy, and David entertained and educated us on moths both large and small – and there is a difference between them if you observe how their caterpillars move!
Using two traps lit with the help of a portable generator, we attracted and observed over twenty species of moth, including September Thorn, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Mother of Pearl, and Chocolate Pip, among others. One of the moths we attracted was a Box Tree, an invasive species accidentally (or carelessly) introduced from Asia into the UK. Anyone who has a Box Tree hedge should be familiar with its caterpillars, which can cause significant defoliation and damage.
The final moth of the evening was a Sallow Kitten named for its resemblance to a kitten, with a furry head and front legs. Its rich patterning of black on white is also speckled with oranges. At eleven o’clock, just as the clock from St Nicholas’ Church might have been ringing out, we turned off the generator, released the moths, and dismantled the traps. We gave David our heartfelt thanks for a thoroughly enjoyable evening before heading home for a welcome mug of cocoa – or perhaps something stronger.