Early V-moth on the wing

It was only recently on 29th May that I did a larval search for V-moth among the red currants on the site I monitor alongside the river Waveney. The ones I found were about half way through the larval stage, so just 2 weeks later on Thursday evening (12th) I was quite surprised to find 3 adults in one of the traps. This is easily the earliest date I have recorded the adult. Hopefully this bodes well for another good season at the site for this nationally decreasing species.
A big bright full moon was not helpful, but others of note among the catch of 82 species were Four-dotted Footman, Spinach (8), Double Dart (12), Small Elephant Hawk-moth (which seems to be on the increase in this area as it has turned up at several of our sites this year), Beautiful Hook-tip (a common moth on this site with over 30 counted) and a couple of micros new for the site, Pammene regiana & Ptycholoma lecheana.
Clouded Border was by far the most abundant moth of the evening with over 100 counted.
Similar to what others have reported, very few Hawk-moths at the moment. I usually have good numbers of all the common ones at this site in mid-June, but just 3 Poplar, 2 Elephant and the Small Elephant in the traps on Thursday.

Brian

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