15th June 2020

Another good June night as we approach the summer solstice. Three excellent new moths for the garden included two unexpected micros:

[581] Aethes dilucidana

[582] Brown Oak Tortrix

[583] Clay Triple Lines

I've recorded three species of tortricid in the genus Aethes before, however I quickly noted the incomplete median fascia of this individual:

Aethes dilucidana

This feature is diagnostic of A.dilucidana which is a very scarce species both locally and nationally. It hasn't been recorded in modern times in Hunts while there have been only two recent records in Norfolk (in the Broads). I'm not sure how many records there are in VC29 but it has been recorded at Wicken Fen at some point.

Cottenham isn't exactly blessed with many oak trees or indeed woodland so this Brown Oak Tortrix was a surprise occurrence:

Brown Oak Tortrix Archips crataegana

Clay Triple-lines is perhaps a little more expected but still scarce locally. Its just a shame that the individual trapped had clearly had a hard time of it recently:

Clay Triple-lines Cyclophora linearia

A supporting cast included several species recorded very infrequently here:

Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesomella

 

Double Lobed Lateroligia ophiogramma

Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata

21st June 2017

With overnight temperatures remaining high, the catch was good again although not quite as diverse as two nights ago. Three were new for the garden:

[317] Monochroa palustrellus

[318] Anarsia innoxiella

[319] Beautiful China-mark

The two gelechids caused me identification headaches for a while. No Anarsia are illustrated in Sterling & Parsons and I found reference to Peach Twig Borer (Anarsia lineatella) eventually, which seemed to fit. However, thanks to David Griffiths and Bill Mansfield I was pointed in the direction of a paper published in 2017 describing a new species, Anarsia innoxiella, which may be more likely to occur in the region. I sent photos to Steve Fletcher who runs http://www.gelechiid.co.uk/ who confirmed the identification. So, possibly a first for the County?

Anarsia innoxiella

 Monochroa palustrellus was a little easier to work out but is still a fairly local species:

Monochroa palustrellus

Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata

Best of the new for the year bunch was this tremendous Large Emerald, the second record here and in much better condition than last years:

Large Emerald Geometra papilionaria

I've caught Common Emerald on each of the last three trapping nights; last year was the first year that I failed to record this species:

Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria