There are still moths on the chalk

I ran a couple of MV traps on some Chiltern chalk grassland not far from Stokenchurch, Bucks last night.  Despite the 'late-summer lull', one of the traps brought in more than 100 species and, while the other didn't do anywhere near as well, it still added about 20 or so to the list.  Amongst the macros recorded were Mocha, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Barred Rivulet & Kent Black Arches but it was the micros which did best of all and included species such as Nemapogon clematella, Roeslerstammia erxlebella, Teleiodes sequax, Acompsia schmidtiellus, Mompha miscella and quite a few which will need closer examination to confirm.  One of the common micros present was the Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana but this is usually a dull moth which has to be identified by the shape of its wings.  It made a pleasant change to see the really well-marked example shown below.

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks