Last night was forecast to be wet, but I set the moth trap anyway, hoping a temperature of 10C would encourage species that are active in November. Some moths can fly in the rain, thanks to the super-hydrophobicity of their wings, which are angled like sloping roofs, their microscopic scales the overlapping tiles so that water droplets simply roll off. Wind may be a problem for them, but rain isn’t.
First I check the wall next to the trap and am delighted to find my first December moth of the season. Despite its name, I’m more likely to find the handsome Poecilocampa populi in November. I can tell this is a male from its resplendent antennae, comb‑shaped to increase the surface area with which to detect female pheromones at a great distance. A furry head like a Cossack hat, wings cloaked in charcoal grey and russet with cream cross lines, it is well insulated against the cold. My garden being close to woodland and, with their larvae feeding on broad-leaved trees, I’ve recorded December moths every winter since I’ve been sending data to the Garden Moth Scheme.
The trap itself is a large black tub positioned beneath a bright bulb. Moths attracted to its light are funnelled down to the textured hollows of egg boxes. These I now lift, one by one, in that moment of discovery that makes moth trapping so engrossing. I find a mix of the expected at this time of year: red-green carpet, small wainscot, chestnut and winter moths, all species that camouflage to different backgrounds in the landscape. Using a wooden coffee stick, I lift a feathered thorn moth to place it on fallen leaves for a photo; its warm tones instantly blend with the colours of autumn.
Moth-trapping in winter is muted, unlike the hurly-burly of summer. Just a few to record today, but here’s one to make me smile: the angle shades moth is a complexity of triangles and scalloped edges, a visual trick of geometric patterns imitating the crisp patterns of dry leaves. The first time I saw one was in the old walled garden where I worked and I was blown away by its elaborate design. It was the start of a long fascination with moths.
Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian’s Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at guardianbookshop.com and get a 15% discount
