New species added to the garden list over the past few nights have comprised Epiphyas postvittana (25th), Blossom Underwing (28th), Powdered Quaker (29th) & Brindled Beauty (30th):
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| Epiphyas postvittana, Westcott 25th March |
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| Blossom Underwing, Westcott 28th March |
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| Powdered Quaker, Westcott 29th March |
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| Brindled Beauty, Westcott 30th March |
Powdered Quaker has a number of different forms but in our area only slight variations on this basic sandy colour are those most often seen, although the smart pinkish fringe shown here is perhaps a little unusual. The Brindled Beauty was rather bedraggled, having suffered a bit in last night's rain. Others which braved the weather conditions here last night included Agonopterix alstromeriana (1), March Moth (1), Red-green Carpet (1), Early Grey (2), Satellite (1), Clouded Drab (18), Common Quaker (6), Small Quaker (3), Powdered Quaker (2) & Hebrew Character (17).
The new arrivals take the garden year list up to 57 species, of which 50 have been adult moths. With the prospect of less rain tonight there's perhaps still the chance of one or two more to round off the first three months of the year. Over the past 20 years adult species counts here for the first quarter have ranged between 11 (in 2013) and 57 (in 2021), while the average is 34. This is the fifth year when the count has reached 50 or more and all five have been in the last seven years, which probably tells us something about how our climate is changing.
Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks
Zelleria hepariella and Streamer were added to the garden list last night (31st March), taking the adult moth species count for the first quarter to 52 which makes it equal third highest ever alongside those for 2017 & 2019.
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