National Moth Night & Day 2008

National Moth Night (NMN) is Britain’s celebration of moths and moth recording. It was launched in 1999 and has taken place annually since then, the date varying each year in order to focus recording effort on different parts of the season. Atropos (the journal for butterfly, moth and dragonfly enthusiasts) and InsectLine (the telephone information service for butterfly, moth and dragonfly enthusiasts) originally launched the event, but
it is now run jointly by Atropos and Butterfly Conservation (the UK charity taking action to save butterflies, moths and their habitats).

On the designated date, participants throughout the British Isles are encouraged to record the moths in their chosen location and the results are pooled into Britain’s largest survey of what species are flying around the country. Much important information has been generated, including new county records, new sites for scarce species and records of rare immigrants. Public events take place around the country, which can be a great introduction to the world of moths. National Moth Night grabs the imagination of those taking part and has involved some fine displays of British eccentricity in terms of unusual methods of recording moths, as well
as visits to some unusual locations. .

In 2008, National Moth Night & Day is Saturday 7 June and there are two events planned in the branch area. Please see Events 2008 page and get involved and discover the wonder of moths.

• record moths in your garden or somewhere new
• organise or attend a public event - see www.nationalmothnight.info
• search for targets or select your own
• remember to send in your sightings

Target Species for National Moth Night & Day 2008

Credit: Keith Futter

Anania funebris is a new UK Biodiversity Action Plan species and the first micro-moth ever to be targeted on National Moth Night & Day. It is a day flying moth found in open woodland and grassland (often on cliffs) in Britain and Ireland where its caterpillars feed on Goldenrod

Credit: Roy Leverton

Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris tityus is a day-flying UK Biodiversity Action Plan moth which mimics a bumblebee. It frequents unimproved grasslands, heathland & bogs, particularly in the west of Britain & Ireland but has declined greatly as a result of agricultural intensification. Difficult to identify unless you are lucky enough to see one nectaring at a flower whilst hovering. Most sightings are of a large bee-like insect which has a buff backside and which flys fast in a somewhat un-bee like manner - flys in straight lines rather than zig-zags.

For further information on moth recording and to find out who your county moth recorder is, please see Moth recording