It seems to me that there is evidence of the increasing ability for this species to over-winter successfully (as an adult). It is difficult to imagine that individuals seen early in the year are migrants (at least not short-distance migrants). I have just looked at the distribution of records of sightings of adults in France in January to mid-March each year. They are heavily concentrated in the south and while there is a very light sprinkling of records for this period in almost all French departments, there are only 14 records in the North (I've a map if anyone is interested). A quick check of the Netherlands (albeit an incomplete dataset) produced an even smaller result.
Indeed, Tim. There are occasional winter-time sightings in the UK but those I've noticed tend to be from the south-west where it is often milder anyway. This one, assuming that it is from our area and therefore being so far inland, strikes me as being rather unusual but hopefully a sign that the moth might slowly be adapting to cope with our winters.
Whereabouts was that, Adrian?
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that there is evidence of the increasing ability for this species to over-winter successfully (as an adult). It is difficult to imagine that individuals seen early in the year are migrants (at least not short-distance migrants). I have just looked at the distribution of records of sightings of adults in France in January to mid-March each year. They are heavily concentrated in the south and while there is a very light sprinkling of records for this period in almost all French departments, there are only 14 records in the North (I've a map if anyone is interested). A quick check of the Netherlands (albeit an incomplete dataset) produced an even smaller result.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Tim. There are occasional winter-time sightings in the UK but those I've noticed tend to be from the south-west where it is often milder anyway. This one, assuming that it is from our area and therefore being so far inland, strikes me as being rather unusual but hopefully a sign that the moth might slowly be adapting to cope with our winters.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that Adrian won't mind my giving his location: it's in farmland near Hampstead Norreys (just to the NE of Newbury) and therefore in VC22.
ReplyDelete