nature notes

[Tweetypie]

I'm definitely going to ignore him now and just get on with it. Besides, it's me who buys most of the plants and I am the one who tends to them ;-)

 

[Marigold]

I'm definitely going to ignore him now and just get on with it. Besides, it's me who buys most of the plants and I am the one who tends to them ;-)

Buy a good book on pruning as well, maybe?

 

[bigyetiman]

I happily leave that side of things to OH she knows much more than me, I just assist with anything too high.
Last nights more exciting things from Moth trap, the Magpie moth nearly got away but settled on a wall, ditto Light emerald

 

[Tweetypie]

I'm amazed at the variety of these. When watering the garden last night a moth flew out and I thought to myself, I must take a pic, but by the time I got my phone, it had gone. It was just a boring brown colour anyway. ;-) I love the colour of the emrald moth, that's the colour I would like my walls in my sitting room. :mrgreen:

 

[bigyetiman]

Take the pic with you when you get the paint mixed. We tend to put the jars with the moths in in the fridge so they go dormant then take out to photograph, but the green ones never seem to quieten down, the bigger ones you can usually just pop onto something and photograph happily. There are lots of L B J's (little brown jobs) and you look in the book and the only difference between some is a certain line, so many dots, etc you need to be a real expert for those. Or pass the pic onto an expert.

 

[Margaid]

I used to dislike moths, particularly if they were outside on the window and the light made their eyes look red. Fluttering round the bedroom when I was reading used to get me too. Having discovered that some of the beautiful creatures I saw in the daytime were moths, not butterflies, changed my whole perception, Cinnabar, Magpie and Elephant Hawkmoth being just some of them. I still hate the moths that ate holes in my cashmere jumper though :evil:

 

[Tweetypie]

I still hate the moths that ate holes in my cashmere jumper though :evil:

Margaid, I often wonder how some of my not regularly worn clothes get moth holes, when I never even see any moths in my home 19 19

 

[Marigold]

I still hate the moths that ate holes in my cashmere jumper though :evil:

Margaid, I often wonder how some of my not regularly worn clothes get moth holes, when I never even see any moths in my home 19 19

This article makes coronavirus seem a minor problem by comparison!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/19/revenge-of-the-clothes-moths-as-numbers-boom-can-they-be-stopped

 

[Margaid]

I still hate the moths that ate holes in my cashmere jumper though :evil:

Margaid, I often wonder how some of my not regularly worn clothes get moth holes, when I never even see any moths in my home 19 19

This article makes coronavirus seem a minor problem by comparison!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/19/revenge-of-the-clothes-moths-as-numbers-boom-can-they-be-stopped

That's very interesting Marigold.

When I bought my house (built in 1999) it had not been lived in for five years (owner in nursing home) so I had someone in to clean it from top to bottom although it wasn't "dirty". They told me I had carpet moth in the sitting room, where the floor length curtains touched the carpet. I did buy a chemical kit but while waiting for it to arrive I tried an old fashioned method: a wet, as in well rung out, cotton or linen cloth and a VERY hot iron. The wet cloth prevents the heat scorching the carpet. It was successful in three out of the four areas, the odd one being where they had spread along the skirting board. I had also realised that sewing in a room with a carpeted floor wasn't a good idea - dropped pins and needles disappeared from view, so I ripped up the carpet and laid laminate instead.
As far as the jumper is concerned, it was fortunately a cashmere blend so not hideously expensive and one I didn't ware very often. It was the only item in the drawer that was affected. I'm fortunate to have enough space to be able to hang clothes I've worn once which don't need laundering in a separate cupboard. They usually get worn again in a few days so they don't hang there for long unless we get a change in the weather - then I try to remember to wash them!
The two incidents were 5 or 6 years apart so aren't related - and the jumper was 18 months ago and I've had no problems since thankfully.

 

[MrsBiscuit]

My OH has some cashmere jumpers, all ancient now, relics from a past life. However, they all have moth holes and are suitable to be worn at home only. The moths obviously have expensive tastes!

Following this thread I was browsing my european wildlife book for moths, and there were far more pages for them than butterflies. As well as some of the beautiful colours and patterns (I also think the little emerald is a fabulous colour. The word 'emerald' is so evocative. A good name for the right person. I digress) I was struck by some of the names - The Alychmist, Hart and Dart, Peach Blossom, Muslin Moth, Dark Arches and my favourite: 'L-Album Wainscot!' I could go on, but I won't, you'll be pleased to read.

 

[bigyetiman]

Clothes moths, I read that and suddenly I was transported back to my nans house and everything smelling of camphor from the moth balls.
They make red mite seem almost benign.
OH has a camphor wood carved chest which her great uncle brought back from the Far East, he was in the army for many years. They kept everything woollen in it to prevent attacks from clothes moths. great aunt said they never had a problem with moths. The natives used camphor oil as well to keep moths/insects at bay.
We use it now to keep the bedlinen and towels in. It is large but beautifully carved.
We get lots of Heart and Dart in the trap at the moment, Dark Arches we have had, and Muslin Moth.

 

[bigyetiman]

Some of last nights haul from the trap. Love the name Shuttle-shaped Dart

 

[Hen-Gen]

An endless variety of form and colour. It’s a world that I’ve never looked at before. Wish I had now.

 

[MrsBiscuit]

Yes - its amazing. The white ermine is so beautiful and looks just like ermine! I have always wanted to see an elephant hawk moth - its the one photo in the book which has always attracted my particular attention - and now I have, thank you!

 

[Marigold]

Beautiful photos, thank you.

 

[Tweetypie]

These moths are fascinating. The white ermine one could be cruella de ville, wearing her dalmation gown

 

[bigyetiman]

Here is a Buff Ermine from last night, nearly as nice as the White Ermine.
Definitely a Cruella De Ville coat on the White Ermine, well spotted

 

[Tweetypie]

BYM - Did you see Springwatch tonight on TV? I couldn't believe it, they were talking about moths and moth catching. And there they were, the elephant moth and the emerald moth. What a coincidence

They also showed the ospreys, but the best part was seeing the white storks, who hadn't bred here in 600 years. Magnificent birds.

 

[bigyetiman]

I haven't seen it yet, as I am on lates, so it is recorded for later. The Storks from Knepp go on regular fly abouts, and we have seen a couple of them thermalling around locally. Which has been a real thrill. OH thinks they have kind faces

 

[Hen-Gen]

Darn it. I watched Springwatch and saw the moths and the ospreys but fell asleep for the bit with the storks.
Put me in front of a TV and I can guarantee that I’ll fall asleep. So please let me be awake tonight for the bit with Iolo talking about white tailed eagles.