Login

Recent searches

No recent searches

Search options

Not available on photog.social.
photog.social is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
A place for your photos and banter. Photog first is our motto Please refer to the site rules before posting.

Administered by:

Server stats:

249
active users

photog.social: AboutProfiles directoryPrivacy policy

Mastodon: AboutGet the appKeyboard shortcutsView source codev4.3.8

#mothtodon

1 post1 participant0 posts today
Public
Stan Carey

Met this beautiful moth in the kitchen and escorted it to the garden. Moths have the best names: this one's called The Drinker, because the larva may be seen supping morning dew.

Plus two pages from Heather Greer's charming book "On Your Doorstep: Moths and Butterflies of Connemara"

A fairly large brown and yellow moth resting on a shiny green leaf, its wings spread. It has a gentle, furry appearance and large, comb-like antennae, one of which is blowing back over its head in the breeze.
Two pages from Heather Greer's book On Your Doorstep: Moths and Butterflies of Connemara. On the right, a large photo of the moth from the side, showing its stout body and beautiful russet colours. On the left, a photo of Connemara, with low stone walls dividing grassy fields near a rocky shore. Above the photo is text, abridged here: The Drinker. Euthrix potatoria. Forewing 21–55mm. The Drinker, another of the eggars, is unmistakable. Reference books give as diagnostic that it has two white spots on its forewing, but these are rarely intact or clear on specimens we see. Even without those marks, the Drinker will not be confused with any other moth, by virtue of its shape when at rest. I love it, though I know others find it somewhat creepy. It reminds me of a small brown cuddly pig, with its long 'snout', bulky body and short legs. The name derives from the larval stage: the brown-grey, tufted caterpillar may sometimes be seen supping morning dew from the blades of its foodplants: Common Reed, Cocksfoot and other wide-bladed grasses. Irish name Leamhan ibheach relates to the laying of eggs, and may come from the small clusters of white eggs laid on blades of the foodplant (or other upright plant). We would like to know more about the origin of the Irish name. The larva hibernates in October, re-emerges in April, feeds again and then pupates. The adult emerges in July and may be seen on the wing during July and August. It is a moth which prefers damp places with lush grasses.
#moth#moths#mothstodon
SearchLive feeds
About