Amongst the cloud of impending doom that is enveloping the human world nature gets on with life, and we can watch it. I have been to my local quieter patch (less human interaction) every day for the last few days and it’s been nice to witness change in just this small space of time. Pairing off of a group of Canada Geese has begun, bumblebees have appeared, buds are emerging, and today I heard my first Chiffchaff of the year. I have written about this species before and will write again but today’s post is about an insect, another first for the year but found in the garden.
What: Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica (Linnaeus, 1758)
When: 17th March 2020 (although it’s recorded as the 16th due to how moths are recorded)
Where: My garden, Poynton, Cheshire (VC58), UK
Who saw it? Me
How was it recorded? On a spreadsheet which will be sent off at the end of the year.
Is it bigger than a blackbird? No it is a moth.
What is it? A moth. More specifically a moth in the Noctuid family which have distinctive arrow shaped wings which mostly all have a circle shape and a kidney shape on the forewings; sometimes obvious, sometimes less so. This particular species has a curving black mark near the edge of its otherwise brown or grey forewings which gives it its English name; the Victorian’s who assigned the name thought this feature looked like a letter in the Hebrew alphabet. This species is common in the Spring and is often found around lights (I have a purpose built moth trap equipped with a UV-type light which attracts them).
A fact I have learned about this species: The ‘Hebrew character’ on the moth’s wings resembles the letter ‘nun’ (נ) – according to Wikipedia.
Is it charismatic in my opinion? Hmmm… not sure. I love moths but the early spring moths that I find in my trap don’t seem to do a lot other than sit there waiting for it to get dark again. I also don’t see their natural behaviour as they are strictly nocturnal. So the jury’s out I think.
A Species a Day 