Westcott, Bucks

I managed to be away over the early part of this last week, thus missing the "heatwave", but it hasn't been too bad in the garden since my return.  2016 garden list additions over the last three nights have included:

20th  Ypsolopha scabrella, Sorhagenia sp, Acleris variegana, Dichrorampha alpinana, Vapourer, Dusky Sallow.

21st   Phyllonorycter salicicolella, Argyresthia brockeella, Argyresthia goedartella, Roeslerstammia erxlebella, Elachista maculicerusella, Recurvaria leucatella, Batrachedra praeangusta, Acleris aspersana, Eucosma campoliliana, Diplopseustis perieresalis, Acrobasis (Trachycera) advenella, Small Scallop, Haworth's Pug.

22nd  Bucculatrix nigricomella, Phyllonorycter harrisella, Plutella porrectella, Coleophora hemerobiella, Blastodacna hellerella, Cydia splendana, Anania (Ebulia) crocealis, Euzophera pinguis, Small Emerald, Magpie Moth, Straw Underwing, Slender Brindle.

The Sorhagenia from the 20th will need critical examination to get to species (there are three possibilities) and suggests that the buckthorn planted in the garden several years ago, originally for Brimstone butterflies although it is now too shaded for them, has at last come into its own.

Sorhagenia species, Westcott 20th July

However, pride of place goes to Diplopseustis perieresalis on the 21st which is a likely migrant and a first for Bucks.  It is quite small (wing length 7mm) and sits and acts rather like the Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana.  Originally from the Far East, it is now a resident of southern Europe and the Canary Islands.  The first UK sighting was in the Scilly Isles during 2001 and there have since been a handful of records from southern counties, including Hampshire, Surrey, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Diplopseustis perieresalis, Westcott 21st July

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks