The moth, often labelled the ugly butterfly, might not surprise anyone by its presence in Durham. We’ve all encountered these seemingly annoying creatures, escaping the long, dark winters to flutter around our accommodation lights. However, upon deeper inspection there is so much more to moths than what first meets the eye (which is admittedly not a lot).

Recently, it seems these nocturnal insects have come out of hiding, revealing their true beauty. The RSPB Saltholme nature reserve in County Durham has identified its 500th species of moth, the Reed Minor Moth, which had not been sighted in 50 years.

In a statement obtained by the BBC, Chris Francis, senior site manager at RSPB Saltholme, argues that moths are being unfairly overlooked, asserting that they are “just as impressive and beautiful as butterflies.”