8th European nights moths

[Paph]

25th August 2011 at the Ljubljana Marshes were started 8th European nights moths.
We met a little after eight in the evening in the flooded forest.
Butterflies are one of the most recognizable groups of insects; we have undertaken to live in Slovenia as 3600 species of butterflies. The main predators of butterflies are birds that are active mostly during the day and that is why moths is much larger diversity (3400 species) of the day (200 species). Compared with daytime butterflies are less bright colors. We found around 150 different species. As I am sure that you do not see them very often I guess that you might be interested to see some of them:

Notodonta dromedarius



Xanthorhoe fluctuata

Scotopteryx luridata

Timandra comae



Diachrysia chrysitis

Phragmatobia fuliginosa

Bena bicolorana

Menophra abruptaria

Trachea atriplicis

Lasiocampa quercus

Cymbalophora pudica

Opisthograptis luteolata

Hemistola chrysoprasaria

Laspeyria flexula

Stegania trimuculata

Palpita vitrealis

Alucita hexadactyla

Thyatira batis

Dysgonia algira

Habrosyne pyritoides

Phragmatobia fuliginosa

Euplagia quadripunctaria

Idea aureolaria



Pterophorus pentadacylus

[Dorsetman]

They are fascinating creatures ; I ran a moth trap in my garden for some years, but now the residents in the small development where I live ( just 6 houses) have all voted to keep the garden lighting on all night - as a security measure - not that there has ever been a single incident of problem in the 7 years it has existed - but the average age of residents is about 80 +.. so maybe they are all a bit more nervous than I am as a young 79 and 3/4 ....) and my moth trap is not worth running. I did go to one of the nature reserves on the other side of the county for a time, but the 25 mile journey through the rush hour in the morning took too at least an hour and a half, so I gave up. In UK we divide the moths into the macro - the bigger ones - maybe 600 species , and the micro - 2000 species , and it is usual to concentrate only on the macro until you are very very good ... I never got that good, but we have some lovely species in the macro. My favourite are the elephant hawks - before we had those pesky lights on all night, in the right season, I would get a moth trap full of them - mabe 40 or more - they would perch on my finger whilst I took their pictures.

[pavel]

Some excellant pics, Branka!

The feathery wings of Pterophorus pentadacylus and Alucita hexadactyla are very interesting! I wonder what advantage such wings give them. I would expect they are likely weak flyers. The red color on the Phragmatobia fuliginosa is beautiful. I do like the elegance of the Timandra comae. And while it would be extremely difficult to pick one or two favorites, I think if I did it would be Habrosyne pyritoides and the unnamed one after the Idea aureolaria -- not as colorful as several of the others but I find the pattern rather striking.

The last one surprised me -- I didn't know you had any of the carnivorous grasshoppers (suborder Caelifera) there. Or is it a katydid (family Tettigoniidae)?

[cdayinflorida]

I'm in awe. The photos are superb. I can get over the detail you can get.

[zainal abidin]

Branka, amazing and wonderful creatures, how do you remember their name? Since when the grasshopper change their diet?

[pavel]

Ah Zain, the surprises nature can bring us, yes? I cannot comment further on the one Branka caught "on film" (one day when we "oldtimers" are gone, I imagine that phrase will lose all meaning), but there are some species of grasshoppers and katydids that are true predators.

[walingwaling]

outstanding work Branka, that thread deserves a medal!

[Halloamey]

Excellent snaps Branka, loved each and everyone of them !!

[lanhua]

Branka, a great job.

[Paph]

Tnx you all for your nice comments!
It is a real joy watching them: as some other species, moth also slowly disappearing, partly because of the light pollution, because instead of looking for females, males prefer stay in the light which attracts them.
Zain, it is easy to remember their neims: you're in orchids and you know the name for each of them you have, someone who is not involved with orchids would be surprised
On the last photo is - I just think so - Green bush cricket, it is a Katydids (Eupholidoptera schmidti). One of the most interesting species of grasshoppers in Slovenia is (Saga pedo), predatory grasshopper with legs adapted for grasping and bacause of the rarity is protected on national and European level. And not only it is the predator - it is also the cannibal.
If you're intersted to see some more: Butterflies - a set on Flickr