The Satellite...

The weather is still incredibly mild, so we've had the moth trap on for the last few nights. The numbers of moths have been small but we've had a good range including Yellow-line Quaker, Red-line Quaker, Green-brindled Crescent, Pink-barred Sallow and this one, which goes by the name of The Satellite.

It's a fairly common moth in much of Britain, though we usually only get one or two a year in our trap, and last year we didn't see it at all. It usually has a reddish-brown ground colour, with white or orange reniform stigmata (which translates as kidney-shaped spots to those who aren't into moths). There are two small 'satellites' either side of the stigmata, which give the moth its name.

The adults emerge in September, and can be encountered any time throughout the winter until April, in suitably mild conditions, when they can be attracted especially to sugar, but also to light. The larvae feed on a number of deciduous trees, and also have a carnivorous tendency towards larvae of other species.

I'm still feeling strange - today it's mainly been muscle pains, stomach-ache and a slight feeling of nausea, all of which got a lot worse when Chris and I took the dogs for a potter round Holme Fen. So another early night is in order and a bit more more gentle relaxation over the weekend. It's just so hard to slow down, 'cos there's so much I want and need to do in the next six weeks!