A few species new to my site list including a particularly rare Coleophora. Total species numbers for me have been OK with the lowest at 70 0n 1st and with 107, 116 and 119 on 3rd, 14th and 13th respectively. Hawk-moths have been abundant this year with the Elephant Hawk-moth being a bit of a problem buzzing around the traps and disturbing the other moths. Pine Hawk-moths have been in short supply though with only 4 to date. Large Yellow Underwing is thankfully less common than last year and have been catching a number of Lunar YU but no lesser or Lesser Broad-bordered yet. Ephestia parasitella has been noticeably common this year as too has the Sycamore. One Red-necked Footman so far.
New to my list: Broom, Striped Wainscot, Round-winged Muslin, Tawny Wave, Ovendenia lienigianus (Mugwort Plume, a nice catch), Epinotia nanana, Zeiraphera griseana, Dicrorampha flavidorsana, Chionodes distinctella, Argyresthia trifasciata, Coleophora gryphipennella, C adspersella and C mayrella.
The rarity is Coleophora adjectella. This was captured on 7th July. It is one of a group of similar small (for Coleophora) ochreous species that at rest hold their wings flat showing a triangular outline. They require dissection for identification which is unfortunate when one discovers a rarity. My specimen appeared close to the image of C badiipennella on UKMoths with a slightly deeper ochre distally and more cream at the head end.
I’ve had hardly any Elephant hawks here at IGC, Small elephant has been far more common (so far). Pine hawk was late out with me but is now regular with 1-2 seen each night. First Broad-bordered yellow underwing last night here, and I too have had very few Large yellow underwings. Some of the underwings are known to aestivate in warm weather so this may be why we are not seeing many, they may be hiding away waiting to come in to our traps later this year!
Neil