link here  | |  tools  |  share:
photo size: medium 640 new

Bob Eade
recent  |  interesting  |  random  |  favorites  |  contacts  |  sets  |  tags:  
view large
Lace Border (Scopula ornata).
Lace Border (Scopula ornata).

Without doubt my most important lepidoptera find.

In July 2020 I photographed a small white moth on my patch that I didn't recognise. When I got home I checked the books and found it was a Lace Border, a very rare moth. This particular Lace Border was only the 5th record for Sussex since the mid 1970s. Looking further into it I saw that the larval food plants were mainly Wild Thyme and Marjoram, plants that were both on my patch, so I immediately decided that the following year I would check the area during the flight season in the hope that my Lace Border was a mated female that had migrated across the Channel and had laid eggs.

A possible sighting on the 6th June 2021 was followed on the 7th with 3 different individuals. Followed throughout the rest of Summer (2 broods) with a total of 19 individuals. Over 100 years worth of normal Sussex sightings of the species!!

With breeding confirmed this colony is the first evidence of this species breeding in both Sussex and the entire length of the South Downs since the 1950s.

With 3 further sightings by 2 different people around 4 miles away from my site another probable colony may be being established there too.

This individual was photographed on a very difficult day for me as it would have been Penny's birthday, the first one since I lost her in April A small ray of brightness to improve the day.

© All Rights Reserved
Taken on: August 16, 2021
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with moths moths Everybody's photos tagged with Lace Border Lace Border Everybody's photos tagged with Scopula ornata Scopula ornata more » Everybody's photos tagged with South Downs National Park South Downs National Park Everybody's photos tagged with Sussex Sussex Everybody's photos tagged with Seaford Seaford Everybody's photos tagged with East Sussex East Sussex Everybody's photos tagged with Summer Summer Everybody's photos tagged with Macro Macro Everybody's photos tagged with Macro Moths Macro Moths Everybody's photos tagged with Lepidoptera Lepidoptera « less
Sets appears in:   • Best of 2021    • My Explored.    more » • Macro Moths.    « less
Groups appears in:   • British Lepidoptera    • Sussex Wildlife Trust Wild Places    more » • Moth Gallery    • BBC Springwatch (Official)    • Moths UK    • Butterflies and Moths of Great Britain & Ireland    • UK Butterflies, Moths and Caterpillars    • in explore    • Mariposas - Farfalle - Butterflies    • 21st Century Aurelian's    • BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY IN THE WORLD.BELLISIMAS MARIPOSA DEL MUNDO.    « less
Camera: Nikon D850, f/13.0, 1/400 sec, 150mm, ISO 640 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Nikon D850
Lens: 150.0 mm f/2.8
Aperture: f/13.0
Exposure Time: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length: 150mm
ISO: 640
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode: Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Sharpness: Hard
Color Space: Uncalibrated
Software: Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 (Windows)
Show full info
Stats: 17,829 views / 56 comments
Lace Border (Scopula ornata).

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: