100 up

The micro Bryotropha affinis, found flying around indoors last night, proved to be the 100th species for this year's garden list at Westcott.  Achieving that figure by 10th May has been beaten only twice in the last ten years (5th May in 2017 and 6th May in 2011) and the average date for the decade is about 17th May.  Maybe I've just been lucky with new species because the trap contents, especially over the past three days, have been rather poor.  Take last night's effort:  two lights run to see if there was any difference between the type of bulb, the 125wt MV attracting nine moths of six species (Lychnis new for the year) and the twin-30wt actinic managing eight moths of six species (Dagger sp. new for the year).  Results almost equally as dire!

Lychnis, Westcott 10th May

Dark/Grey Dagger, Westcott 10th May

A check of the disused railway cutting west of the village this morning produced Rhopobota stagnana (3), Grapholita jungiella (1), Pyrausta purpuralis (12), Common Heath (5) & Burnet Companion (3).  Unfortunately all three examples of Rhopobota stagnana were the rather boring and drab male - the female is at least a little bit more colourful!

Rhopobota stagnana, Westcott 11th May

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks