Day 48: Angle Shades Moth

Moths are insects I must learn more about, being much more familiar with their butterfly cousins. Both are in the same order of Lepidoptera, meaning 'scale-wings' and both have equally fascinating life-cycles, colours and habits. This moth, which I rescued from inside our garage, hiding it under a rose leaf, is an angle shades, identified with the help of a friend. I think this must be a particularly fresh individual as, apparently, the green bands quickly fade to a 'dirty brown'.

Although this is a common species, I can't say that I have knowingly seen one before, and I think the patterning is rather beautiful. The folded wings when at rest are to give the impression of a dried leaf and when in flight, these moths favour the flowers of grasses. The caterpillars will feed on a range of herbaceous plants, including nettles and brambles.

References:

Chinery, M (2005) Collins Complete Guide to British Insects, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/angle-shades (accessed 09/05/2020)

Day 47: Great Diving Beetle

This great diving beetle is perching on the floating leaves of brooklime, clearly deciding our wildlife pond isn't the right place for it. After watching this large beetle for some time, I became aware of a high pitched buzzing noise, a little like the sound of water escaping through a small hole (which is slightly concerning when sat next to a new pond...). Eventually, a few seconds after taking this photo, it took off in a rather sudden and bumbling manner, making me jump backwards. 

A diving beetle has been present in our pond since almost a week after we made it, whether this is the same individual or not, I do not know, but it was lovely to watch it surface and dive to the bottom. We are still awaiting our delivery of oxygenating plants, as none survived in the previous pond, so I wonder whether the oxygen levels have depleted enough to make it uninhabitable for this species of still water. Hopefully, once they do arrive, more diving beetles and other species will colonise to make it a small oasis for wildlife.

References:

Chinery, M (2005) Collins Complete Guide to British Insects, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.