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Reposted by Steve Ormerod

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) @ukceh.bsky.social · 13h

Insects do far more than feed wildlife - a major new global study found insects provide shelter, chemical defences, sanitation and other vital benefits to 1000s of animal species. Scientists warn insect declines could have far-reaching impacts across ecosystems. Learn more: tinyurl.com/3mm3a6x2

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 13h

I made a last-minute decision to put the trap out under an umbrella in last night’s rain and balmy temperature. Turned up the second ever White-point for the garden… Mythimna albipuncta: the white-spot Mythimna #MothsMatter #TeamMoth @sewbrec.org.uk @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Pink-barred Sallow - a couple of days earlier than last year’d first. Photographed here on Apple leaves but more likely matched to the yellowing Salix leaves near to where the over-wintering eggs are laid #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The second Vestal in 5 days in our Cardiff garden. #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Ecological changes among Himalayan stream diatoms Our new co-paper shows how warm water diatoms have increased over ~30 years at altitudes below 2500 m but a glacial stream specialist declined above 3,200 m where glaciers are shrinking. Available via: www.researchgate.net/publication/...

Images of diatoms, a map of the study area and Manaslu - one of Nepal's 8 mountains over 8,000 metres - in 1996

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Brindled Green - and a sure sign we’re in September. Regular here in small numbers but considered uncommon in Glamorgan. Dryobotodes eremita (etymology in the post below) #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Scarce Silver-lines - more typical for June-August and possibly from a facultative second brood in this hot year Bena bicolorana #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Garden Snail - first in the moth trap in 14 years :) #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Last night’s Vestal was the 6th for the garden since 2013 - all between Aug 31st-Oct 25th. Rhodometra - the pink ‘measure’ on the forewing sacraria - the resting wing position resembles ‘sacred’ hands as clasped in prayer. ‘Vestal’ - a priestess - has similar origins. #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

This v lively Merveille du Jour from last night was the earliest ever by 13 days in 14 years of trapping in our Cardiff Garden #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

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Reposted by Steve Ormerod

Larry the Cat @number10cat.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Since its foundation in 1824 the bravery of Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers has saved more than 146,700 lives at sea. Hundreds of those volunteers have died attempting to save others. They are the best of us.

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Reposted by Steve Ormerod

Prof Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Interesting Q&A on how heat, drought, wildfires, and climate extremes stress forests, possibly weakening their ability to absorb and store carbon. For me, the takeaway is: forests aren’t an unlimited climate solution. We need to protect their resilience, too. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

Forests under climate stress - Nature Geoscience

Nature Geoscience spoke with Ana Bastos (Leipzig University, Germany) and Sonia I. Seneviratne (ETH Zürich, Switzerland) about how climate change is reshaping forest ecosystems, how forests and land-u...

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Orange Swift. Females disperse their eggs over suitable habitat before the early stage larvae burrow into the soil for two years underground. Drought conditions could make things tough for this generation. Triodia sylvina - named from 3-lined wing markings and sylvan habitat #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Two of the most recognisable pugs and among the most regular here: Lime Speck and Cypress. Both are named from their spectrum of food plants: Eupithecia centaureata - from the knapweeds E. phoeniceata - from Juniperus phoenicea as used by Cypress Pug in the western Mediterranean. #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Small Ranunculus - new for the garden, though it’s regular in other parts of Cardiff Hecatera dysodea: Hecate was a goddess of magic linked to the night and trickery with poisonous plants. dysodea: foul smelling. Refers to the larval stink from feeding on Prickly Lettuce #mothsmatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

The unmistakable markings of Limnephilus lunatus: the caddis with the moon on its wings… #Mothtrapping #caddis #entomology #Limnephilidae #Trichoptera

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Cardiff’s #RoathPark Lake and Roath Brook downstream with a significant blue-green algal (= cyanobacterial) bloom today: take care with children and animals #cyanobacteria #bluegreenalgae #Cardiff

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

One of the nut weevils: Curculio sp. (nucum?) - by-catch in this morning’s moth trap. Thumb-nail for scale. #Beetles #Coleoptera #Curculionidae

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Centre-barred Sallow. A sure sign that September is around the corner. #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Conserving the world's specialist riverine birds: our new review on the global threats and conservation options for this group. Led by #AnkitaSinha and @nilanjan.bsky.social - who took these stunning photographs. Free to air at: wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

August is the month of Ennomos thorns: August, Canary-shouldered, September and this one - Dusky Thorn, our most common and linked to the local Ash trees. Ennomos: from an orderly taxonomic position. It’s a solid geometrid. fuscantaria: from the Latin for becoming dusky or darker. #mothsmatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Tree-lichen Beauty from last night’s trap in Cyncoed, Cardiff. Looks a long way from home on NBN records - but this is the 3rd this year from Glamorgan alongside 2 from Gwent Cryphia - from the same root as ‘cryptic’ algae - from the green colour #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

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Reposted by Steve Ormerod

Prof Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Heatwaves are warming our rivers too. Since the 1980s: 👉 Compound air–river heatwaves have tripled 👉 River heatwaves are 114% more frequent, 148% longer, and 95% more intense 👉 By 2100, under high emissions, 98.5% of river and atmospherric heatwaves could coincide. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

Threefold increase in atmospheric–riverine compound heatwaves under climate change - Nature Geoscience

Co-occurring atmospheric and river heatwaves have tripled since the 1980s across the USA and Europe, and are projected to become the norm by 2100, according to model simulations.

