A better night

The forecasters got it wrong as usual.  However, this time it was in a good way in that the promised rain held off here until mid-morning, meaning that contrary to expectations last night stayed cloudy but dry.  The moths responded by arriving in much better numbers than on Saturday night, the garden count more than doubling to 228 moths of 58 species.  15 different micro species turned up this time, of which Ditula angustiorana, Hedya nubiferana, Chrysoteuchia culmella and Myelois circumvoluta were new for the year.  New macros included Grey Pug, Elephant Hawk-moth, Four-dotted Footman & Large Yellow Underwing.

Ditula angustiorana, Westcott 9th June

Myelois circumvoluta, Westcott 9th June

Four-dotted Footman, Westcott 9th June

Heart & Dart (64) was the most numerous moth.  Treble Lines (25) came second but must now be approaching the end of its flight season having done very well indeed this year.  Amongst the micros I had another example of Scoparia pyralella which appears below for the benefit of Mark Griffiths.  This is perhaps the easiest of the Scoparids to recognize because it is the most colourful.  The background is whiter than the others and there are obvious areas of brown as well as black.

Scoparia pyralella, Westcott 9th June

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks