Showing posts with label Moths. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moths. Show all posts

Thursday, 4 March 2010

Long-horn moth




This little day-flying moths with disproportionately long antennae breeds at several locations on the university estate, including beside the footpath that runs along the east side of John Snow House towards Hollingside Wood and in the Botanic Garden. Its caterpillars feed on dead birch leaves. Only the males have these long antennae, which they use to detect pheromones emitted by females; often, females have a small swarm of eager males fluttering around them.

Sunday, 7 February 2010

Poplar Hawk-moth


This well-camouflaged poplar hawk-moth  Laothoe populi was found roosting on the wall of the Biological Sciences building. Its caterpillars feed on poplar and willow, which are both present nearby on land surrounding the Mountjoy site, so it's likely that this is a breeding species here. For more information on this species visit http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=28