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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 OCTOBER 2021 9 ALMANAC Fast art Nature Notebook 783. Crimson-speckled flunkey MOST moths are drab coloured. Their palette is generally subdued browns, greys and blacks, but it makes sense: since most moths fly at night, what's the point of being colourful? Better to have earthy colours for camouflage while they sleep by day. But there are excep- tions. Some moths are active by day, and one such is the exquisite crimson-speckled flunkey (M. is-sbejha), a small white beauty so ar- tistically flecked in red and black you'd think I photoshopped the pic! But this jewel really does exist, and it could be out there now flitting among autumn flowers making the best of our balmy weath- er. One of the foodplants of its caterpillar is borage, a plant most everyone considers a useless weed and therefore sprayed into obliv- ion. Robbed of their food, the caterpillars starve and an uncommon species becomes even rarer. Victor Falzon, Raymond Vella www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 675: Find out more about Maltese nature on our blog: www. foemalta.org/plantofthemonth October Flower of the Month: Autumn Squill, MT: Għansar tal-Ħarifa ENTER Autumn! (or so we hope...for the sake of all farmers, all wildlife and all gardens in need of some rest from the heat...) The Autumn Squill is the miniature equivalent of the Sea Squill we met last August in our plant of the month. This tiny indigenous flower of less than a cm is a short-lived bulbous plant appearing only after the first autumn rains along paths and in patches with little or no soil. In some places it forms a beautiful white carpet of little stars which despite their inconspicuous size are still crucial for pollinators at- tracting even large butterflies which appear to carry out a delicate balancing act while visiting them. Watch your step! Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation – www.foemalta.org/donate Don't miss this Yoga & Meditation at Lola's Date: 5-26 October 2021 Place: Lola's, Oscar Zammit Street, Msida Through a series of postures (asanas) and the use of breath, inner awareness is enhanced and the asanas become 'meditation in action'. Body, mind and breath are integrated, peace of mind is enhanced and the major systems of the body move towards alignment. Its not just a class, it's an exploration of you, through yoga. Call or message on 79256397 to reserve your spot. 10 euro donation per class. 2point3 Muddled Politics Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Medium: Digital / Printed on Uncoated Paper Instagram: @2point3 Website: 2point3.com Illustrated works by Malta Community of Illustration members