Lion Coppice

The Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli) appears to be flourishing in the field to the east of Lion Coppice.  The males of this beautiful insect fly close to the ground at dusk, their almost pure white wings giving them a ghostly appearance.  They often gather together in "leks" where they display in order to attract females.  The females are dull brown with a characteristic pinkish wing pattern and are much harder to spot in the fading light.

The Ghost Moth was once a common sight but it has suffered a dramatic fall in numbers, declining 73% in the last 35 years, which is enough to make it a UK Priority Species.

This discovery should have a bearing on the forthcoming application by Persimmon Homes to build 300 houses on this very field.  The Ghost Moth is covered under Section 41 (England) of the NERC Act (2006) as a species “of principal importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity” and therefore needs to be taken into consideration by the Planning Committee when making its decision.

Now that's a real ghost story.  You can find out more about the Ghost Moth at the Natural History Museum website.