Moth Nights aglow

I expect others will have seen this week's interesting BBC piece online about the growth of our hobby - I hope that isn't too amateur a word for some of the tremendous and much-appreciated experts on this blog. It raised an issue which  has long pre-occupied me: the probable under-estimating of the numbers of moths, because so few people are looking out for them or know what species they are.

This occurred to me the other day when I read Dave amazing description of the vast Far Eastern moth which graced him with a visit. My immediate reaction was: "Well of course it chose Westcott!" And that got me wondering how high our totals both of numbers and species would be if we were all as sedulous and as you are, Dave.  Anyway, a well-deserved treat!

Sorry to diverge just a little from our subject, but I thought it might also be worth noting that we are in peak glowworm season, as looking for these delightful little creatures is almost as good as keep a watch for moths. We first discovered them here last year and have been out the last two nights with satisfying results eg the female photographed with and without flash, above. Does anyone recognise the little creature with her?  The light trap meanwhile continues to be full of variety - some examples below. Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon