Finally, some warmer weather after the dismal conditions last week has started the moth numbers building. Been some interesting sightings that are reported below, as well as a reasonably successful meeting on Cavenham heath that will be in a seperate note.
As already reported, the invasion of Plutella xylostella has dominated moth news across the country. Best count here was 213 in one mv trap on the 1st June. Lower numbers after that and of course plenty seen in the daytime too. Next interesting find was also in the daytime. I checked round some old Birch stumps on the course from trees felled a few years ago, something I’ve done many times in the past, looking for exuviae of Large red belted clearwing. Never seen any before but did this time, found at least 6, so a new site record without seeing the moth!
Following this sighting, thought I’d give the LRB pheromone (Cul) a go just in the garden on the 4th when the sun finally came out. After about 10 minutes I spotted a clearwing coming in, but it wasn’t the expected species. It was a Red-belted clearwing! This is a new site record, amazing that I’ve added 2 clearwings to my site list in a few days.
Another nice daytime sighting today (6th), a Broad-bordered bee hawk feeding round Rhododendron flowers, my first sighting this year.
Now trap news. Not much seen on 1st or the 2nd, only around a dozen or so species each night. Did get Mullein on the 1st only the second site record of an adult. Only interesting species on the 2nd was Pammene argyrana. Few more sp on 3rd (27) with late first record for the year of Waved umber plus an Alder moth.
Hopefully with more warm weather numbers will build to more expected levels this week.
Neil
Red-belted clearwing