As I look out at the pouring rain and the flailing trees one might think nothing could survive out there.

You’d be wrong — Last night a break in the showers was predicted and we put out our moth trap — just for the hell of it!

Look what we found!

The mottled grey is particularly distinctive in life as it is uniquely glossy.

Last of all the real hero is this rather war-worn specimen of the mottled umber moth. It flies in the middle of winter (Oct-Jan), mating with the flightless females who wait patiently on the tree trunks and have by now laid their eggs which will be laying dormant until the food plants start to sprout — it likes most of the trees that grow in our woodland — not being picky is a great advantage and may explain part of its success — it is common and widespread. This one must have survived two major storms tucked away behind our machinery shed.