Laura Sharp

I'd definitely take the trap! You'll hopefully get some bonnie Scottish moths. I'm on the East Coast and we're still getting good numbers of Scarce and Mottled Umber, Feathered Thorn, December and Autumnal moth here.

28 of 8 even 😅 my head is as thick as the haar today

All packed up, and happy to end on a high! The haar in Aberdeen today feels like a sign to hunker down for the winter and catch up with uploading my records for the year.

#TeamMoth

I was going to photograph and pot the Winter Moth (there's an interesting sounding PhD into climate warming and Winter Moths that needs specimens). But alas, cheeky sod took of instantly! 🤦‍♀️

A December moth on a log. With 2 Scarce Umber and 1 Feathered Thorn moth out of focus in the bottom left corner.

A Feathered Thorn amongst fallen Autumn leaves.

A Chestnut moth on an egg box with bracken to the left.

My uv led light trap with several Scarce Umber and Mottled Umber moths on the vanes.

Started the day right with 28:6 at Dinnet oakwood.
3 Mottled Umber, 13 Scarce Umber, 6 Feathered Thorn, 2 Autumnal moth, 1 Streak, 1 December moth, 1 Chestnut, 1 Winter moth.

Nice to end the year's trapping on a high!

December moth

A uv led trap covered in Mottled Umber moths

Success! Figures and some more pics to follow when I'm done with morning work 😁

Trap amongst bracken and fallen deadwood

The moon over the Dee in Dinnet

Trying my luck in Dinnet tonight after my disappointing Sunday catch.

Should've brought all my traps with me though, to maximise my chances. Alas I brought 3 and one has failed 🤦‍♀️

I wonder if there will still be some Mervs about 🤞

#TeamMoth

This is a diy UV led bucket trap.

Just waterproof strip UV led from online, wrapped around a plastic bottle and wired up to a scooter battery.

Very easy and cheap to make, and no bulbs to worry about breaking. It is usually effective too, I swear 😅

Zilch except for 5 big flies which took off straight away 😅 They must have been the 'fluttering' I heard in there last night 😒 Ah well, it was a long shot running a trap on my balcony in November.

I'm intrigued!

A DIY uv led bucket moth trap out on my balcony

I can already hear someone fluttering about in there, even though I put it out a little late 😁 At least I'll have one. It's always a joy, even if measly numbers or diversity!

It's mild and overcast tonight. Will I get anything if I run a trap on my 2nd storey balcony in the heart of the city in Aberdeen? 🤔
#TeamMoth

'Woolly bear' Garden Tiger moth caterpillar

Pupa, possibly Elephant Hawk moth

Silver Y moth

I've been busy with poster presentations and talks, not trapping.
Moth news in the mean time:
. Woolly bear in the office this morning
. Elephant hawk moth pupa (I think) in the walled garden 2 weeks ago
. Silver Y in the kitchen 3 weeks ago
#TeamMoth

*Day, even 🤦‍♀️
I clearly need the clocks to change already!

My research poster showing preliminary results of a field study comparing moth communities on burned and unburned heather moorland in Scotland

Had a wonderful evening listening to a wide variety of talks at the North East Scotland Ecology Network science day.

I also had a chance to present a poster on my very preliminary field results, investigating how prescribed burning affects moorland #moth communities.

#TeamMoth #MothsMatter

A very hungry Emperor Moth caterpillar for #MothFaceFriday being a messy eater eating getting food in his facial hair 😋

Video taken back in May. One of several caterpillars I was rearing through. #TeamMoth

Had a couple of Light Emeralds come to light up in Aberdeenshire on Thursday night. What a strange year it has been!

Thanks for joining us. Hopefully Mary enjoyed the Mervs!

#teammoth

That second photo! 'I'm dead, honest', whilst still clinging on for dear life 🤣

A Feathered Thorn moth flaunting its feathery antennae

The face of the Feathered Thorn, with its antennae tucked down by its sides

A Feathered Thorn moth resting on bracken

It's the final #MothFaceFriday of #Leptember
So here's an autumnal offering by way of today's Feathered Thorn.
Such a gorgeously fluffy auburn face and thorax, and a pair of very impressively feathered antennae. Stunning!

The Streak

Red-line Quaker

The Satellite

Green-brindled Crescent

November moth

Feathered thorn. Those antennae! 🤩

Mottled Umber

Merveille du'jour. I loved the w on this ones neck/thorax!

A lovely morning at Dinnet oakwood yielded 30:14 most NFM as my first Autumn trapping night off moorland.

Feathered Thorn 2, November moth 1, Green-brindled Crescent 5, Merveille DJ 2, Mottled Umber 1, Red-line Quaker 1, Streak 1, Snout 1, Satellite 1, Red-green Carpet 2, Light Emerald 2.
#TeamMoth

Lovely photo, really shows off that green sheen!

Blue Morpho butterfly

A couple of Owl butterflies

The Malachite butterfly with its wings closed showing the muted tones of the undersides

The Malachite butterfly with its wings open displaying the bright uppersides

A #Leptember visit to Chester Zoo would not be complete without a walk through the #Butterfly house.

Gosh, I'd love to be in Costa Rica right now!

Credit for photos 1 & 4 go to @conricosteez.bsky.social

A striking broom moth caterpillar on Erica at Glen Tanar

What I think is a False Chanterelle uprooted by a couple of foraging mountain bikers in Caledonian pine forest. I love the gills on this.

A beautiful orange-red spear of Bog Asphodel with a backdrop of crimson sphagnum

I improvised a beating tray out of my shopping bag to harvest Juniper berries which are ripening already. I do like my gin!

This #Leptember I am undertaking 360 quadrats at my moth trapping sites to quantify browsing and describe vegetation composition.

I love autumn, and my sites are so beautiful. I'm having a lot of fun!

Typing it up is less fun 🫩 If only AI could accurately transcribe voice notes to .csv #TeamMoth

Underside view of the impressive Northern Eggar

The Northern Eggar moth resting on heather up on moorland back in July

It's the first #MothFaceFriday of #Leptember
So here's the tiny head, broad shoulders and thick torso of the Northern/oak Eggar.
These moths always give me body-builder vibes!

Have a pumped weekend #TeamMoth - don't overdo it on the protein shakes!

So fluffy you can barely see its face! 🥹

Ah yes. Just looked it up on nhbs and the mesh bag itself is £75 😯 But it would be so time consuming to make oneself. Like you say, if it lasts and brings enjoyment then it's worth it!

That would be a shame! Do you ever get others asking for photos?