Ronaldo's Moth

That's this little guy's claim to fame.  He's pictured supposedly drinking Ronaldo's tears after a complete infestation of Silver Y moths in the stadium.

At last year's Euro 2016 final, the stadium lights were left on the night before, creating a giant beacon of a moth trap for Paris and beyond.  It seems the Silver Ys were on migration and had not only the bright lights but the delightful smell of sweat to pull them in as well.

They only live for three to four weeks but in that time around a quarter of a billion of them fly hundreds of miles to migrate from the north coast of Africa to Europe and even Iceland, Greenland and Finland. Apparently, research has proven that they can choose the most favourable airstream which can help them travel up to 300-400km per night between their summer and winter breeding grounds.  They reproduce and a billion  of them (that's what I read!) then fly back again.

I disturbed one in the garden a month or so ago when I was mowing the lawn but he hid too well.  Last night with a torch, I had a look on the buddleia after recently learning that the moths love it as much as butterflies and caught this little guy having his supper.  

Last night, you couldn't see his beautiful metallic sheen but the sunshine this morning helped out with showing off the finest of embroidery.  He's back in the same bush this morning but a little further down, in the thicker bit, hidden from today's showers.