April seems like a lifetime ago and what happened in March? I didn't get a trap out at all in March, I must have been......busy. Garden mothing has been important to me for many years now but this year its value has increased incredibly due to the changing world landscape. I didn't set foot outside of Cottenham for the entire month of April, so every cold or clear night was greeted with great disappointment!
Here's a quick summary of garden moths recorded in the first half of the month where I managed a single new macro to the garden:
[556] Lead-coloured Drab
I have scoured Clouded Drabs for many years trying to pick out Lead-coloured Drab to no avail. It was definitely one of those where i thought i was either overlooking it or its just wasn't occurring here. However, I was please to pick this out quite swiftly.
For the third year running I scored with the Emperor Moth lure:
Some other good early spring moths involved three Brindled Beauty (just two previous records here I think) and a fantastic Mullein:
Less stunning but with only a handful of records here is Agonopterix subpropinquella:
My earliest ever Chinese Character was welcome alongside some other expected species:
Here's a quick summary of garden moths recorded in the first half of the month where I managed a single new macro to the garden:
[556] Lead-coloured Drab
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| Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti |
For the third year running I scored with the Emperor Moth lure:
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| Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia |
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| Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria |
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| Mullein Cucullia verbasci |
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| Agnonopterix subpropinquella |
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| Chinese Character Cilix glaucata |
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| Early Grey Xylocampa areola |
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| Streamer Anticlea derivata |
