Mr & Mrs Lime Hawk

With a lime (Tilia sp) tree in the garden here at Westcott, Bucks and several more around the church just up the road, I should really get Lime Hawk-moth in the garden every year.  That used to be the case up until about four or five years ago but more recently it has become less regular.  All the more pleasing, then, to get a male and female to the trap last night.  There was nothing much else to shout about, though, with the remainder of the catch comprising Pseudoswammerdamia combinella (1), Cnephasia sp (1), Brimstone Moth (1), Swallow Prominent (1), Pale Prominent (1), Shuttle-shaped Dart (1), Powdered Quaker (2), Clouded Drab (1) & Hebrew Character (5).  Few moths but lots of other insects, including loads of assorted diptera and hymenoptera, a bumble-bee Bombus hypnorum, a soldier beetle Cantharis nigricans and a large mayfly.  Thankfully no cockchafers - yet.
Dave Wilton

Lime Hawk-moths, Westcott 8th May