iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The Satellite. Last caught here in February reflecting the adult’s overwintering life cycle. Has partly carnivorous larvae Eupsilia: ‘truly bare’ from the smooth patch (stigma) on the forewing which has no scales transversa: marks across the wings #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Borrowed from an online image :) None of my guitars has anything quite so artistic. This Furch Red is the most unusual;

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Thoroughly recommend this episode of ‘Folk on foot’ - with Chris Packham chatting with Martin Simpson, and Martin singing of Hen Harriers and other stuff. First aired July 2025 #folkonfoot open.spotify.com/episode/55Vh...

open.spotify.com

Chris Packham & Martin Simpson in the New Forest

Folk on Foot · Episode

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Reposted by Steve Ormerod

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) @ukceh.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

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 · 30/09/2026

The image is a screen grab from this video of what was a v fidgety moth

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

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

The secret is in the disruptive outline…

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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 · 05/09/2026

It *is* joyful - and a lovely connection to the changing seasons

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Steve Ormerod @steveormerod.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Absolutely. Even without a view of the blue underwing, this mark in the forewing is distinctive. Beautiful. Numbers have been increasing :)

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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 · 19/08/2026

Possibly, George. But shouldn’t we also manage and reduce demand rather than increase supply? A sustainable future uses less concrete, less meat, less water and makes space for nature rather than drowning it beneath new reservoirs. Probably our best preparation is to use less.

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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

Interesting: thanks for sharing

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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

Excellent. I liked his use of emojis, too

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

Is that your WiFi password, Alick?

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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

Probably just checking the menu…

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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

Most web sources suggest that their caterpillars are rarely found here - but this year has been atypical as we know

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

Yes: Jersey Tiger. First recorded in Wales in 2008 and now well established and increasing in numbers

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

Absolutely plausible: large numbers in May, drop off in June, resurgence in July and a 25-day life cycle that would be aided in current conditions. What do we know of caterpillar sightings?

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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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