April in a ‘normal’ year is quite often a quieter period for numbers of moths in traps, as the Orthosias decline and the later spring moths slowly start to appear. So, it was with some surprise I found my 2 traps to be brimming full of moths after running them Thursday night up in the woods. Conditions were perfect during the night with cloud cover and the temperature still 10 degrees first thing in the morning. Took quite a while to sort the catch as there were a good number of micros. In all 32 species were caught, certainly my best night of the year so far. New for year sightings included Pebble hook tip, Shuttle shaped dart, Muslin moth, Caloptilia robustella, Oak-tree pug, Narrow-winged pug, Least black arches, Phyllonorycter quercifoliella and Great prominent. High counts included Brindled pug 61 (2nd highest total), Eriocrania subpurpurella 209 (an under-estimate as many escaped during inspection), Frosted green 43 (highest ever total), Lunar marbled brown 25, Epinotia immundana 10 and Nut-tree tussock 5 (equal highest total).
Hopefully this wonderful spring we are having will continue.
Neil
Things are looking very good at the moment. Quite possibly the mild all be it wet winter has helped as well as the warm spring. We do have a full moon around soon so woodland will give better results. I’ve been surprised by seeing the Eriocranids coming to light everywhere I have been. I haven’t seen them at all in my previous 2 years.