Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Could anyone help to ID this moth photographed on a climbing rose in a garden in east London last week? I've checked my books and the internet but without any luck. Apologies for the quality of the photos.
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
A Box Tree Moth.
- Charles Nicol
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Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
as badgerbob says, it is a Box Tree moth. if you have any Box plants in your garden it will munch them up.
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Oh dear! They're over HERE now!
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Many thanks for your help. I'll tell my son to watch out for his box trees!
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
This link to the RHS advice on this species is very interesting. They appear to be a serious pest.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=760
Dave
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=760
Dave
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Thanks for that link. Fortunately, I came across the same link and have reported the sighting to the RHS.
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
I suppose that depends on your perspective... I think if I lived in that area I would be tempted to plant a few box trees in my garden to attract them in!millerd wrote:They appear to be a serious pest.
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Don't think the RHS would see the funny side! Don't want the guys in bio-haz suits raiding the place.
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Agreed. This is not a positive development by any means.Alanp wrote:Don't think the RHS would see the funny side!
- andy brown
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Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Had four of these in the trap the other night, another adventive, one of many species over the years. Like most to late to do anything about it, we will just have to manage it. Beautiful moth though with a lovely mauve sheen.
Andy
Andy
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Relax!David M wrote:Agreed. This is not a positive development by any means.Alanp wrote:Don't think the RHS would see the funny side!
In all seriousness, the RHS has a fab team of entomologists, a couple of whom I know professionally. Dealing with insect pests is only part of their work, as they do a lot towards encouraging pollinator-friendly gardening too (and not just bees). My understanding is that their view is “the moth is here, there’s nothing we can do about it, and it doesn’t pose any risk to anything other than box trees, so we’re not going to waste any more time thinking about it”. That penultimate point is key as it’s the big point of difference from the response to Oak Processionary.
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Thanks. That clarification is a bit more reassuring.
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
I'm sure they are a lot less destructive than Humans!!
Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
Undoubtedly!badgerbob wrote:I'm sure they are a lot less destructive than Humans!!
- Essex Bertie
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Re: Moth?Butterfly ID, please
A moth-er had 74 in and around their trap in West Essex/East London on Monday. Plenty of sightings in other parts of Essex this year