RSPB INSH MARSHES-DARK BOARDED BEAUTY-HIGHLANDS-SCOTLAND

I have just returned from a fantastic weekend in Scotland with Jenna, during which we added numerous macro moths to our life lists. I met up with my good friend James Hunter from Kent, and together we spent the night at the traps. Among the species we recorded were:

Riband Wave

Angle-striped Sallow

Grey Mountain Carpet

Beautiful Golden Y

Plain Clay

Scare Silver Y

Juniper Pug

Twin-spot Carpet

Manchester-treble Bar

Haworth's Minor

Marsh Oblique-barred

July Highflyer

Oblique Carpet

Pretty Pinion

Barred Chestnut

July Belle

The following morning, we attended a Butterfly Conservation moth event focused on the Dark-Bordered Beauty (Epione vespertaria). This highly rare species survives in only two Scottish colonies and one in England. In Scotland, one colony occurs in Aberdeenshire, while the other is found at RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes, where the species was first discovered in 2010. The Dark-Bordered Beauty feeds exclusively on aspen, specifically on suckers—new shoots arising from the tree’s root system. Since aspen trees rarely produce seeds, these suckers are the primary means by which the species spreads.

Six traps were set up overnight, and we managed to trap over forty Dark-Bordered Beauty.

It had been a fantastic weekend. Although we were exhausted after the long drive home, every moment had been well worth it.