We found this newly-emerged ghost moth (a.k.a. ghost swift moth) Hepialis humuli yesterday on the banks of the River Derwent, downstream from Blanchland. You can see the remains of the pupal case sticking up through the dead grass just below and to the right of the moth which, judging by the wing damage, had a bit of a struggle to hatch out. Initially I though that little metallic green fly that's standing on the moth might have something to do with the tattered state of the moth and its generally sluggish behaviour (maybe a parasite?) but ........
my suspicions were unfounded - it's Microchrysa polita, which breeds in rotting vegetation and dung and was entirely innocent.
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