(Excerpt) The Oak Eggar moth (Lasiocampa quercus) is one of Britain’s most distinctive and widespread large moths. Despite its name, it has no connection with oak trees, the ‘eggar’ refers to the tough, oval, acorn-like cocoon in which the pupa develops, this is referred to in the epithet of its scientific name: quercus, which is the latin name for Oak.
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Espying Sneezewort on Hapton Moor
(Excerpt) Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica) is a perennial member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family and typically grows between 30 and 60cm tall, occasionally a little higher, with stiff, upright stems that may be slightly hairy in the upper parts. The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped and finely toothed along the margins, quite different from the feathery, much-divided foliage of its cousin Yarrow, which is also found on Hapton moor.
The Shaded Broad-bar Moth
Biology, Ecology, etc of the Shaded Broad-bar Moth (Scotopteryx chenopodiata) The Shaded Broad-bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata), a member of the Geometridae family (often called geometer moths or ‘inchworms’ in their larval stage), is a distinctive and relatively common moth across much of the British Isles. First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, it is a classicContinue reading “The Shaded Broad-bar Moth”
Shining Cranesbill
Shining Cranesbill (Geranium lucidum), sometimes known as ‘gentleman’s buttons’, is a charming, glossy-leaved annual wildflower that brightens walls, banks, and rocky spots throughout the British isles.
It gets its common-name from its distinctive shiny, reflective leaves, which set it apart from relatives like Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum). The leaves are rounded or kidney-shaped, divided into 5 to 7 lobes cut about halfway, often with a glossy green surface that can flush red. Stems are brittle, fleshy, hairless, and frequently reddish, growing up to 35 to 40 cm tall (though often shorter and sprawling).
Opisthograptis luteolata, the Brimstone Moth
Adult Brimstones are typically on the wing from April to October. In southern regions, there are often two or even three overlapping generations, while in our cooler northern parts this may reduce to a single brood. The species is strongly attracted to light and can often be found resting on walls or fences near outdoor lamps.
Springtime Lepidoptera on the Fylde Coast Dunes
Lancashire’s Fylde Coast features one of the finest stretches of sand dunes anywhere in England. From St Annes to Starr Gate these dynamic dune-systems, remnants of a once vast realm of sandy hills which stretched along this entire coast, are home to a myriad of flora and fauna, many of which have nowhere else to live.
The Hawthorn
The Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna, also known as Quickthorn, Whitethorn, or the May tree, is one of the most common small trees, (or large shrubs, depending on how you look at it), to be found in the British isles. Their scientific name comes from the Greek word for ‘strength’; Crataegus, and monogyna comes from mono, meaningContinue reading “The Hawthorn”
Common Ivy
Common ivy, scientifically known as Hedera helix, is an evergreen climbing plant native to, and ubiquitous throughout the British Isles, excepting the far north and a few spots like the Isle of Man.
Northwest Nature and History 