Nature in your local patch
OPAL West Midlands: Nature in your local patch
A Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus) (Photograph: Jon Sadler)
Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) (Photograph: Jon Sadler)
Lunar Marbled Brown (Drymonia ruficornis) (Photograph: Jon Sadler)
Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) (Photo © Dave Grundy GMS)
Night time ecology: moths
In the UK there are 56 species of butterfly, but over 2,400 species of moth. However, the more familiar, day-flying butterflies are far more appreciated and receive much more attention than their largely night-flying cousins. This is a shame because as well as being a much more biodiverse group than the butterflies, moths are also important pollinators, are also suffering wide-spread declines in the UK, and have many beautiful species. The best thing about moths for the budding naturalist is that you can use their natural attraction to light to make them come to you! Find out more here.
Moth Tips leaflets are now available for download!
Moth Tips 1
An introduction to the world of moth-ing, covering field guides, trap types, useful websites and so on
An introduction to the world of moth-ing, covering field guides, trap types, useful websites and so on
OPAL West Midlands are happy to be working in partnership with the Garden Moth Scheme (GMS) to carry out this research. The GMS began in 2003 in the West Midlands, but was expanded into a national scheme in 2006 and included over 100 recorders in 2007. We are supporting the GMS by:
1. supplying resources and materials to make more budding naturalists aware of how they can take part in the scheme;
2. helping the scheme analyse their valuable data in the most appropriate way for the public and wider scientific community.
1. supplying resources and materials to make more budding naturalists aware of how they can take part in the scheme;
2. helping the scheme analyse their valuable data in the most appropriate way for the public and wider scientific community.
Upcoming Moth training:
May 23rd, Sunday – An Introduction to Moth Trapping for Beginners - Introducing moth identification of easier moths, moth traps and books, in the new Wyre Forest Community Discovery Centre, Worcestershire (grid ref SO750740) 10am to 4pm.
(Maximum of 25 participants – booking essential)
June 22nd, Tuesday – Moth identification training course for beginners and intermediates, looking at grassland moth species caught the night before at Severn Valley Country Park, Alveley, Shropshire, (grid ref SO754840) 10am to 4pm.
(Maximum of 15 participants – booking essential)
July 18th, Sunday – Moth identification training course for beginners and intermediates, looking at ancient woodland moth species caught the night before at Woolhope Village Hall, Haugh Wood, Herefordshire, (grid ref SO611358) 10am to 4pm.
(Maximum of 15 participants – booking essential)
August 8th, Sunday – Moth identification training course for beginners and intermediates, looking at heathland moth species caught the night before at the John O’Leary Centre, Marquis Drive, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire (grid ref SK006153). 10am to 4pm.
(Maximum of 15 participants – booking essential)
September 13th, Monday - Moth identification training course for beginners and intermediates, looking at leaf mines, Severn Valley Country Park, Alveley, Shropshire, (grid ref SO754840) 10am to 4pm.
(Maximum of 25 participants - booking essential)
Please bring packed lunch for all courses. Training course places will be offered to applicants who apply first. Trainees can book for just one course, several courses or the whole programme of courses. Trainees that book for all 5 courses should come out of the programme with a good grounding in moth identification and be able to adequately trap and identify moths on any site unaided.
Training courses will all be classroom based, but for the first four events with some examination of live moth specimens (that were trapped the night before). For the last event, at least part of the day will be spent out of doors examining trees for leaf mines – so please bring suitable outdoor clothing for this.
The Training Course programme is sponsored by OPAL, Butterfly Conservation West Midland Branch and the Field Studies Council. If trainees wish to purchase a moth trap then this will be possible on the course if they contact me before the event.
Please book direct with Dave Grundy, by email:
dgcountryside@btinternet.com
(Maximum of 25 participants – booking essential)
June 22nd, Tuesday – Moth identification training course for beginners and intermediates, looking at grassland moth species caught the night before at Severn Valley Country Park, Alveley, Shropshire, (grid ref SO754840) 10am to 4pm.
(Maximum of 15 participants – booking essential)
July 18th, Sunday – Moth identification training course for beginners and intermediates, looking at ancient woodland moth species caught the night before at Woolhope Village Hall, Haugh Wood, Herefordshire, (grid ref SO611358) 10am to 4pm.
(Maximum of 15 participants – booking essential)
August 8th, Sunday – Moth identification training course for beginners and intermediates, looking at heathland moth species caught the night before at the John O’Leary Centre, Marquis Drive, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire (grid ref SK006153). 10am to 4pm.
(Maximum of 15 participants – booking essential)
September 13th, Monday - Moth identification training course for beginners and intermediates, looking at leaf mines, Severn Valley Country Park, Alveley, Shropshire, (grid ref SO754840) 10am to 4pm.
(Maximum of 25 participants - booking essential)
Please bring packed lunch for all courses. Training course places will be offered to applicants who apply first. Trainees can book for just one course, several courses or the whole programme of courses. Trainees that book for all 5 courses should come out of the programme with a good grounding in moth identification and be able to adequately trap and identify moths on any site unaided.
Training courses will all be classroom based, but for the first four events with some examination of live moth specimens (that were trapped the night before). For the last event, at least part of the day will be spent out of doors examining trees for leaf mines – so please bring suitable outdoor clothing for this.
The Training Course programme is sponsored by OPAL, Butterfly Conservation West Midland Branch and the Field Studies Council. If trainees wish to purchase a moth trap then this will be possible on the course if they contact me before the event.
Please book direct with Dave Grundy, by email:
dgcountryside@btinternet.com
