Westcott, Bucks

Between 16th and 31st October a total of 54 different moth species came to light in the garden (16 micro, 38 macro) and even on the coolest nights, of which there were several, there has always been something in the actinic trap by morning.  Last night's catch (31st) was quite reasonable for the period, comprising Blastobasis lacticolella (1), Emmelina monodactyla (1), Red-green Carpet (2), Cypress Carpet (2), Winter Moth (1), November Moth agg. (19), Feathered Thorn (7), Figure of Eight (1), Merveille du Jour (1), Sprawler (1), Red-line Quaker (1), Brick (2) & Barred Sallow (1).   Notables over the two weeks have included further examples of Udea ferrugalis (several occasions), Delicate (17th), L-album Wainscot (17th, 22nd) & Dark Sword-grass (20th), while newcomers to the garden year-list comprised the following:

     (19th)  Acleris hastiana, Musotima nitidalis, Sprawler

     (23rd)  Phyllonorycter messaniella

     (31st)  Cypress Carpet

Of the above, the rather pretty Musotima nitidalis is completely new for the site (Westcott garden moth species number 1,073).  An adventive fern-feeder first recorded in Europe in Dorset in 2009, it is a native of Australia and New Zealand which is thought to have been imported by the horticultural trade.  Allocated ABH number 63.119, it doesn't get a mention in the first edition of the Micro-moth Field Guide (although I'm sure will be in the second edition due out imminently), but it does feature in the splendid Guide to Pyralid and Crambid Moths of Britain and Ireland by Mark Parsons and Sean Clancy which was published last month.  From there we learn that it has spread to all counties in the south-east of the UK, with particular strongholds now in south London and in Essex.  It was first noted in Bucks in November 2020 (Chorleywood) and there have now been several subsequent records, mostly in the south of the county.  In the UK it is supposed to be particularly associated with bracken, but there is none of it out here on the clay so the moth may also be using cultivated ferns in gardens.  

Musotima nitidalis, Westcott 19th October

Cypress Carpet first appeared in the garden in November 2021 when a single individual managed to avoid the camera by landing on our conservatory roof (it was identified from an upstairs bedroom window using binoculars!).  Last night's appearance was the site's second record, and the fact that two of them turned up together suggests that they may at last have found the multiple leylandii in other gardens in our road.  This is another recent UK colonist, first found in Sussex in the 1980s, and has since spread throughout the south-east of the country and beyond.  It took quite a while to reach Bucks (first recorded in 2005), where until the current decade it was confined to the southern half of the county, but there have now been several records further north.   

Cypress Carpet, Westcott 31st October

Other garden firsts for the season although not for the year-list during the second half of October were Mottled Umber (24th) and Winter Moth (26th).  December Moth and Scarce Umber should start appearing any day now.

Mottled Umber, Westcott 24th October

Winter Moth, Westcott 26th October

Noteworthy amongst the common species flying here at the moment are Figure of Eight (27 seen to date, the highest count ever, numbers have been steadily increasing in the garden year-on-year since 2018), Green-brindled Crescent (148 to date, the highest count ever, beating 141 in 2018) and Merveille du Jour (42 to date, second highest count ever, approaching the 46 seen in 2018).  It is good to see that some species are doing well!

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks