Traps were out last night with good potential in South East winds. 24 Species recorded, with 2 Dark Sword-grass the highlights of the 4 possible migrants. My first Chestnut recorded and the tiny micro Phyllonorycter messaniella also seen. On the subject of dubious migrants I personally wouldn’t be counting E. angustea, the well established White-point or Turnip ever in that category, the list of common natives that could be possible migrants would be a large one!
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As I trap every night, I see the various broods come and go and get a really good ‘feel’ for what is going on. Consequently, I am able to identify which species are ‘likely migrants’. It’s never an exact science, although Eudonia angustea and Turnip Moth usually show an increase here in numbers when ‘obvious migrants’ are trapped. Quite often the Turnip Moth will show an increase in numbers when Dark Sword-grass arrive – perhaps travelling together?
White-point I consider a ‘resident’ here as frequently caught when the traps are devoid of migrants. However, numbers are occasionally bolstered when migration events occur. I also catch the odd L-album Wainscot out of season, I have two clearly defined broods here of this now well established species. This suggests to me a primary immigrant, so migrants do turn up of resident species.