Last few days have been very busy, with good conditions for trapping even though it has rained some of the time.
The night of the 5th, ran 2 traps in the woods around the worksheds and recorded 125sp, my best count of the year so far. Notables included: Blotched emerald (3), Pempelia palumbella, Festoon (4), L-Album wainscot, Shaded fan foot (2), Miller, N. noctuella, Shaded pug, A. assectella, Capatolechia fugitivella and Endothenia gentianeana (new to site). Also the very large and impressive Sawyer beetle (one of the longhorns) trapped.
Was out at the SMG meeting at Oulton marshes on Friday night. That was a very good event which turned into an all-nighter and I’m sure Tony will report on this at a later date.
Took the dog for a walk at Levington creek on Saturday morning, lots of Black horehound there but no sign of N. fasciella. Did see quite a good number of Narrow-bordered five spot burnets flying around the Red clover clumps there however.
Ran a single trap in the garden last night, was woken up by the torrential rain at 5a.m. Went out and closed the trap up and put it in the garage to sort out later and still managed to get soaked even in that short time the rain was so heavy. Checking later found that I had caught around 80sp, and in that catch were Vitula biviella (first record for year), Suspected (again first for year), Lilac beauty and Tineola bisselliella (the Common Clothes moth, not so common these days!) which turns out to be new to the site (hopefully no more will appear!).
So even though it has been pretty wet moths are trying to fly, certainly seems that the peak of the season is now upon us after a bit of a stuttering start. As long as you don’t mind getting wet traps the moths seem to be out there to catch.
Neil