Latest news with #moths
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Nature reserve's moths help composer make new music
Music that explores declining biodiversity has been created using the activity of 80 species of moth during an evening at a nature at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology collected data on the moths at Parsonage Down Nature Reserve, near Salisbury, in Wiltshire, and shared it with professional musician Ellie Wilson."I assigned sounds to the individual species of moth," explained Ms Wilson, from London. "As that moth appeared that evening, you hear a sound." Premieres of the 12-minute piece, called Moth x Human and which is played alongside live musicians, will be held at the Southbank Centre and at the Bradford City of Culture 2025. The four-hour recording at Parsonage Down in August detected a variety of different moth species, including elephant hawk, burnished brass, water veneer and ruby tiger Wilson said the data was put through a computer and she attached sounds to the movement of each species and "pressed play"."It's the ebb and flow of their activity that night," she explained, rather than the literal sound of moths, which are usually very quiet."It's like a chat between moths and humans." While Ms Wilson, who is a classically trained composer violinist, admitted it was out of her "comfort zone", she said she wanted to explore biodiversity and the idea to use the insect activity came to her at breakfast one Wilson was then commissioned for the project by the Oxford Contemporary Music charity."The message I'm trying to get across in the music is a celebration of moths," Ms Wilson told the BBC, adding they are important pollinators but are often "forgotten". She worked with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology to get the data."Scientists have automated moth activity systems," she said. "They put them out on different locations to analyse the land. "They have cameras on them - so every time a moth is attracted to the light, the camera takes a picture and they use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify the species."In contrast to the 80 species at the Wiltshire nature reserve, Ms Wilson said data shared with her from farmland where pesticides had been used only detected 19 species of moth. Stuart Hales, from Natural England, which owns the Parsonage Down reserve, said: "National nature reserves are our most important places for nature, so it's exciting to see Parsonage Down providing inspiration for the arts, in addition to being crucial for conservation."The piece will have its first airing in Bradford on 7 June and then will also be played at the Southbank Centre in London on 5 July, as part of a New Music Biennial from the PRS Foundation, which is a free festival.
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The 40p trick to keep moths out of your home this summer – they hate it but it'll make your pad smell super fresh
Abigail Wilson, Senior Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, IF you've noticed the emergence of moths in your home, fear not, we've got just the thing. With spring in full swing, many of us will spot the unwanted insects fly into our homes. 2 Not only can moths find their way into our belongings, make holes in clothes and eat our food, but professional pest control services can cost hundreds of pounds too. Luckily for you, a storage expert has revealed that prevention is key and has shared a purse-friendly trick to help keep the pests far away from your home. And don't worry, there's barely any faff involved. Chris Hutton, an expert from Adams SelfStore, shared a "simple and highly effective solution" that will banish moths for good. And not only will it get rid of moths, but it'll ensure your pad smells fresh too. Chris explained: "While we might find lavender 's scent calming and pleasant, moths find it repellent. 'All you need to do is place a sachet where moths are likely to hide, wardrobes, drawers, or anywhere they can make a home. 'Once they catch a whiff of lavender, they'll make themselves scarce. "Simple as that." The expert recommended placing lavender sachets around homes in places such as "wardrobes, under cushions, in storage boxes, or even inside your pantry to keep moths away from your most vulnerable items." Top Pest Control Tips for Your Yard Not only this, but he warned that although small, moths "can cause big problems". Chris also stressed: "The key to dealing with moths is staying one step ahead. IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass. 'With just a small investment in lavender, you can prevent damage to your belongings." But that's not all, as he claimed that doing so will ensure you "enjoy a peaceful, moth-free home this spring." The key to dealing with moths is staying one step ahead Chris Hutton According to Chris, a 50g bag of lavender can be bought for as little as £2 online. He recommended using just 10g per sachet, which will cost you only 40p per pouch, making this trick great for those on a budget. And with temperatures set to soar and summer right around the corner, there's no time like the present, with now being the perfect time to take action and keep moths at bay.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Rescued giant moths emerge from cocoons in Mexico's sprawling capital
