Westcott, Bucks

The garden year-list passed 450 species last night so I've finally caught up with 2017 when that total was achieved on the same date, 8th July.  In reality I'll be ahead now because there are a number of micros such as Coleophorids, etc awaiting dissection later in the year.  This shows just how good this year has been for moth species, if perhaps not (yet) for overall numbers.  Mind you, the Footman species have really taken off here now and I had 109 Common Footman to light last night.  Numbers of Yponomeuta evonymella (Bird-cherry Ermine) have exploded over the past week too, last night's total being 69.  I'm also getting very good numbers of Pleuroptya ruralis (Mother of Pearl), Smoky Wainscot and the Uncertain/Rustic pair.  Heart & Dart, Large Yellow Underwing and Dark Arches keep ticking over but their numbers will increase soon enough...

New moth species added to the garden year-list by today have included Opostega salaciella, Cameraria ohridella, Bucculatrix nigricomella, Elachista maculicerusella, Gelechia senticetella, Batrachedra praeangusta, Epinotia nanana, Pammene aurita, Scoparia ambigualis, Nymphula nitidulata/Beautiful China-mark (only my second record here), Acrobasis advenella, Bordered Beauty, September Thorn, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Double Dart & Mouse Moth. 

Following the invasion of carabid beetles on the 4th, I had about 500 more on the 5th but their numbers have now dropped to a relative handful with fewer than 50 last night.  Mark Telfer tells me that the culprit is almost certainly Harpalus rufipes but I have a specimen retained to confirm at a later date.

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks