SELECTION OF MOTHS

The recent warm spell has been ideal for moth activity at the country park over the last week. The most productive night was on the night of the 6th when 400 macro moth individuals were counted in two traps by 4.30am the next morning.

The biggest moth was this privet hawkmoth, found resting on the grass a short distance from the trap. A poplar hawk and an eyed hawkmoth were also logged that night, while the following night two privets were found inside the trap.

The bordered beauty has become an annual visitor to the trap in recent years.

The orange moth seems to have become established at the park in the last few years although this is the first time this darker form has been seen here. This individual is a bit worn and faded in places.

The aptly named swallow-tailed moth is a regular in mid summer in small numbers.

The magpie moth has appeared in good numbers with about ten noted on the 6th.

A scarce silver lines is noted annually in ones or two, not quite as scarce here as the name suggests.

The dot moth is a regular moth at the park. This one is in a good condition with the very black wings and bright white dot standing out.

The golden colouring of the brown-line bright-eye moth often gets overlooked as it Is a widespread moth- fifteen were noted on the 6th.

The common emerald is a regular in small numbers in mid summer with four in one night.

The brightly marked barred yellow is an eyecatching moth when it has newly emerged.

Just under 70 species were noted in the four recent sessions over the last week with nothing unexpected recorded. Beautiful hook-tip, cream bordered green pea, L-album wainscot, and one silver-Y were of interest. A rusty-dot pearl was one of the micro moths noted on 11th.