Micro numbers improving

I had thirteen micro species to the garden trap last night which is the best total to date this year.  They included Elachista argentella and Cataclysta lemnata/Small China-mark which were new for the year list (along with Scalloped Hook-tip, Grass Rivulet, Tawny-barred Angle, Willow Beauty, Pale-shouldered Brocade & Silver Y).  Earlier in the day I'd disturbed two further year-list additions while mowing the lawn, the first being Cauchas rufimitrella while the second was Pseudatemelia flavifrontella.  Although not the prettiest of moths, the latter is a Nationally Scarce species which has been recorded in the garden once previously, two years ago (dissected to confirm).  This one would seem to be flying early enough to rule out josephinae which I've never had here, but I'll get it checked anyway. 

Away from the garden, at nearby Woodham, Bucks where I released the previous night's garden moth catch I inspected a large patch of colt's-foot looking for Epiblema sticticana but none was yet flying there.  Instead there were four examples of the plume Platyptilia gonodactyla and another of that smart yellow and dark blue tortrix Commophila aeneana.

Pseudatemelia flavifrontella, Westcott 24th May

Platyptilia gonodactyla, Woodham 24th May

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks