First Blank Night

The frosts of the past week have probably finished off many of the autumn moth species still hanging around locally.  However, while it has been very poor for moths here at Westcott and included my first blank night of the season on the 20th, I've had at least one of the hardier winter species on every other night even if it was only a single Winter Moth (21st) or December Moth (22nd).  Things improved on Friday (23rd) to the extent that there was a double-digit count from six species:  Plutella xylostella (1), December Moth (3), Winter Moth (3), Scarce Umber (1), Mottled Umber (3) & Sprawler (1).  There was more of the same last night and I suspect that'll be about as good as it gets for the garden until well into the new year. 

Plutella xylostella, Westcott 23rd November

Your Records

Now is a good time to start thinking about getting your Records for 2018 into shape to pass on to your County Moth Recorder.  For those of you who are new to recording moths please have a look at the "Your Records" tab at the top of this page, where everything is explained. 

Moth Atlas

Don't forget that we have what should be an invaluable new resource to look forward to in the spring when the long-awaited Atlas of Britain & Ireland's Larger Moths is due to be published by Butterfly Conservation.  There is a pre-publication offer available here until 31st March which will save you £10.

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks