Garden Tiger Moth in decline

[Dutchess]

Oh my, the Moth and Spider threads are fast becoming my favourite here on WAB! (I just love this place ).

It was whilst flicking through a new link provided by Duncan (cheers mate!) that I realised that the big furry brown and orange caterpillar so often seen as a child in London is rather noticeable by it's absence nowadays???

Hey, I'd never even known it's bear-like caterpillars are those of the Garden Tiger Moth (GTM) until now - all taken for granted I suppose. This inspired to me to search further as to their distribution in the UK, because it seemed strange that when I was living in SW London, I saw so many of them when not particularly looking, and yet since I moved down to Sussex (28 years ago!), it occured to me that have probably not seen one!

Further investigation sure enough ascertained that the GTM has been in decline over the past 30 years or so, particularly in the SE. It is thought this may be due to the change in our climate.

It's a sad thing to have discovered on a wet and windy September night , and it is probably not news to many of you fellow WABbers, but thanks yet again to WAB for the enlightenment.

D.

[naturegirl]

Hi Dutchess!

I think you may need to come to The Kent Lepidopterist meeting in March every year in Maidstone.

Last year a guy gave a talk about the decline of species in Kent and Garden tigers was one of them.

In 20 years they have declined 60% which is shocking! and sad.

We must be positive howerever, and move with the times (and climate). I'm sure that they will make a surprise comeback someday soon.

At least I still record the odd one or two so all is not lost!

Naturegirl

[Dutchess]

It is sad, isn't it? And I feel a tad guilty for not noticing before now! Maybe if I'd stayed in London it would have been more noticeable, but obviously down here on the coast (I am perched on a hill, a mile from the sea) the local wildlife is quite different from London. I remember fleeing from my bedroom the first time I had a close encounter with a Tiger...and yet now, I'd really love to see one again

Down here, everything seems to happen either in Maidstone or Brighton! I notice that when we visit the wildlife/conservation stands at Agricultural shows all the interesting stuff seems to centre around those two towns.

D.

[naturegirl]

We have Kent Goes Wild on 27th September at Shorne park which is always good fun!

I shall be on the Moth table with my Moth-buddies David and Ian.

Dan Salter is coming down to meet us, if he is brave enough after his comments tonight!!!!!

Maybe we shall see you there too?

Naturegirl

[aeshna5]

Yes I remember as a boy seeing good numbers of woolly bears on my parent's lawn + occasionally finding the adult moth here in London. I can't remember the last time I saw one around the capital, but have seen them more recently in other parts of the country.

Along with Cinnabar + the common burnet species, these were the first moths I could ID, so miss seeing these beauties now!