Has anyone else noticed the recent influx of Yponomeutoidea?
I’ve been noticing increasing numbers of evonymella in recent days with 30 in the Bawdsey Hall traps this morning. Also present this morning were 37 Willow Ermine – more of a sudden arrival, as earlier in the week odd ones and twos were about. A few Apple/Orchard Ermines have also been noted.
200+ species were again trapped on the night of 22 July - following the hottest day since July 2006. Micro-lep highlights included Platytes alpinella, Evergestis limbata (three), Green Oak Tortrix (1 – scarce here – probably a disperser), Tachystola acroxantha (first of year), Phtheochroa inopiana, Cochylis molliculana and Lozotaenoides formosanus (two wanderers).
Macros were represented by Leopard Moth, Plain Pug (about 5), Varied Coronet (rare here), Bordered Beauty (rare at Bawdsey – two trapped), Ruby Tiger (first for year), Buff Footman, Shaded Fan-foot, Double Lobed (two), Gothic, Rosy Wave and Oak Eggar.
Other species of interest in recent nights have included Batrachedra praeangusta, Anarsia spartiella, Epiblema costipunctana, Lunar-spotted Pinion, Saltern Ear, Ground Lackey (an all-dark brown female similar to one illustrated in ‘Skinner’), Water Ermine, Fen Wainscot, Blue-bordered Carpet (second for Bawdsey), Small Emerald White Colon and Silky Wainscot.
Very few yellow underwings so far, I can count on one hand how many interjecta and janthe I’ve had; with slightly higher numbers of comes and fimbriata. Not had an orbona for a week or so and pronuba numbers still quite low (thankfully!) Not recorded any janthina yet this season.
Large yellow underwing numbers very low here too. Haven’t seen a lesser broad-bordered this year (was away for a month, June/July). Broad-bordered is at its usual low density. Got my first Least of the year last night, and my first ever Lunar. Also noticing a few willow ermine, double lobed, silky wainscot, buff footman. All unusual for Spexhall!
Only a small number of evonymella here at IGC, with 1 Willow ermine last night the first one for the year.
I’ve had no interjecta, comes or janthe at all so far, with only very small numbers of pronuba and fimbriata. I’ve also had no orbona at all and this is a species that breeds on my site! It may start turning up later in the year however. Also getting very low numbers of Dark arches, with none at all trapped last night (22nd). I know they can be a pest at times in the traps but it is a bit of a worry where these common species are in my area.
Yes I’ve had a small number of the willow ermine and also turned up many of those you note as of interest. Very heavy catch last night. Lots new to my list. One Lesser YU no pronuba – strange!