Golden Plusia

After a morning of report writing, I took Pete to Swaddywell Pit, and then went off to the pub to have lunch with two of my old home-educating friends. It was really good to catch up with their news, and to hear how all their sons were getting on.

Before I went I just managed to snatch a few shots of this Golden Plusia, that turned up in the moth trap. It was very busy sucking up nectar from this knapweed flower. One of the classic 'invasion' species, this moth was unknown in Britain before 1890, when it was discovered in south-east England. Since then, it has spread rapidly north-westwards, even into Scotland, although there are signs that it is decreasing its range again over the last few decades.

Generally a garden species, the larvae feed on varieties of Delphinium. It's on the wing from June into August, and can be attracted to light.