Westcott, Bucks

I continue to add species to the year-list at a reasonable rate here in the garden but overall numbers are still nowhere near where they should be.  Recent additions have included Cydia pomonella, Donacaula forficella, Elephant Hawk-moth & Beautiful Hook-tip (all 17th), Cameraria ohridella, Lyonetia clerkella, Tortrix viridana, Acrobasis consociella, Willow Beauty, Dusky Brocade & Plain Golden Y (19th), Teleiodes vulgella, Homoeosoma sinuella, Barred Yellow, Pine Hawk-moth & Green Arches (20th) and Gypsonoma oppressana, Double Dart, Clay & Light Arches (21st).

Double Dart appears here most years but is still nice to see (despite this example being a little the worse for wear!) because it is one of the moths which has suffered a major decline over the past 30 years or so.  For the third year running the little tortrix Gypsonoma oppressana has made it into the garden from the local black poplars so I fail to see why the much larger Hornet Moth, which I know uses the same trees, can't also be tempted here!

Gypsonoma oppressana, Westcott 21st June



Double Dart, Westcott 21st June

Dave Wilton