Martin's moths

 "They're all dusty".

That was it - one of my colleague's explanations for why he hates moths. Other people worry they're going to fly into their faces, hair or ears, but really, what's it going to do, flutter you to death? I guess mottephobia is irrational as any other irrational fear. (I have a phobia about barnacles on whales, so I really can't talk. Let me tell you, whale watching was a traumatic experience, notwithstanding horrendous seasickness...).

Anyway, after my recent worries about the lack of butterflies in my garden, it did occur to me to wonder how the moth population is doing this year. Fortuitously, along came another Guardian colleague, Martin Wainwright. Turns out Martin's a moth enthusiast, and has set up a blog called Martin's Moths that I'd heartily recommend. He's also guesting in the Guardian diary this week and has livened proceedings up with the mention of a daily moth - today it's the cream-bordered green pea.

I hope Martin doesn't mind that me reproducing his lovely image of a Burnished Brass moth which, as he points out, is an excellent reason to let a few nettles live in your garden as they are the foodstuff of this moth at the caterpillar stage.

Anyway, back to the question of the "butterfly shortage". Martin points out that it may not be a shortage of the insects, rather a shortage of sunshine - the only conditions under which they like to be out and about. This seems to apply to moths too - wet nights equal a moth no-show for Martin's light traps. What do all these insects do in the rain, then, hang about under leaves and wait for things to dry up?

Comments

[Martin Wainwright]

Hi Jane - thanks for the mention of the moths blog. The moth-in-the-ear thing is intriguing. I thought it was just nonsense, but the moth I feature today has an entry in my (very respectable) moth book, Waring & Townsend - Field Guide to the Moths of GB & Ireland - which says that it has been known to fly into moth-recorders' ears at light traps. I'm still sceptical. Anyway, I much enjoy your thoughts and strongly recommend your book to everyone. btw, the latest book of Guardian Country Diaries, a collection by women who have written the column, is being launched on August 29th with a walk at Kilpeck, Herefordshire, ending for tea at Dippersmoor Manor, the former home of one of the past diarists, Gwen McBryde. More on the Guardian Books website - soon if not already posted. All welcome!

[VP]

I too have been musing on the lack of butterflies and bees this year and had put it down to (at least in part) last year's bad summer.

However, I also not that it doesn't appear to have affected wasps. They're in abundance here this year - has anyone else noticed this?

[Woody Wilbury]

It may be [is] very silly and you're welcome to speak sternly to me but I loathe moths. I can't abide their flutteriness. Butterflies are fine but I really really do not like moths, in a totally irrational way.

Wilma Wilbury is phobic about bats, to the extent that even their name cannot be spoken in our house. They are known as "not birds" because they are....