It occurred to me that it has been a while since I posted a message here so time for a quick update on what’s been happening in Woolpit.
Trapping on eleven nights throughout July returned on average 56 species per night, with high counts of 76 on the 15th and 77 just three days later. Highlights included Blue-bordered Carpet (6th), a count of 40 Buff Ermine (12th), further records of Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana (after taking the first garden record at the start of the month), Cochylis roseana and Minor-shoulder Knot (15th) – the former being new to the site, Lunar-spotted Pinion (19th), Argyresthia brockeella (21st) and Dark Sword-grass (23rd). Also recorded during July were a scattering of Catoptria pinella and Rhyacionia pinivorana records, and just the odd Small Mottled Willow.
August got off to a good start when Platyptilia pallidactyla (the Yarrow Plume) was added to the garden list on the 2nd. The same night also delivered a second garden record of Flame Carpet. A Drinker Moth on 6th was a less than regular visitor. Despite mostly clear skies on the 9th, the mild conditions delivered two further additions to the site list in the shape of Bucculatrix ulmella and Ypsolopha dentella (the Honeysuckle Moth). Also taken on 9th was an Acleris laterana/comariana, which will have to go for the chop to see if it can be determined one way or the other.
And so to last night (11th) where the undoubted highlight was my second garden record of August Thorn – the first having turned up almost six years ago to the day.
Acleris laterana is flying at present.
Thanks Raymond. I had another look at it last night while photographing bits and pieces and am even more certain that it is laterana. It would only be the second garden record after one in 2006.
Last nights meagre catch included a Red Underwing and a probable Pammene regiana – yet another addition to the garden list