Westcott, Bucks

Well, it was slightly better than the previous week, but with the emphasis on the slightly!  There were still two very poor nights (19th and 20th when it got really cold here).  The 18th was quite interesting because for once the twin-30wt actinic out-performed the MV, the former bringing in 249 moths of 66 species while the latter managed 215 of 58.  I expect that to happen in the autumn but not in high summer.  The garden year list currently stands at 466 which is about 70 behind the same date in 2019.  Additions have been as follows:  

(15th)  Blastobasis adustella, Epagoge grotiana, Eucosma campoliliana, Cydalima perspectalis, Large Twin-
            spot Carpet, Buff Footman, Svensson's Copper Underwing, Slender Brindle
(16th)  Agonopterix alstromeriana, Anarsia innoxiella, Mompha propinquella, Stenoptilia pterodactyla, Lesser
           Cream Wave, Plain Pug, Tree-lichen Beauty, Obscure Wainscot
(17th)  Zelleria hepariella, Ypsolopha scabrella, Oncocera semirubella, Oak Hook-tip, Straw Underwing,
           Small Wainscot
(18th)  Epinotia nisella, Slender Pug, Maple Pug, Canary-shouldered Thorn, September Thorn, Black Arches
(19th)  - nil -
(20th)  Bryotropha domestica, Acleris variegana
(21st)  Oegoconia sp, Notocelia rosaecolana, Catoptria falsella, Wormwood Pug, Magpie Moth 

Oncocera semirubella, Westcott 17th July

Canary-shouldered Thorn, Westcott 18th July

Magpie Moth, Westcott 21st July

 

The Box Moth Cydalima perspectalis (15th) is only the third I've had here following singletons in 2017 and 2018 (none last year) so its slow spread in this part of the world must be something of a relief to local gardeners.  However, I'd be very pleased if the really smart micro Oncocera semirubella (17th) has established itself locally.  It has undergone a massive expansion in range over the past decade and, even though most of our records still come from sites in the Chilterns, its larvae use various trefoils, vetches and clovers so there's no real reason for it to be restricted to chalk grassland.  I've had it here since 2017 and last year six examples visited.  For once Small Wainscot (17th) has beaten Mere Wainscot into the trap and I still await the latter which is normally the more frequent of the pair at Westcott.  

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks