Oxyptilus pilosellae

Having had no records of it over the past three years, Martin Albertini, Peter Hall and I, accompanied by plume expert Colin Hart, ran traps last night on the Grangelands nature reserve and the adjacent rifle range on the edge of Pulpit Hill, Bucks to look for this rare moth.  It was thought to have become extinct in the UK until we rediscovered it in the Chilterns in 2013.  A single example of the moth eventually came to light so we can now say that it is definitely still present at Grangelands.

Oxyptilus pilosellae, Grangelands 3rd August (PRH)

With the "August lull" well under way we weren't expecting much else of note but Grangelands always seems to have a surprise up its sleeve and this time it was a county-first Dewick's Plusia which came to one of Colin's traps just at packing-up time.

Dewick's Plusia, Grangelands 3rd August (PRH)

Amongst the other 150+ species seen were Chalk Carpet, Juniper Pug, Gypsy Moth, Jersey Tiger, Square-spotted Clay, Antler Moth and Rosy Minor.

Chalk Carpet, Grangelands 3rd August

Square-spotted Clay, Grangelands 3rd August

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks