Rather more interesting than the new arrivals was a fresh Figure of Eighty Tethea ocularis. This year I saw the species on 13 occasions between 17th May and 24th June (its normal flight period) and this fits with the reference books which reckon it flies between May and July in a single brood. However, I think it must be attempting a small second brood nowadays of which my example may be one of the first locally this year. In Bucks we've had quite a few August records now (including one I caught at Weston Turville reservoir on 21st August last year) and I see the latest county database record is for 3rd September (1996). Looking at the French "bible" (Guide des papillons nocturnes de France, Robineau et al) the species is given as flying between May and September with one or two broods dependent upon latitude, while the phenology chart for this species on the Hants Moths web-site http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1654.php even shows an October record.
Figure of Eighty, Westcott 7th August |
Not seen second brood Figure of 80 before; climate warming to blame, perhaps?
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