This is the first Emperor moth of the year in our garden. He didn't get the memo about being dull and grey/brown did he?
Another 5 or so turned up soon after.
He flew in from the west, so somewhere between here (Cottenham) and Swavesey (where our local bird reserve is) there must be some heathland-type terrain with the larval foodplant, heather, perhaps in bloom, and the females awaiting their suitors.
@sciencebase Five more turned up...you've been actinicating and puffing stuff about again, haven't you. Or you're just a spawy get.
@SteelFolk The males don't come to light, they're day flyers, bit yes, I have a pheromone lure, that's really the only way you'd see them in a garden like ours
@sciencebase You're like the child catcher in Chitty Bang Bang.
@SteelFolk Haha. I thought you'd done some mothing with lures (light and pheromones) in your time, no?
@sciencebase Only Mat and Both nights at Far Ings with a white blanket and a lamp. I don't have a huge net, though.
@SteelFolk you won't get many juvenile goats in that net
@sciencebase Around here you'd be talking eels with the odd trout.
@SteelFolk I don't have a huge net either