Tuesday 18 April 2017

Westcott, Bucks

I happened to notice what I think is a part-grown (9mm) Sloe Pug caterpillar here this afternoon, quite an achievement considering how well camouflaged it was in amongst the blackthorn blossom.  I get the moths regularly in the trap so it would be no great surprise to find that it breeds in the garden. See comments below.

Possible Sloe Pug larva, Westcott 18th April

The actinic trap has continued to pull in at least one new species for the year-list each time it is run, with Brindled Beauty & Bright-line Brown-eye (both 14th), Epiphyas postvittana (15th), Endrosis sarcitrella & Pebble Prominent (both 16th) and Frosted Green (17th) being added over the last few nights.  Neither Frosted Green nor Brindled Beauty appear here every year so they were particularly welcome visitors.  Chocolate-tip continues to visit the trap most nights and seems to be doing really well locally.

Bright-line Brown-eye, Westcott 14th April

Pebble Prominent, Westcott 16th April

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks   
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2 comments:

  1. Christopher Iles21 April 2017 at 23:16

    Hi Dave - the larva has the look of Green Pug, which should also make use of blackthorn blossom (not that I have ever seen the larvae of either species...)

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  2. Dave Wilton22 April 2017 at 17:16

    Thanks for that, Chris. I must admit to having had my own doubts due to the length of the pink stripe and, having now done a bit more research, I think you are quite correct. Mine obviously was in its final instar (it has now pupated) and the image compares well with those on Reg Fry's website for Green Pug.

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