I’ve planted various things in the garden here to try and attract moths in that I haven’t recorded on my site before. I’ve put in Delphiniums to attract the Golden plusia, that was successful. I’ve more recently planted both Purple and Common toadflax for Toadflax brocade and Toadflax pug, and have succeeded with the brocade so far (although only an adult record no larvae yet). I have also grown a lot of Bladder campion from seed to try and attract in the beautiful Netted pug without success, until today that is. Was having a look at the flower and seed-heads for larval feeding damage when I spotted a small geometer larva resting on one clump. Safely potted up, I consulted the books and lo and behold it is a Netted pug. I’ll hang on to it to try and breed it through. So theres a tip for anyone trying to increase their site lists, plant some larval food plants!
I’ve also got Potatoes growing in my garden, will they one day draw in the fabled Death’s head hawk, I wonder?
Neil
I think the Death’s Head is very wishful thinking! I support exactly what you say however. If you have the space in your garden fill it with plants to attract moth and other insect species. They don’t have to be native species either. I grow Genista aetnensis which I believe is proving to be the foodplant for my Phyllonorycter scopariella, Trifurcula squamatella and now Leucoptera spartifoliella.