Westcott, Bucks

The first full week of June proved to be a turning point, with much better catches in the garden each night although things still aren't where they should be at this time of year.

     (1st)  57 moths of 33 species, with Pseudoswammerdamia combinella, Anthophila fabriciana, Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Rhyacionia pinivorana, Blood-vein, Purple Bar, Grey Pine Carpet, Willow Beauty & Marbled Minor agg. all new for the year-list.

     (2nd)  147 moths of 62 species, with Coptotriche marginea, Bucculatrix albedinella, Bryotropha affinis, Cochylis molliculana, Hedya pruniana, Eucosma cana, Common Marbled Carpet, Peppered Moth, Light Emerald, Orange Footman, Poplar Grey & Middle-barred Minor all new for the year.

     (3rd)  74 moths of 34 species, with Elachista humilis, Anania hortulata, Silver-ground Carpet, Eyed Hawk-moth, Lime Hawk-moth, Small Elephant Hawk-moth & Shears all new for the year.   

     (4th)  43 moths of 27 species, with Plutella xylostella & Eudonia angustea both new for the year.

     (5th)  88 moths of 38 species, with Phtheochroa rugosana, Nephopterix angustella, Clouded Border & Privet Hawk-moth all new for the year.

     (6th)  127 moths of 51 species, with Ptycholoma lecheana, Elephant Hawk-moth, Iron Prominent, Setaceous Hebrew Character & Vine's Rustic all new for the year. 

     (7th)  76 moths of 40 species, with Myelois circumvoluta, Small Dusty Wave, Brown Rustic, Lychnis & Large Nutmeg new for the year.

Bucculatrix albedinella, Westcott 2nd June

Ptycholoma lecheana, Westcott 6th June

Eyed Hawk-moth, Westcott 3rd June

With the help of a handful of daytime micro sightings (Glyphipterix simpliciella on 1st, Pyrausta aurata on 5th, Endothenia nigricostana on 6th and Cacoecimorpha pronubana on 7th) the garden list has just crawled past 200 species for the year, nearly three weeks later than in 2020, so there's still plenty of catching-up to be done.

Cacoecimorpha pronubana, Westcott 7th June

Cacoecimorpha pronubana, Westcott 7th June

Endothenia nigricostana, Westcott 6th June

The male Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana was found resting on a leaf of Hedge Woundwort while I was checking for Endothenias.  It has bright orange hind-wings which are very obvious in flight and these can even be seen from the underside when at rest (as above, shown inside a glass tube).  It appears here most years, more often than not during its second brood between August and October.  We don't grow Carnations so it is presumably feeding on something else in the garden.  

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks