Does the Ivy League finish tonight?

Looking at the weather forecast, it looks like winter will be turning up tomorrow. So tonight could be your last chance to get out and check any ivy that is still in flower for good numbers of moths. The last two nights have been very mild so I was out for an hour checking the two remaining patches locally that have not yet gone to seed. In just four nights this month, I have amassed a healthy list of 24 different species, all feeding on ivy. I have even managed some respectable photographs:

Brick and Yellow-line Quaker
You could confuse the two, given that they both show a black dot in the centre of the fore-wing, but note the straightness of the outer cross-line on the quaker. Both species overwinter as eggs.

Satellite
This is a beautiful moth. This one I caught in the moth-trap last week, but the last two nights I have seen individuals on ivy. The 'sun-and-moon' feature on the nectaring specimens were white, not orange as on this one. Satellites over-winter as adults and once the caterpillars get to fair size in May/June they are partial to nibbling on other moth caterpillars as well as the odd leaf.

 

Merveille du Jour

Yes, you are right, this is an absolutely beautiful moth. If ever you hear someone say "eerrh, moths, they eat your clothes don't they?", show them a picture of this and if that doesn't enlighten them, cut all ties immediately.

 



I can't wait for next autumn now. I love setting a moth-trap, but there is something more tangible about going out and finding moths "doing what they do". I am reliably informed that come the spring, it will be well worth checking Sallow blossom as one of the first main nectar sources of the season, but I don't find Sallows as readily abundant as Ivy. I will certainly give it a go though.