Moths at Martineau Gardens

Part of our work in looking after the wildlife Martineau Gardens is to record what species visit this urban oasis. Wildlife Volunteers Andrew Curran and Brian Perry are responsible for most of our wildlife records. In addition to records of birds,mammals and flora – they regularly carry out moth trappings throughout the year. Our moth trap is a light-box contained within wood – it’s put out in the evening, under the Pavilion canopy –  the light attracts the moths and some fly in. The box is filled with cardboard egg boxes providing dark nooks and crannies where moths can hide. The moths settle. The next morning, our wildlife surveyors inspect the egg trays, record what has been found and the moths are then released unharmed.

Wildlife volunteers surveying moths in summer at Martineau Gardens.

Wildlife volunteers surveying moths in summer at Martineau Gardens

Wildlife volunteers surveying moths in summer at Martineau Gardens

Identifying moth before it is released at Martineau Gardens

Identifying moth before it is released at Martineau Gardens

Yellow brimstone moth, recorded one summer

Brimstone moth, recorded one summer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gallery: Moths at Martineau Gardens

If you’re new to moths, you’ll be amazed by how beautiful these can be – many have intricate detail, are brightly coloured or superbly camouflaged. View images of moths photographed by Andrew and Brian, in the gallery at the foot of this page.

Moth Species List

Thanks to the dedication of Brian and Andrew, our species list record goes back to 2000. You can view a spreadsheet of our moths species list here: MG Moth List (Lepidoptera) Feb 2017 BP   At time of writing our list numbers 341 – not bad for an area just two and a half-acres in size!

Our wildlife records are submitted to EcoRecord, the ecological database for Birmingham and the Black Country. EcoRecord is a not-for-profit service run in partnership for the public benefit – it collects, manages, interprets and disseminates information of known quality relating to the wildlife, wildlife sites and habitats of the Birmingham and the Black Country area (Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton).