As mentioned some time ago, at the end of May a bunch of us spent time searching Dyer's Greenweed for larvae of the rare micro-moth Agonopterix atomella on the MoD rifle range at Otmoor, Oxon. It is classified as a species of conservation concern under Section 41 of the NERC Act. Lots of caterpillars were found within spinnings on the larval food-plant, even though nationally the moth itself (and the food-plant) is still in decline thanks to the loss of suitable habitat. I brought home four larvae to try and rear them through and they had all successfully pupated indoors by 15th June. The first adult emerged on 23rd June and the last one did so today. I thought you might like to see what the moth looks like (...not a particularly inspiring species!). The images below show three different individuals.
Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks
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