Photo Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Rowan tree and cattle

We have lately been spoiled with amazingly beautiful days and star-filled nights. The phenological autumn has started, about ten days before the equinox – with the colouring of leaves on trees, harvesting of grain and flocks of migrating birds.

The autumn colouring of the tree canopy is however very different from year to year. We ask an expert: Why are leaves more red in some years than in others?

Plant physiologist Evi Padu at the University of Tartu: ”The leaves of deciduous trees lose their green colour each autumn and become many-coloured with yellow, red and purple hues. From an aeroplane it is very well visible above the mid-latitude forests how the green foliage recedes slowly as a well defined frontier day by day towards south.

Text and photos  Aare Lindt, www.loodusmuuseum.ee
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Brown-spot pinion

Brown-spot pinion    Täpik-sügisöölane       Agrochola litura

Today the brown-spot pinion occurs all over Estonia but it is not common. Five decades ago the species was still quite rare and then occurred mainly in western Estonia. The moths fly in deciduous and mixed tree stands from the end of August to early October.

Text and photos  Aare Lindt, www.loodusmuuseum.ee
Translation Liis

Founced chestnut

Flounced chestnut     Puna-sügisöölane          Agrochola helvola

The flounced chestnut occurs in the whole of  Estonia and is quite common. It flies in mixed forests and parks and also gardens from the end of August to the end of September, enduring even the first night frosts.