Thursday 11 May 2017

Quite early records

Some nice recent records, albeit among small numbers coming to the actinic light, in our garden in Wolvercote, Oxfordshire, recently: like others, I've had a recent few Poplar Hawkmoths, the first on 3rd May, which was quite early compared to other years; but also a rather nice Iron Prominent on 23rd April, a Flame Carpet on 29th April and the first of a number of Chocolate Tips on the 30th; also a White-spotted Pug on 6th May -- all of them distinctly earlier than the first records last year. A particular prize was an Acleris literana on 7th May, a garden first and a nice neat little micro; and I've posted below from 6th May a micro some 8mm long, which looks like some Acrobasis species, but is perhaps too poorly marked for positive ID? -- nonetheless, if somebody could help, I'd be grateful.

Chocolate Tip, 30/4/17

Flame Carpet, 29/4/17
Acleris literana, 7/5/17
Mystery micro, 6/5/17

Iron Prominent, 23/4/17

Steve Goddard

2 comments:

  1. Not sure about your micro, Steve, as it seems a bit too far gone to get close to species from that picture. You may well be correct in suggesting a pyrale (although it is very early for most) but it would really need dissection.

    Good to see you are getting a decent supply of Chocolate-tips too. It has already surpassed the most sightings I've ever had in the garden in one year and we've still got the second brood to look forward to yet!

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  2. Thanks, Dave -- good year for them, evidently (and not bad for Brimstones, and last month, Streamers, too).

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