Look who we met today in Kilteevan-Garden Tiger Moth Arctica caja).

We continue to learn about our AMAZING BIODIVERSITY and feel we should share our learning. 

This fascinating, brightly coloured moth normally hides its hindwings under the forewings when resting.  We were lucky to get a shot with wings open.

It is a common night flying moth, on the wing in July and August.

The conspicuous patterns and colours on its wings serve as a warning to predators because the moth's body fluids are poisonous. They can also make a rasping noise with their wings to ward off predators.

Larvae feed on herbaceous plants including nettles, dock and various garden plants. Please note the importance of nettles and dock.

The caterpillars sometimes called “woolly bears” are especially fond of raspberry, blackberry, viburnum, honeysuckle and broom.

Kilteevan Tidy Tows is committed to protecting biodiversity .

We are delighted to share two records of this large, dashing, graceful butterfly in Kilteevan.

This butterfly feeds on our wild violets, particularly on the Common Dog-violet. They also feed on Brambles Knapweed, Ragwort, Thistles and Water mint.

At Kilteevan Tidy Towns we continue to learn about Biodiversity in order to know how best to protect it. Now that the weather is getting a little milder, we are continuing our journey to learn about our Moths.  There are around 1,500 moth species in Ireland so identification is an exciting challenge. Michael Bell of Nature Learn was an inspiring mentor as we began to learn.

We are working with Moths Ireland on this project and have a  licence for our work, All records are submitted to The National Biodiversity Data Centre.   Our thanks to the National Parks at Wildlife Service for supporting us on this journey.

 We identified 10 species . Our photos show two beautiful, distinctive species 

Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria

Streamer Anticlea derivata.

One of the first flowers of Spring spotted on Cloonlarge Loop today.

This beautiful native wild flower is Colt’s- foot. The flowers appear before the large heart shaped leaves. A cheery, bright flower that would brighten any day.