Westcott, Bucks

Things have gone quite quiet here with the cooler nights but new-for-year species are still turning up to keep the interest going.  On the 13th I had Acleris sparsana, Beaded Chestnut and Lunar Underwing, while last night produced my fifth Cypress Pug of the season, a Dusky-lemon Sallow and what I think is a Dotted Rustic (awaiting dissection to confirm).

Cypress Pug, Westcott 14th September

Dusky-lemon Sallow, Westcott 14th September

Possible Dotted Rustic, Westcott 14th September

As you can see, the putative Dotted Rustic was in very poor condition but it is a male of the correct size and shape with (to the naked eye) fairly simple antennae and brownish hind-wings.  I haven't had a record here since 2015 but it is certainly one to keep an eye out for at this time of year.  Like some of the Noctua species, Dotted Rustic emerges around July then goes into hiding for the hottest part of the summer before re-appearing about now (it is actually quite similar in size and shape to Lesser Yellow Underwing).  It is another moth whose numbers seem to fluctuate wildly from one year to the next.

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks