Great Expectations

For the night of 2nd September I had great expectations. Surely, at last, something good must turn up ! I explained to  Jane that I couldn’t miss putting out the moth traps this night due to the migrant prospects looking so good. Having checked the traps around 5.15 am, I was disappointed. Only 46 species to the two traps, the highlights, 3 Silver Y.
At 9.30 I went to clear away the traps. At the 2nd trap, the same spot where I had the Red-headed Chestnut last October, I spotted the Ant-lion fluttering in the grass attempting take-off. I grabbed hold of it and caged it in my hand for 100 metres to where I could safely pot it, as I hadn’t taken a pot with me on this occasion for collecting any last minute finds.
I would put the Ant-lion amongst my top three Insect records to date. I was able to instantly identify it thanks to seeing one on a Suffolk moth group night in Dunwich 3 or 4 years ago. My specimen was released around 7.30 pm on 3 September.

Keith

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