A while back I posted a photo of a very plump, very green, substantial caterpillar which was climbing the outside of our garden wall. It got to the top, hung around a bit then vanished.
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| Angle Shades Moth - Phlogophora Meticulosa May 20th 2013 |
Now, I can't guarantee that the moth I found today is the same individual as that caterpillar. Indeed, if I understand it properly, there's a question hanging over whether the butterfly or moth which emerges from a chrysalis is the same 'person' as the butterfly which 'went in'. But - if that was an Angle Shades caterpillar in February (and I think it was) . . . here's what it looks like now it's sprouted wings.
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| Angle Shades Moth - Phlogophora Meticulosa CAN YOU SEE ITS EYE? May 20th 2013 |
This one arrived on the outside of our kitchen window sill a couple of hours ago and is still there. Maybe it's reminiscing about the woody and herbaceous plants it munched in its youth or the chrysanthemums its offspring might feast on later in the year. (Tough. I have none!)
Now, the question is - do I want it?
One of my favourite wildlife books is 'Garden Pests of Britain and Europe' by Michael Chimery. 'Pests' you note. (One of the sensible things about this book is its 'don't panic, enjoy' approach.) But here is a lovely internet page about Angle Shades Moths which tells you how to attract them to your garden with nectar rich flowers (for the adults) nettles and docks (for the larvae). Two sides of dilemma.
You might like to browse the site. It's about 'The Wildlife Garden Project'. The idea is that if masses of people make small changes to their gardens to make them a bit more 'wildlife friendly' cumulatively and together we can create the UK's largest wildlife reserve. I came across it today and am attracted by its informality and the enthusiasm it emits so I've signed up for its newsletter.







