We've been invaded!

Many insects are British born and bred but a surprising number of very small species, as well as larger butterflies, originate in Europe or even North Africa. When the weather is favourable they may fly north for hundreds of miles and arrive in the UK. In the last week,  south and east England has had a big influx of Diamond-back Moths - and they've arrived in Leicestershire. You'll have to go and look for them though - they're only 15mm long. Their larvae feed on the leaves of many different types of vegetables as well as weeds but they don't do any particular harm. Even the cold weather doesn't seem to have put them off, so get out in your garden and go on a Diamond-back safari :-)


Diamond-back Moth, Plutella xylostella.