Moths are usually thought of as flying at night but some do fly during the day. To survey moths one uses a sweep net to capture and identify diurnal moths but nocturnal ones usually have to be attracted either by the use of light or by a feed rope. There are 2400 species of moth in the UK so far over 200 have been identified on Old Down.
These include both macro and micro moths. Many are very difficult to identify but some are easy especially if they are about during the day. Many moths are white or brown and only look interesting if you get close enough to get a really good look but a few are much more noticeable
For more information on moths see the UK moths website here
Or the Butterfly Conservation Trust moth section here We have been fortunate to have the experience of two local experts to survey the moths on Old Down. For a list of Moths found on Old Down please see attachment below titled "Old Down Moths Master". Our 2 experts have also provided us with an excellent report on the foodplant needs of the moths that they have identified and made recommmendations on habitat management. This report is the "Lepidoptera Foodplant Report" below. |