CORRECTS BUTTERFLY TO MOTH - A moth emerges from a cocoon while hanging from a clothesline in the gardens of the Natural History Museum in Mexico City, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) MEXICO CITY — Two moths the size of a hand, their wings patterned with brown and pink around four translucent sections, mate for hours hanging from a line alongside cocoons like the ones they emerged from just hours earlier. 'When I get here and find this, I jump with delight,' said María Eugenia Díaz Batres, who has been caring for insects at the Museum of Natural History and Environmental Culture in Mexico City for nearly six decades. The mating pair of 'four mirrors' moths as they're popularly known in Mexico, or scientifically as Rothschildia orizaba, are evidence that the museum's efforts to save some 2,600 cocoons rescued from an empty lot were worth the trouble. The moths, whose numbers have fallen in Mexico City due to urbanization, have cultural relevance in Mexico. 'The Aztecs called them the 'butterfly of obsidian knives,' Itzpapalotl,' Díaz Batres said. 'And in northern Mexico they'd fill many of these cocoons with little stones and put them on their ankles for dances.' These cocoons arrived at the museum in late December. 'They gave them to us in a bag and in a box, all squeezed together with branches and leaves, so my first mission was to take them out, clean them,' Díaz Batres said. Mercedes Jiménez, director of the museum in the capital's Chapultepec park, said that's when the real adventure began since they had never received anything like this before. Díaz Batres had the cocoons hung in any place she thought they might do well, including her office where they hang from lines crisscrossing above her table. It has allowed her to watch each stage of their development closely. The moths only survive for a week or two as adults, but they give Díaz Batres tremendous satisfaction, especially when she arrives at her office and new moths 'are at the door, on the computer.' So she tries to help them 'complete their mission' and little by little their species recovers. María Verza, The Associated Press
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Moths the size of human hands successfully mate inside Mexico museum
A pair of large moths, which are the size of a human hand, were recently observed mating just hours after hatching at the Museum of Natural History and Environmental Culture in Mexico City. Known locally as "four mirrors" moths, or scientifically as Rothschildia orizaba, their successful mating is a testament to the museum's conservation efforts. Their wings are adorned with a mosaic of brown and pink around four translucent sections and are a sight to behold. María Eugenia Díaz Batres, who has dedicated nearly six decades to caring for insects at the museum, expressed her delight at witnessing the event. "When I get here and find this, I jump with delight," she said. The museum rescued 2,600 cocoons from an empty lot, and the moths' emergence and mating indicate the project's success. These moths, whose population has declined in Mexico City due to increasing urbanisation, hold cultural significance in the region, making their preservation all the more critical. Díaz Batres said: 'The Aztecs called them the ' butterfly of obsidian knives,' Itzpapalotl. And in northern Mexico they'd fill many of these cocoons with little stones and put them on their ankles for dances.' These cocoons arrived at the museum in late December. 'They gave them to us in a bag and in a box, all squeezed together with branches and leaves, so my first mission was to take them out, clean them,' Díaz Batres said. Mercedes Jiménez, director of the museum in the capital's Chapultepec park, said that's when the real adventure began, since they had never received anything like this before. Díaz Batres had the cocoons hung in any place she thought they might do well, including her office where they hang from lines crisscrossing above her table. It has allowed her to watch each stage of their development closely. The moths only survive for a week or two as adults, but they give Díaz Batres tremendous satisfaction, especially when she arrives at her office and new moths 'are at the door, on the computer." So she tries to help them 'complete their mission' and little by little their species recovers.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Rescued giant moths emerge from cocoons in Mexico's sprawling capital
MEXICO CITY — Two moths the size of a hand, their wings patterned with brown and pink around four translucent sections, mate for hours hanging from a line alongside cocoons like the ones they emerged from just hours earlier. 'When I get here and find this, I jump with delight,' said María Eugenia Díaz Batres, who has been caring for insects at the Museum of Natural History and Environmental Culture in Mexico City for nearly six decades.
