Fairy Longhorn

8yo and I went for another Bradford Urban Wildlife Group excursion, this over the other side of the moor in Prince of Wales Park, Bingley.

The main object of the search were these tiny bronze-gold day-flying moths, Adela reaumurella or the Green Longhorn, or fairy longhorn. Once the sun came out they were swarming around the new oak leaves. They were tricky to photograph, as they were settling a couple of feet above our heads. This image is the best managed at arm's stretch.

A few yards away from the main swarms the one pictured here in my blip came down to ground level, and stayed still long enough to display it's beautiful colour and fine, long antennae. I initially thought it was one of the same species, but it's been suggested over on iSpot that it's a Nematopogon which is a genus of Adelidae. I'm far from an expert with moths, so if anyone can clarify, let me know.

And the butterfly count from the park: five Speckled Wood, three Green-veined White and a solitary Orange-tip.

A new Friends of Prince of Wales Park group has been established for those interested in helping to uncover and restore some of the neglected park's features.