Steve Ormerod
@steveormerod.bsky.social
Freshwater ecology, global change, nature conservation; env policy; VP @rspb.bsky.social; Former Dep Chair @natreswales.bsky.social & Joint Committee @jncc.bsky.social Bumbling acoustic guitarist https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/ormerod
Tree-lichen Beauty from last night’s trap in Cyncoed, Cardiff. Looks a long way from home on NBN records - but this is the 3rd this year from Glamorgan alongside 2 from Gwent Cryphia - from the same root as ‘cryptic’ algae - from the green colour #MothsMatter #TeamMoth
Heatwaves are warming our rivers too. Since the 1980s: 👉 Compound air–river heatwaves have tripled 👉 River heatwaves are 114% more frequent, 148% longer, and 95% more intense 👉 By 2100, under high emissions, 98.5% of river and atmospherric heatwaves could coincide. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Threefold increase in atmospheric–riverine compound heatwaves under climate change - Nature Geoscience
Co-occurring atmospheric and river heatwaves have tripled since the 1980s across the USA and Europe, and are projected to become the norm by 2100, according to model simulations.
nature.com
I’m helping save Coul Links. Will you? Coul Links is a beautiful and unique wildlife habitat in the Scottish Highlands. But it is threatened once again with development. Join me in urging Scottish Ministers to say no to this damaging application. action.rspb.org.uk/page/166270/...
Save Coul Links!
Your voice could help save this precious habitat from a new threat of development.
action.rspb.org.uk
The year of the Small Mottled Willow. SMW first turned up here on May 1st - and made up 8% of the total May moth catch. In July, it has been the most abundant species - overall 17% of moths in the garden trap. Spodoptera: wood-ash coloured wings exigua: meagre sized #mothsmatter #migrantmoths
The first Jersey Tiger was recorded in Wales in August 2008 but ‘Moths of Glamorgan’ in 2014 predicted it would become established. My 1st was in July 2018, and this is the 5th this week Euplagia - beautiful slanted stripes on the forewing quadripunctaria - 4 spots on the hind wing #mothsmatter
Box Tree Moths appear to be around here earlier and in numbers this year after lows in 2025 and 2025. Peak is likely for mid September. Cydalima: renowned perspectalis: transparent (-ish) #MothsMatter
Chinese Character: the famous bird-scat mimic. V distinct among the other hook-tips. Cilix glaucata: from the glaucous, sea-green-blue colour. The mark on the wing is said to resemble the Chinese character for ‘mountain’. So, a moth that carries a mountain on its forewings. #MothsMatter
Iron Prominent - slightly faded, but the pose was difficult to resist. Notodonta dromedarius: refers to the very distinctive camel-like humps on the larva. #MothsMatter
First Dot Moth of the year in our Cardiff garden. Melanchra - a black complexion persicariae - from one of the larval food plants. I have a particular attachment to Dot Moths as they were among my first ever catch here - 14 years ago this week #MothsMatter
Buff-tailed Bumblebees in a ramshackle corner of the garden today…
Clouded Border: the Rorschach ink-blot test of moths, with very few ever the same. Lomaspilis marginata. The genus refers to the ‘stained’ or ‘spotted’ fringe, and marginata emphasises the marginal marks #MothsMatter
Single-dotted Wave: a regular but seldom stays for a pic Idaea dimidiata From Mt Ida - where the Gods/Goddesses watched the *Trojan Wars, referencing the ethereal qualities of the whole genus dimidiata: the pattern of marks divides the wing in two #MothsMatter *the aftermath is in cinemas now!
Common Emerald - but not such a commoner by it’s scientific name Hemithea - a demigoddess aestivaria - of summer #MothsMatter
Vapourer. Considered to be uncommon in Glamorgan, and only trapped twice in the garden before this week. Orgyia antiqua. Orgyia implies outstretched arms - as in this image. Not sure why Linnaeus used ‘antiqua’ - meaning ancient or old. Perhaps a comparison with O. recens - the Scarce Vapourer?
New data on insect pollinators show a dramatic decline in hoverflies across Great Britain between 2017–2024. 📉 Around one third reduction in abundance & number of hoverfly species recorded as part of @pomscheme.bsky.social www.ceh.ac.uk/press/new-da... 1/ @jncc.bsky.social 🧪
While we cook in Europe, it's worth remembering that this isn't just a European story. Across the Arctic and other high-latitude regions, temperature anomalies are reaching extraordinary levels, with some areas forecast to be >10–20°C above historical averages. The climate signal is global.
Oak Nycteoline - the first in the garden in 14 years of trapping - conveniently harmonising with my iPhone case. Nycteola revayana: ‘Nux/Nyx’ = night. Revay was a French entomologist. Thinly distributed across Glamorgan and linked to Oak woodland. #MothsMatter
Long-term warming trend for Cardiff, Wales. Plot your own region here: showyourstripes.info/c/europe/uni... #showyourstripes showyourstripes.info/c/europe/uni...
Large numbers of Hydropsyche spp. in last night’s moth trap. The angler’s Grey Flag or Marbled Sedges.
Light Arches from last night. Apamea lithoxylaea - mixing words for stone and wood to reflect the grainy, sandstone coloured wings. #MothsMatter
That's so interesting! I didn't realise one of my favourite moths was named after one of my favourite mammals 😊
The Miller: pretty regular here reflecting how near we are to parkland trees. Beautifully named by Linnaeus after the colour of Mountain Hares: Acronicta (dusk) leporina (hare like). #MothsMatter
Sensitive content warning. The grim sight of many dead fish of several species in my local stream today - Cardiff’s Roath Brook. This is the tragic reality of a serious pollution incident. I know that Natural Resources Wales have been on site and are investigating the possible source.
From hedgehogs and bats to butterflies and newts, the UK’s wildlife is disappearing fast – and our government is letting it happen. I’ve just signed @friends-earth.bsky.social’s petition calling for urgent action. Add your name: action.friendsoftheearth.uk/petition/tel...
Tell the government: act for nature before it’s too late
Add my name Did you know the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world? There’s less wildlife today than in living memory − and it’s still disappearing before our eyes. From hedgeho...
action.friendsoftheearth.uk
