With abundant blackberries ripe on the Brambles and damp, cool mornings this week it has certainly felt like autumn has arrived early.
Ran a couple of traps at home last night as it seemed like there was a slight improvement in conditions with not much wind blowing. First time I’ve trapped on site since the 7th.
Numbers of species continuing to steadily decline, with 54sp noted. No sallows or any other true autumn species trapped yet. No Square-spot rustic either that I know others have started getting. Couple of macros of slight interest – Tree-lichen beauty still present with one caught, plus my second sighting of a Square-spotted clay for the year. Rest of species usual late summer hangers on. Commonest species Plutella xylostella with 30 recorded, probably local breeders rather than an influx of migrants.
Neil
Neil, I put out the trap for a couple of hours last night. Very slow despite being calm and cloudy. My first Treble-bar of the year and, like you, my second Square-spotted Clay but little else of note. And it sounds like the nights are going to get even colder next week!
Mark