A small tortricoid moth landed on the outside of an upstairs bedroom window yesterday morning and my immediate thought was Pammene rhediella which I see occasionally here around our garden hawthorn. Unfortunately I only got an underside view and the moth flew as soon as the window was opened. However, this afternoon one was netted in the garden and its identity confirmed.
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| Pammene rhediella, Westcott 1st May |
The second half of April was quite poor for new species in the garden, not helped by an absence of a few nights while we were in northern Scotland. By the end of the month the garden list had grown to 84 species, the new additions comprising Caloptilia rufipennella, Chinese Character & Nut-tree Tussock (all 16th), Brimstone Moth (18th), Purple Thorn & Least Black Arches (both 22nd), Pseudoswammerdamia combinella, Agonopterix arenella & Scorched Carpet (all 28th), Incurvaria masculella, Alucita hexadactyla, Aphomia sociella, Oak-tree Pug & Common Wave (all 29th) and Red Twin-spot Carpet (30th). Looking back over the past five years, one (2021) had a lower count with 72 species by 30th April but the others were all higher with counts above 100, the highest being 109 in 2022. While things might seem to have been rather slow of late this isn't particularly unusual and warmer nights expected during May should bring out many more species.
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| Scorched Carpet, Westcott 28th April |
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| Common Wave, Westcott 29th April |
Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks
This echoes the trend in my cold garden in North Bucks, where last year up to the end of April I had 1285 individuals of 75 species, whereas this year a mere 615 individuals of 57 species!
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