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| Scalloped Oak Moth |
The children's event at Ballachurry last Thursday morning was to learn all about moths. The Island's moth recorder, Ian Scott, had brought along a moth trap to show the youngsters along with a selection of moths caught in it overnight. Dawn Dickens, Education Officer for the Wildlife Trust, had also arranged for the adult Invertebrate Study Group to come along a little later in the morning to see the moths and talk with Ian. The Invertebrate Study Group is a Manx Wildlife Trust initiative to encourage more wildlife recording on the Island and we meet monthly to find and study beetles, spiders, flies etc. It's great fun going on these bug hunts and later looking down microscopes to learn how to identify exactly what we have found. If this appeals to you do get in touch with the Wildlife Trust to find out more.
Weather conditions overnight meant that the moth trap had to be set up in a sheltered spot in Ian's garden rather than at Ballachurry but the moths trapped were all species that could equally have been trapped on the reserve. Attracted by the light, the moths enter the trap and settle down inside a number of egg boxes. Ian took these out to show us and after we had admired the moths and learnt what they were, they flew away happily into the reserve. Ian had also brought along some pupae on a piece of bark which will eventually turn into Puss Moths. It was all fascinating stuff and we learnt much about moths and moth trapping. Sad to learn how much moths have declined though and when you think of what might be called the knock-on effects of this (they are food for birds and bats etc.) it is a worrying situation.
Dawn spoiled us with coffee and biscuits before we thanked Ian for such an interesting morning and went home determined to pay more attention to these fascinating creatures in future.
Then at 4 p.m. yesterday's volunteers were back to take down the Scout marquee which had made the visit so much more comfortable for the children on a rather wet July morning.
A few photos from the adult event.....
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Ian showing us what an Alder Moth looks like,
a caterpillar having just been found on the Reserve |
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Lara Howe ( MWT Marine Officer) Dawn Dickens ( MWT Education Officer)
and Laura McCoy ( Curator of Natural History at the Manx Museum) looking at the pupae |
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| looking at the egg boxes full of moths |
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| Plain Golden Y |
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| Burnished Brass |
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| Dark Arches |
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| Large Yellow Underwing |
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| Yellow Shell |
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| Garden Carpet |
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| Antler Moth |
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| Very camouflaged Puss Moth pupae on bark |
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| Pupa on the underside of the bark equally camouflaged |
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caterpillar of the Alder Moth
on a Ballachurry Alder tree |
With thanks to Ian Scott for an enjoyable and informative morning and to Dawn Dickens for inviting me to attend.
