My count of 71 moths (actually 72 but I gave up on a worn micro) included one which was new for the garden, and several year-ticks.
The new one was a striking micro called Mompha propinquella. Strictly speaking it can be very difficult to distinguish from another Mompha, but that species is scarcer and has a cream inner wing, whereas the one caught last night showed an extremely white inner wing.
 |
| Mompha propinquella |
Actually most of the new for the year moths were impressive-looking beasts this morning. The best, because I have only ever caught one and that was in 2018, was Pale Prominent.
 |
| Pale Prominent |
Also new for the year, in order of spectacular-ness were Black Arches (two), Pebble Prominent, Marbled Beauty, Dusky Thorn, Common White Wave, Ypsolopha dentella, and Yponomeuta ag. The last of these looked like the illustration of Willow Ermine, but as we have an apple tree in the garden was more likely to be Orchard Ermine or Apple Ermine. Unfortunately none of these can be identified to species level without microscopic examination or even DNA.
 |
| Black Arches |
 |
| Pebble Prominent |
 |
| Marbled Beauty |
 |
| Dusky Thorn |
 |
| Common White Wave |
 |
| Ypsolopha dentella |
 |
| Yponomeuta ag |
The top five commonest last night were:
Bird-cherry Ermine 13
Garden Grass-veneer 7
Crambus pascuella 6
Codling Moth 4
Large Yellow Underwing 4
I know moths aren't everyone's thing, but you have to admit they aren't all brown and boring.
No comments:
Post a Comment