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I’m helping save Coul Links. Will you? Coul Links is a beautiful and unique wildlife habitat in the Scottish Highlands. But it is threatened once again with development. Join me in urging Scottish Ministers to say no to this damaging application. action.rspb.org.uk/page/166270/...

action.rspb.org.uk

Save Coul Links!

Your voice could help save this precious habitat from a new threat of development.

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

The year of the Small Mottled Willow. SMW first turned up here on May 1st - and made up 8% of the total May moth catch. In July, it has been the most abundant species - overall 17% of moths in the garden trap. Spodoptera: wood-ash coloured wings exigua: meagre sized #mothsmatter #migrantmoths

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

The first Jersey Tiger was recorded in Wales in August 2008 but ‘Moths of Glamorgan’ in 2014 predicted it would become established. My 1st was in July 2018, and this is the 5th this week Euplagia - beautiful slanted stripes on the forewing quadripunctaria - 4 spots on the hind wing #mothsmatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Box Tree Moths appear to be around here earlier and in numbers this year after lows in 2025 and 2025. Peak is likely for mid September. Cydalima: renowned perspectalis: transparent (-ish) #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Chinese Character: the famous bird-scat mimic. V distinct among the other hook-tips. Cilix glaucata: from the glaucous, sea-green-blue colour. The mark on the wing is said to resemble the Chinese character for ‘mountain’. So, a moth that carries a mountain on its forewings. #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Iron Prominent - slightly faded, but the pose was difficult to resist. Notodonta dromedarius: refers to the very distinctive camel-like humps on the larva. #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

First Dot Moth of the year in our Cardiff garden. Melanchra - a black complexion persicariae - from one of the larval food plants. I have a particular attachment to Dot Moths as they were among my first ever catch here - 14 years ago this week #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Buff-tailed Bumblebees in a ramshackle corner of the garden today…

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Clouded Border: the Rorschach ink-blot test of moths, with very few ever the same. Lomaspilis marginata. The genus refers to the ‘stained’ or ‘spotted’ fringe, and marginata emphasises the marginal marks #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Single-dotted Wave: a regular but seldom stays for a pic Idaea dimidiata From Mt Ida - where the Gods/Goddesses watched the *Trojan Wars, referencing the ethereal qualities of the whole genus dimidiata: the pattern of marks divides the wing in two #MothsMatter *the aftermath is in cinemas now!

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Royal Mail special stamp issue on moths! #mothsmatter shop.royalmail.com/special-stam...

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Common Emerald - but not such a commoner by it’s scientific name Hemithea - a demigoddess aestivaria - of summer #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

July Highflyer - turning up on schedule… #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Vapourer. Considered to be uncommon in Glamorgan, and only trapped twice in the garden before this week. Orgyia antiqua. Orgyia implies outstretched arms - as in this image. Not sure why Linnaeus used ‘antiqua’ - meaning ancient or old. Perhaps a comparison with O. recens - the Scarce Vapourer?

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Reposted by Steve Ormerod

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) @ukceh.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

New data on insect pollinators show a dramatic decline in hoverflies across Great Britain between 2017–2024. 📉 Around one third reduction in abundance & number of hoverfly species recorded as part of @pomscheme.bsky.social www.ceh.ac.uk/press/new-da... 1/ @jncc.bsky.social 🧪

Epistrophe grossulariae hoverfly and pollen beetles on hogweed, and text headline New data show dramatic decline in hoverflies across Great Britain

Meliscaeva cinctella hoverfly, and text about hoverflies and UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme results

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Reposted by Steve Ormerod

Prof Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

While we cook in Europe, it's worth remembering that this isn't just a European story. Across the Arctic and other high-latitude regions, temperature anomalies are reaching extraordinary levels, with some areas forecast to be >10–20°C above historical averages. The climate signal is global.

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Reposted by Steve Ormerod

Jay Lionel @jaylionel.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Talk to me some more about climate change being a hoax…

To identical maps of the world.
1976 Summer is mostly blue, with red patches, showing deviations from the average.

The 2025 map is red and black in places.

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Oak Nycteoline - the first in the garden in 14 years of trapping - conveniently harmonising with my iPhone case. Nycteola revayana: ‘Nux/Nyx’ = night. Revay was a French entomologist. Thinly distributed across Glamorgan and linked to Oak woodland. #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Long-term warming trend for Cardiff, Wales. Plot your own region here: showyourstripes.info/c/europe/uni... #showyourstripes showyourstripes.info/c/europe/uni...

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Large numbers of Hydropsyche spp. in last night’s moth trap. The angler’s Grey Flag or Marbled Sedges.

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Light Arches from last night. Apamea lithoxylaea - mixing words for stone and wood to reflect the grainy, sandstone coloured wings. #MothsMatter

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Reposted by Steve Ormerod

Clare @claretaz.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

That's so interesting! I didn't realise one of my favourite moths was named after one of my favourite mammals 😊

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

The Miller: pretty regular here reflecting how near we are to parkland trees. Beautifully named by Linnaeus after the colour of Mountain Hares: Acronicta (dusk) leporina (hare like). #MothsMatter

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

L-album Wainscot: only the second in the garden. The first was in September 2023 #MothsMatter

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