Moth man

I've long admired the images of moths in the Blip journal Dreich so I was delighted when Steve, taking advantage of the blippers' discount, booked our holiday cottage and brought along his moth traps.  Placed around the garden overnight their lights lured a variety of subtly camouflaged  specimens which he  showed us in the morning. But no sooner had he released them than he returned with a real dazzler, a privet hawk moth that just pitched up on the fence . It's the largest hawk moth in the UK with a wingspan of up to 12cm and a striking red and black abdomen (see extra). I've never seen one before and although Steve modestly suggested that it might have been attracted by the nocturnal lighting  I can't believe it was a complete coincidence that it made its appearance when a lepidopterist was in residence.