Moth adventure on the high seas

The image of a moth fluttering overland towards a light source is familiar to many of us, but with Autumwatch based on an island we wondered if the same could be said if we went in search of moths over water. Bill joins moth expert Dominic Cousins for a watery, night-time, adventure off the mainland, sailing beyond Brownsea Island and two miles out to sea.

"As far as I know, nobody has ever done this, certainly not off here," says Dominic.

“[Moths] are occasionally seen on cross-channel ferries and it's known that moths migrate just like birds do, so they've got to go over sea, over this completely alien habitat and if they land on the sea they die."

Skies filled with moths

Bill and Dominic head out across the English Channel, sailing two miles out to sea. Once they're in position it's time to turn on the lights in their moth traps and wait. Within just a few moments moths arrive in the traps, indicating that the skies offshore are filled with moths.

"It seems that moths caught in traps like this are usually are only from about a maximum of 25m away, so clearly anything we do catch out here are on there way somewhere," says Dominic.

Moths, of which there are more than 2,500 species in the UK, are crucial for the survival of many bat, bird and mammal species as they are an important part of the food chain. They can be found all over the UK in varying numbers and studies have shown they use both the moon and geomagnetic forces to help them navigate.