Forester search

We had dull and overcast weather conditions for much of this afternoon - perfect for a Forester search!  I visited a couple of private fields near Grendon Underwood, Bucks and the moth was out in both of them although numbers were still fairly low.  They tend not to fly unless the sun is out and I find they're far easier to track down when sitting around on their favourite flowers (mainly Ragged Robin, Red Clover and thistles, although today I also found a couple on Ox-eye Daisies and one on a buttercup stem).  One field, where I recorded 97 individuals on the same date in 2020, produced seven today, while in the other one I found eleven.

Forester on Red Clover, nr Grendon Underwood 29th May

Forester on Ox-eye Daisy, nr Grendon Underwood 29th May

Foresters on thistle, nr Grendon Underwood 29th May

Other species seen included Cauchas rufimitrella, Crambus lathoniellus, Mother Shipton, Burnet Companion and Silver Y, plus this rather splendid Adela croesella:

Adela croesella, nr Grendon Underwood 29th May

While driving around it was very obvious that Yponomeuta cagnagella is having a good season because almost without exception all hedgerow spindle is currently covered in their larval webs.  The plant illustrated below has got off lightly because it still has some greenery present - most have nothing left at all and are thus far more obvious!

Spindle covered in webs of Yponomeuta cagnagella

Larval cluster of Yponomeuta cagnagella almost ready to pupate

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks