Westcott, Bucks

Continuing the trend with lots of moths, last night's much-improved collection of 33 species included my first White-point of the year, nearly a week earlier than the previous first for Bucks which was on 12th May 2015.  Other new species for the garden year-list included Argyresthia trifasciata, Cochylis atricapitana, Notocelia cynosbatella, Spruce Carpet, Broken-barred Carpet, Mottled Pug, Treble-bar, Pale Tussock, Treble Lines, Marbled Minor agg. (retained for checking) & Lychnis.

Cochylis atricapitana, Westcott 7th May

I get Lesser Treble-bar in some numbers here but haven't had Treble-bar in the garden since 2013 so that was a welcome return.  The wing markings aren't always clear cut when it comes to separating those two species so the shape of the claspers at the end of the abdomen should always be checked (for males anyway).

Treble-bar, Westcott 7th May

Treble-bar, Westcott 7th May

Edit:  Lesser Treble-bar added for comparison from the night of 8th May:

Lesser Treble-bar, Westcott 8th May

Lesser Treble-bar, Westcott 8th May

Day-flying species found during my local exercise walk on Wednesday included Elachista argentella, Aethes piercei, Pyrausta purpuralis, Cinnabar & Mother Shipton, while yesterday's walk produced Aethes smeathmanniana, Grapholita jungiella, an as yet unconfirmed Dichrorampha species (most likely plumbagana) & Burnet Companion.

Aethes smeathmanniana, Westcott 7th May

Dichrorampha sp., Westcott 7th May

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks