Daytime garden activity

Yesterday afternoon I noticed the first small larval web of Yponomeuta cagnagella on our garden spindle, some of the tiny caterpillars being just about visible in the photo below.

Yponomeuta cagnagella larval web, Westcott 21st April

Further adult examples of the hawthorn-feeder Incurvaria masculella were also active, two of them being males which were rather oddly paying particular attention to the lowest branches of our hazel - but then I noticed the female sitting on one of its leaves.  Sadly we don't seem to get Incurvaria pectinea around here (whose larvae do feed on hazel).  Back to hawthorn and a quick glance over one of our bushes produced an example of the very smart purple and red tortrix Pammene rhediella in typical pose, sitting on a developing flower bud enjoying the sunshine. It was quickly potted for the image below.

Pammene rhediella, Westcott 21st April

Pammene rhediella is a common species although undoubtedly under-recorded.  There have been relatively few reported sightings in Bucks, probably because it is mostly active during the daytime.  This was the first confirmed record for the garden since 2010 but I suspect it will have been around unnoticed throughout the intervening period.

     I didn't hold out much hope for recording anything today due to the cloud cover and high winds, but the sun unexpectedly broke through briefly this afternoon and a quick look around when it did produced further activity from Incurvaria masculella and my first sighting here this year of Adela reaumurella.

Adela reaumurella, Westcott 22nd April

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks