April done and dusted

Things should pick up quite rapidly now that May is here.  Last night's final garden trapping for April was actually quite good for variety with the following turning up:  Emmelina monodactyla (1), Emperor Moth (1), Chinese Character (1), Red Twin-spot Carpet (1), Ochreous Pug (1), Double-striped Pug (1), Brimstone Moth (6), Brindled Beauty (1), Waved Umber (3), Lesser Swallow Prominent (1), Swallow Prominent (2), Pale Prominent (2), Muslin Moth (2), Least Black Arches (1), Shuttle-shaped Dart (1), Flame Shoulder (1), Clouded Drab (2), Powdered Quaker (2) & Hebrew Character (7).

Ochreous Pug, Westcott 30th April

Lesser Swallow Prominent, Westcott 30th April

Female Emperor Moths do occasionally appear in the trap here but last night's example, a very battered individual, was the first I've had since 2012.  The Ochreous Pug was new for 2019, taking the garden year list to 102 species as of 30th April.  The previous night's catch (29th) had included another Frosted Green.  That species has had an unexpectedly good year here, this being the 14th individual since the first one visited on the 20th - good going for a site with no mature oaks nearby.  In the past the moth has been very sporadic in its garden appearances, generally just one individual every three or four years.

Today produced the garden's first new species for May with this sighting of Bucculatrix thoracella, a regular on our lime.

Bucculatrix thoracella, Westcott 1st May

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks