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Flora & Insects
Insects
Spring Gential
Flora
Lough Carra sits at the northern edge of the great limestone sheet that covers much of Counties Clare, Galway and Mayo. The lime-rich soil around Moore Hall produces a great diversity of wildflowers including many orchid species and other rarities such as spring gentian and yellow bird’s nest.
Spring gentian
Bird’s nest orchid
Early marsh orchid on Lough Carra shore
Silver-washed fritillary butterfly
Insects
Dragonflies and damselflies abound and numerous types of bee, wasp and other important insects can be found.
The rich diversity of insect life supports a good population of songbirds. A study of local biodiversity helps us to understand how all living things are interdependent. Please do not pick the flowers - the rest of our wildlife needs them.
The abundance of flowers supports a good range of terrestrial insects, with 25 butterfly species recorded around Lough Carra, together with a great many different moths.
Common blue damselfly
Marsh fritillary butterfly
Did You Know?
Dragonflies and damselflies use their legs to form a basket and scoop insect prey from its perch or even from mid-air.
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