I'm also realising how common Psyche casta is here, having found another three larval cases in the greenhouse yesterday. It's a shame the adult males don't show up in the trap.
I haven't put the trap out since the 27th and not much of note in that one, but did get three Waved Black and a nice fresh second generation Clay Triple-lines. Pine Hawk-moth was also new for the year. I also realised that the front of the house won't be used as a trap site again this year, as a nearby wasp nest relocated to it overnight (30-40 insects wasn't much fun!).
Adam Bassett
Marlow Bottom
Hi Adam,
ReplyDeleteI think you are safe there with Stigmella anomalella. The only confusion species on rose is Stigmella centifoliella (uncommon) which has a similar-looking mine but there's usually still an obvious clear margin between the frass and the edge of the corridor in the early part, whereas in anomalella (which is very common) the frass fills the corridor at first. If centifoliella is suspected then it should be reared through because even though the larvae look almost identical the adults are quite different.
In general it is always worth trying to find occupied mines because you then have more evidence available to you when trying to establish an ID.