Rye Harbour Moths
11th May 2006, ThursdayAnother relatively sparse catch this morning, though a couple of interesting micros did turn up. Ethmia bipunctella is a striking black and white moth the larvae of which feed on the flowers and leaves of Viper’s Bugloss. Its foodplant preferences make this species something of a shingle specialist, and while rare nationally it is not uncommon at Rye Harbour.
Light Brown Apple Moth was introduced from Australia in the 1930s, and is now quite widespread and common in Britain. The larvae of this species feed on a very wide range of plants, and in its native land it is something of a pest in orchards.
Top, Ethmia bipunctella, bottom, Light Brown Apple Moth