Just seen a hummingbird hawk in the garden this morning. The MV trap produced a nice August thorn and a rather jaded balsam carpet. This is the first time I’ve seen the latter species here. Late for the first brood and too early for the second, but I’m sure of the ID. We do have small balsam in the garden, but my hunch is that it’s a casual fly-by – as worn butterflies and moths often are. Also last night, the trap attracted a couple of male grow-worms and two or three hornets. The latter are regular at this time of year, but I noticed this morning that, of all the moths they could have selected to chew up, they chose three swallow prominents and two pebble prominents (i.e. all the prominents that were on offer). I’ve no doubt that different moths taste different, but I’m surprised at hornets showing any delicacy about what they dismember.
Tony H.
Great that you have a Hummingbird Hawk-moth Tony and some nice catches too! Second generation Balsam Carpet has been out for at least two weeks as Brian and I caught several at Aldeby in Norfolk.
Thanks for this Keith. So, my balsam carpet wasn’t late – it was early and had lived a full life for at least a couple of weeks!
This is the sort of helpful knowledge that this blog is perfect for.
I’m still waiting for my first alder kitten – I’m always jealous of your success with this species.
Tony.