This particular moth species, a fat brown animal, usually heralds rain in the eastern New England by making a pest of itself around any light it sees. But after weeks of cold, dry winds that blew in a threatening reminder of the 2002 drought, this solo moth seemed to have lost whatever marbles moths possess.

Only it’s now Monday morning, and a few drops of rain have just scudded over the roof. The Farmonline synoptic chart suggests that more might be on the way.

It strikes me that here is a golden opportunity for genetic engineering. Why not wire a few moth genes into a weather forecaster? In my experience, the BoM’s mathematical models are no match for the moth’s dicky knee, or whatever it is that moths use to forecast the weather.

There could be a problem, though. The weather forecaster might be inclined to forecast rain by hurling themselves into the nearest fire.

This would make for dramatic television, but it could be expensive on forecasters.

Unless, of course, we consider cloning as well.