Angle Shades Emerging (it’s springtime)

It’s spring! Well, a Blackcap sang its cheerful spring song to me yesterday, in my garden, how about that, after flying all the way from Africa. Today, a Chiffchaff sang (and briefly appeared) in the nature reserve while I was working down at the frog pond.

And back at home, as I was watering the garden, I saw this Angle Shades moth (Phlogophora meticulosa, a Noctuid) in its final ecdysis, inflating its wings from their crumpled state inside the overwintering pupa. It was on the pipe insulation of the garden tap.

Angle Shades, wings about to inflate
Angle Shades, wings about to inflate
Angle Shades, wings nearly inflated
Angle Shades, wings nearly inflated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presumably the moth’s body clock said “It’s spring”. Amazing to watch.