Bog Myrtle & Peat

The last week has brought tantalising signs of spring, and the most noticeable change has been the sudden appearance of fox moth caterpillars throughout the heather. Fox moths were evident in March last year, and from the blog entry which remarked upon it, I seem to have been quite surprised at how early they were up and about. Maybe I just didn’t spot them when they were out in January last year, but it seems like they are visible on the moor all year round, with the exception of November, December and early January. This year, I will try and follow their movements a little more closely than I did last year so that I can find out precisely what they are up to.

I know that I am looking at the fuzzy caterpillar, and not the subtle black and yellow larvae which was around in mid July, but with all this confusion and intrigue surrounding fox moths, it’s worth mentioning that, despite their huge numbers on the grouse moor, I have never seen an adult alive and on the wing.