Westcott, Bucks

Things have finally started to pick in the garden over the past two nights, with 150 moths of 57 species on Thursday and 185 of 60 species last night.  Last night could have been so much better, though, if there had been a few more micros.  Only eight micro species turned up so they must have been put off by the ever-increasing north-easterly breeze.  New arrivals for the year-list on Thursday included Argyresthia glaucinella, Lyonetia clerkella, Elachista apicipunctella, Anania perlucidalis, Eudonia pallida, Chrysoteuchia culmella, Mottled Rustic, Clouded-bordered Brindle & Ingrailed Clay, while last night's additions were Tortrix viridana, Rhodophaea formosa, Peach Blossom, Privet Hawk-moth, Grey Pug, Beautiful Hook-tip, Miller, Coronet, Small Dotted Buff & Clouded Brindle.

Anania perlucidalis, Westcott 2nd June

Privet Hawk-moth, Westcott 3rd June

Hornet, Westcott 3rd June

Privet Hawk-moth is always a pleasure to see in the trap.  I'm not quite so sure about the Hornet which accompanied it, though!  It is a little early in the season to be troubled by them in woodland, let alone in the garden where it is actually quite a rare beast.  This one was the first here for four years.

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks