Things are still very quiet here, but that's always the case in January. In the fortnight since the 1st of the month there has been a grand total of nine moths attracted to the garden actinic light from only five different species: Acleris schalleriana, Acleris hastiana, Mottled Umber (4), Chestnut & Dark Chestnut (2). Going on past experience I'm unlikely to see Winter Moth now until the autumn, but I would hope to get Pale Brindled Beauty, Spring Usher and Early Moth before the end of January and maybe one or two more over-wintering micros if the weather turns warm enough to tempt them out, although the forecast doesn't look too promising for the next couple of weeks.
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| Acleris hastiana, Westcott 10th January |
I have added one or two other species as earlier stages, including Stigmella aurella (active mines on bramble), Phyllonorycter leucographella (active mines on pyracantha) and Angle Shades (a fully grown larva). Finding Angle Shades caterpillars walking across the lawn towards the light in January or February seems to be almost an annual occurrence here.
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| Mine of Phyllonorycter leucographella, Westcott 7th January (active striped larva visible at lower end of mine). |
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| Caterpillar of Angle Shades, Westcott 7th January |
Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks
Hi Dave, Are most of these moths being found on a surface outside the trap, or finding their way inside? Since 1st January I've had a blank on every night apart from one (9th) and both those moths were on the side of the shed!
ReplyDeleteHi Keith,
ReplyDeleteYou are right - at this time of year few of the moths seem to enter the trap. I find them mostly on the vanes, on the grass or on adjacent windows.