GARDEN MOTHS

The moth trap has been operating on a few nights over the last 2 or 3 weeks in the Firs Chase garden. Numbers have been generally low, presumably affected by the cool and wet May delaying many species. The first privet hawkmoth was seen on the 10th June.

Poplar hawkmoths have been seen on several nights since the first one on 29th May.

Nice to see the colourful one green silver lines moth on 10th June as none were seen last year in the garden.

Pale tussocks have made a few appearances over the last fortnight.

A buttoned snout was a nice surprise on 9th June - this once scarce moth has been on the increase in recent years. This is the first record for Mersea.

Another moth on the increase is the toadflax brocade which was first seen in the garden last year and even bred too. Two individuals came to the trap on 27th and 28th May.

Single silver Y moths were seen on 1st and the 10th June.

Several figure of eighty moths have been seen.

A broken-barred carpet is a new one for the garden.

It has been a good spring for the cockchafers with several coming to the trap during the first half of June with eight seen on the 1st June.