Eye on Nature: Moths - from concrete camouflage to carnival yellow

Last month I nearly stepped on this moth on a footpath in Cork city. Can they camouflage themselves to their surroundings?

Cathy O’Rourke, Carrigaline, Co Cork

It was the grey chi moth, which blended itself so perfectly on the concrete that it was practically invisible. Many moths have designs that blend with their normal habitat.

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Caterpillar of the pale tussock moth

In mid-September I saw this caterpillar at the top of Capannawalla mountain in the Burren.

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Listening for the whistle on the shore

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Environmental group calls Origin Green a ‘sham’

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Frank Folan, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare

It is the caterpillar of the attractive rich brown fox moth, one of the eggar group of moths.

As I returned to the house at 6.30pm in Terenure, I could see a bright glow in our normally shaded garden, as if we left the light on. A pal a mile away noticed the same.

Brendan McKeown, Terenure, Dublin

It was a Jacob’s ladder in each case. That is a shaft of sunlight escaping through a hole in the cloud cover.

This plant grows among the heather on the mountains in Achill. They are known locally as plainseoga. Supposedly they are of the same family as the bilberry/blueberry (vaccinum), but I have my doubts as the plants look very different.

Dr Thomas McLoughlin, Wexford

It is the crowberry, Empetrum nigrum. Plainseog, according to the Dineen dictionary, is the Irish name for a mountain berry in Donegal and Mayo.

I found this colourful character in my kitchen and wondered if it came in with fruit.

Paul Donohue, Carlow

It is the caterpillar of the pale tussock moth which feeds on the leaves of deciduous trees and also on hops.

Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28F978, or by email at : viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address