Westcott, Bucks

Catches over the past seven nights have settled down to what I'd normally expect at the end of October with about a dozen species appearing in the actinic trap each time, drawn from exactly 30 recorded over the course of the week.  Sprawler and Brick are now the only species appearing in any numbers, with the remainder often just as singletons.  After an initial burst of activity even the Novembers have quietened down to just one or two per night.

There has been nothing further added to the garden year-list but new moths for this season have comprised Acleris logiana and Mottled Umber.

Acleris logiana, Westcott 23rd October

Mottled Umber, Westcott 23rd October

Once confined to Scotland, Acleris logiana was first recorded in Bucks during 2009 and has spread right across the county now although there are still fewer than 30 records altogether, its larvae feeding on birch.  It appeared in the garden here a couple of times during 2017 then after a two-year gap I had another in January this year which was confirmed by dissection.  It can be quite similar to the slightly smaller elm-feeder Acleris kochiella which is a regular at Westcott. 

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks