From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
when the dawn begins to crack. It's all part of my autumn almanac!
It is doubtful if the content of today's Post will enthral any but the keenest of Entomologists but the magical World of Nature stretches far beyond Birds and Killer Whales! In the first instance we would ask you to cast your mind back to the Post of Wednesday 09/11/2022 when we secured only our second ever
GOLDEN TWIN-SPOT
In the first instance there was the matter of a correct identification as there are confussion species and the fact that the Insect is something of a scarcity. With that in mind and to be certain, it was considered a wise decission to drive it to Weymouth and let one of "3 far more knowledable than I gentlemen" to take a look to confirm or otherwise. Of the 3 it was Dave Foot who sprung to mind as sure to be at work and able to take a few moments to confirm as was the case. As a bonus to himself it was found that en-root SHE had laid a batch of eggs which was right up his street as also being an excellent enthusiast as to nurturing such things to adulthood. In true Dave fashion it was of no surprise to recieve from him yesterday morning what is now presented to our Valued Readership the Life Cycle of your Average Insect!
Hi Bagsy, hope this works. The following are
photos of your Golden Twin-spot first and second instar larva and videos of a larva
hatching and taking its first meal, its own egg shell. The majority of British macro moths have 5
instars, the final one being the pupa. (Unfortunately this system does not favour the 'cut of the jib' of those there videos)
Instar’s are the stages of a larva’s life where
it feeds until it needs to change its skin. The skin doesn’t grow, so when it gets to a stage when it no longer fits, it is shed and the new skin is a little
more loose and baggy.
The majority of British Macro Moths have 5
instars, the final one being the pupa.
The larva is transparent and the green line through the middle
of its body is the food it has eaten and the small dark area at the end is
frass / excrement being expelled.
Our First One
Extract from the man himself
We have limited the precis mainly
to the southern counties of
Great Britain
We don't want His Dave-Ship on our tail so as ever Many Thanks Mate!!
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