Having managed to go through December without a single blank it was rather disappointing not to get anything at all to the actinic light at Westcott overnight on 1st January, especially considering that it remained so mild. So, just to get me off the mark in the garden for this year, before the rain came this afternoon I spent five minutes outside looking at bramble leaves and, sure enough, found four active mines of Stigmella aurella straight away. The larvae can be found feeding throughout the winter months and at this time of year there is no possible confusion with Stigmella splendidissimella.
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| Mine of Stigmella aurella on bramble, Westcott 2nd January |
I did get to see some adult moths on 1st January, though, because I decided to take a single MV trap to nearby Finemere Wood and ran it there for the usual three hours. Only six species put in an appearance, comprising Acleris ferrugana/notana, Winter Moth, Mottled Umber, Spring Usher, Early Moth and Satellite. It will get better...!
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| Early Moth, Finemere Wood 1st January |
Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks
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