SAL strikes again

I don't know why I haven't made more effort in the past with the lure for Sallow Clearwing.  Maybe it is because we only had one strange record for Bucks from Milton Keynes which is quite a way from its main haunts in Hampshire and Dorset, as the distribution map in the BC Atlas shows quite clearly.  Following Sue Taylor's discovery on 11th July (see here) I've now found the moth at three sites in the county, the third being this afternoon in Bernwood Forest where the example below came to the lure at 3.50pm after a wait of 15 minutes along the main ride through Shabbington Wood.

Sallow Clearwing, Bernwood Forest 22nd July

With Steve Trigg having had it in his Cookham garden too, Sallow Clearwing is clearly more widespread in our area than we'd previously thought so I'd urge anyone with the lure to give it a try while the moth is still flying.

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks