NATURE NOTES

As moths are predominantly nocturnal, most go largely unnoticed for much of the year. But one exotic-looking species has been appearing almost anywhere around Dorset, and is prompting frequent identification requests on social media, wildlife, and entomology group pages.

The Jersey Tiger moth, with its striking obliquely striped black and cream forewings is active both night and day. In flight, this large moth with its blackblotched vivid orange, or more rarely yellow, hindwings was once regarded as a very rare immigrant species, but now has resident colonies in some southern counties and is spreading northwards.

Despite an apparently slow start for butterflies in the spring, in this garden at least throughout August and September there have been the most sightings for several years, perhaps due in some degree to the garden having been allowed to grow even more naturally over the past year. One plant given a free rein was the perennial Sweet Pea – scrambling around other plants at low level and attracting many Brimstone butterflies to feed on its nectar was a joy to see. A Brimstone is often the first butterfly to be seen on the wing in early spring.

Interesting to note that most other species ignored those flowers, instead, preferring the ever popular buddleia. Later flowering plants such as sedums and dahlias will continue to provide nectar for many insect species, including any butterflies that may still be on the wing on warmer days.

These nectar-rich sources provide essential nutrients for the few species that spend the winter in a dormant state, including Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.

Jersey Tiger moth Brimstone

Comma

POETRY PAGE Christina Rossetti’s ‘The Pageant’ cont.

Rossetti’s text for A Pageant included a cast of ‘personifications’ (the months) to be played by boys and girls, along with stage directions - here we include only those necessary to follow proceedings. This month has the text for October. Each WVM in 2021 will feature the verse Rossetti wrote for that month.

October enters briskly, some leafy twigs bearing different sorts of nuts in one hand, and a long ripe hop-bine trailing after him from the other. the nut twigs. They enter the cottage, September steps into the background; October advances to the hearth, stirs up the smouldering fire, and arranges several chestnuts ready to roast)

October: Crack your

first nut and light your first fire, Roast your first chestnut crisp on the bar; Make the logs sparkle, stir the blaze higher; Logs are cheery as sun or as star, Logs we can find wherever we are.

Spring one soft day will open the leaves, Spring one bright day will lure back the flowers; Never fancy my whistling wind grieves, Never fancy I've tears in my showers; Dance, nights and days! and dance on, my hours!

October: Nay, cheer up, sister. Life is

not quite over, Even if the year has done with corn and clover, With flowers and leaves; besides, in fact it's true, Some leaves remain and some flowers too For me and you. Now see my crops:

(Offering his produce to September)

I've brought you nuts and hops; And when the leaf drops, why, the walnut drops.

(October wreaths the hop-bine about September's neck, and gives her (He sees November approaching)

October: Here comes my youngest

sister, looking dim And grim, With dismal ways. What cheer, November?

to be continued....