Another garden newcomer

Last night (5th November) it did at least remain overcast to keep the temperature into double figures, even though there was also plenty of rain.  30 moths of 13 species came to the trap including four micros, two of which provided all of the interest because they were new for the year-list:  Povolnya leucapennella and Bedellia somnulentella.  

Povolnya leucapennella, Westcott 5th November

Bedellia somnulentella, Westcott 5th November

Povolnya leucapennella, instantly recognisable with that "beak" of a scale tuft beneath its palps, seems to be a genuinely uncommon moth in Bucks despite the larval food-plant being oak.  There are only six previous records, all from the far south of the county and four of those are from the Rothamsted Insect Survey trap at Burnham Beeches.  Needless to say, this was a completely new moth for the garden.  Bedellia somnulentella has been recorded here previously both as the adult and at the larval stage (active mines on bindweed) but is another uncommon moth in the county although in this case it must be through under-recording. There are only 16 previous records and, again, half of those come from the RIS trap at Burnham Beeches.

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks