What is this little beauty, seen recently in Donegal? - Gerard Doran
It is a female emperor moth, whose green spiny caterpillars feed on heather and other bog plants. Its mimicry of the face of an owl is superb and deters would-be predatory birds. Males fly by day and females fly early in the night, but obviously they must meet sometime.
I found this on the path recently; is it two moths mating? Such a cool photo. - Harry Blaney (7), Dublin
This is indeed a cool photo. These are lime hawkmoths. Michael O’Donnell of Moths Ireland tells me that this species was first recorded in Ireland in 2010 in Drumcondra. There have been about 80 records since then. It is still confined to Dublin but slowly expanding its range. Its large green caterpillars feed on the leaves of lime and birch. Biodiversity Ireland would be glad of the record, so have it sent in.
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I discovered this determined insect clinging desperately to a strand of fennel in some very high winds! What is it please? - Sean Smith, Dublin
This is a green lacewing, which has four wings that look like Limerick lace. It is a carnivorous insect feeding mainly on aphids. The larvae also feed on aphids, from which they suck the juices through large, hollow jaws. Adults often come indoors to hibernate in autumn, when they turn from green to pink. They are common garden insects.
This grey squirrel was raiding our strawberries. I didn’t know grey squirrels ate strawberries. - Archie Harding, Dublin
There are no nuts at this time of year so grey squirrels, which feed a lot on the ground, often launch raids on gardens. As well as swiping the strawberries, they will eat root vegetables and peel the bark off the branches of trees, causing them lasting damage.
I found this finch outside our back door in Carlow. Is it a female bullfinch or a Eurasian finch? - Margaret Mullarkey, Carlow
It is a female bullfinch, also called a Eurasian finch in swanky bird books and crossword clues.
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