Moths I had never seen before have appeared in my garden

BlueBelle

Here it is

That's really nice. I don't think I've met one of them.

Ktsmum

Box Tree moth, never seemln before or since

I had one of those in my living room about 5 years ago and thought it was rather lovely. Then I found out what it was and didn't like it so much.

Wow!! Such lovely moth photos- thankyou.

I’ve just ordered ladies bedstraw seed, to sow now for early next summer.

Wandering around the garden just now, and nearly tried on a small elephant moth caterpillar. It was busily walking along a paved area, and I think almost certainly looking for somewhere to pupate.

Good luck!

Alas the moth in my kitchen did end up drowning in the washing up bowl . I really thought that it had found its way outside ( I kept turning off the light in the kitchen and turning on the light in the utility room with the back door open).

I love butterflues and moths .

I’ve had an extraordinary number of painted lady butterflies in my garden this year - we usually only get a few. I understand that, every ten years or so, good winds and warm weather cause them to migrate North from Africa in huge numbers. This is obviously one of those years!

MayBee70

Problem with cinnabar moths is that they rely totally on ragwort so there is an ongoing dialogue between anyone that has or has ever owned a horse and people that think ragwort needs to be protected for the sake of the moths. It’s a difficult balance.

Anyone with ragwort on their property who doesn't own a horse should be ok? I leave ragwort when it grows but I live in a suburban street nowhere near horses - if you lived near a horses field I suppose it might be different - does the seed travel and potentially harm a horse if they ingest it?

Desdemona

MayBee70

Problem with cinnabar moths is that they rely totally on ragwort so there is an ongoing dialogue between anyone that has or has ever owned a horse and people that think ragwort needs to be protected for the sake of the moths. It’s a difficult balance.

Anyone with ragwort on their property who doesn't own a horse should be ok? I leave ragwort when it grows but I live in a suburban street nowhere near horses - if you lived near a horses field I suppose it might be different - does the seed travel and potentially harm a horse if they ingest it?

It spreads everywhere. You have to wear gloves if you dig it out. I think horses will eat around it but it gets into any hay that’s cut for winter. I’m a bit worried at the moment because my dog keeps eating something that’s in the grass and it might be the catkins falling off a nearby silver birch.

…just read that they’re non toxic to dogs…