200 up

Here at Westcott, Bucks moths new to this year's garden list out of last night's collection (219 individuals of 64 species) were Tinea semifulvella, Gracillaria syringella, Cameraria ohridella, Bucculatrix nigricomella, Bryotropha terrella, Bryotropha affinis, Ptycholoma lecheana, Hedya pruniana, Epiblema rosaecolana, Eudonia pallida, Crambus lathoniellus, Parapoynx stratiotata, Blood-vein, Treble Brown Spot, Willow Beauty & White-point, taking this year's total to 207 known species so far.  That's the first time that 200 species has been achieved here in May, the previous earliest being 3rd June (2011).  Best of the bunch last night was the splendid little tortrix Ptycholoma lecheana on its first visit to the garden.

Ptycholoma lecheana, Westcott 26th May

I also ran two traps for the usual three hours in different areas of Bernwood Forest, Bucks and they did quite well with somewhere between 110 and 120 species caught, micros accounting for nearly 50% of the total.  Crassa tinctella would appear to be new to the already very extensive Bernwood list, while it was good to see the first two fresh examples of one of the forest's specialities, Common Fan-foot.

Crassa tinctella, Bernwood 26th May

Common Fan-foot, Bernwood 26th May

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks