Cathedrals, Wainscots and...Smarties?

One of the great joys of living in East Kent is the ability to jump on a train and visit the historic city of Canterbury whenever you want. I love it there. Is so full of history, beautiful buildings (including the superb cathedral), fine pubs and quirky people - nowhere else quite like it.

Anyway, we did just that yesterday afternoon for a look around the shops. Whilst meandering along a side street we chanced upon a resting moth on a window sill. I sort of recognised it but wasn't entirely sure it wasn't something else...if you see what I mean. I knew I'd have to jar it and take it home for closer inspection. However, big problem, no jar! So, I rushed to the high street in search of the nearest sweet shop - I knew exactly what I needed! And, of course in this land of chocolate, and once said shop had been located, I found it - a tube of smarties! The perfect makeshift moth tube - and the smarties are quite good too! You see MM is a bit of a chocaholic on the quiet.



Anyway, once home I could clearly see that the moth was a Large Wainscot (above) and not the hoped-for Bulrush Wainscot. Too bad but nice anyway. Actually, the Large Wainscot does occur in Ontario as a very scarce introduction. I've seen it on three occasions in and around Toronto. The larva feed inside the roots and stem bases of Common Reed and pupates amongst the roots.

So, it IS possible to combine shopping, sight-seeing, eating chocolate AND mothing...