A spell of cooler weather allows time to take stock of this super June and also catch up on dissections some of which were necessary for this catch at Tangham. I visited the location where in 2014 I had captured a Bohemannia auriciliella. No such luck on this occasion, though I did pick up a number of species that were new to me. Some of these confirmed species continued presence following SMG records some years ago. I’ll start at the small end and move upwards.
Nemapogon ruricolella and Psyche casta males were captured as also at other locations at this time (only one of the P. casta to light). A number of the Tineoidea seem to have very short flying time periods, presumably weather related. I have also been working on Psyche casta life style in my head for a while and have sorted it out now so perhaps I’ll post it as a little story. Phyllonorycter froelichiella was a new species for me (trap close to Alder) that was confirmed by dissection. A single Cosmopterix zieglerella was an an exiting catch of this beautiful moth I had been hoping to see for many years and a Gelechia senticetella was also new for me. Sophronia semicostella was in abundance in the trap in the more open situation where Wood Sage grows so a number of the Wood Sage Plume, Capperia britanniodactylus were also caught. There was a good diversity amongst the Tortricidae mostly commoner species except perhaps for Endothenia oblongana and Epinotia nanana but most notable and a new one for me Archips oporana. Both males and females were caught for this species that has been recorded here by the SMG in the past. Remarkably different appearance between males and females. The Dioryctria on this occasion were sylvestrella and abietella and I captured an Apomyelois bistriatella. Another moth new to me that was unmarked and identified by dissection.
To the macros. A number of Red-necked Footman in common with other locations around this time and a Common Lutestring another species new to me. The pretty Grass Wave and Scallop Shell along with Small Seraphim, Grey Birch and Sharp-angled Carpet that are all routine at Tangham. Plus the beautiful Lilac Beauty turned up. Finally I was really surprised by a Pine Beauty in good condition that I had though were over some time back.
