File:-0420- Argyresthia pruniella (48514507727).jpg

Micro's keep the show going

Another great catch was had on the 29th of July with plenty of new species for the year potted up and tallied. One moth in particular was the highlight, a probable Elachista (Formerly Cosmiotes) stabilella. It looks good for it, and one i've taken before at my parents farm (which was dissected to confirm) specimen retained to double check. It would make Macro and Micro species neck & neck in my garden with 360 species each.

A second Dewick's Plusia was also noted, compared to my previous example it is clearly a different moth which is great.

The year first (late) Pine Hawk-moth was sitting on our garden Pug ornament which gave me a chuckle... I said 'That's a large Pug!'

Of all of the new ones for the year, just one was a Macro. They seem in general to be having a tougher time this year, it's mainly micros in my garden as of late. The theory is that the long dry Spring and early Summer has upset the natural balance of larger moths exiting subterranean pupae, whereas most micro moths rely on silken galleries within folded leaves, crevices in bark or leaf litter above ground.

Garden species count for 2019 now upto 386.

Catch Report - Back Garden - Stevenage - 250w Clear MV Robinson Trap

29/07/19

Macro Moths

Pine Hawk-moth 1 [NFY]

Micro Moths

Agapeta zoegana 1 [NFY] Agonopterix alstromeriana 1 [NFY] Argyresthia pruniella 2 [NFY] Cydia fagiglandana 1 [NFY] Elachista stabilella 1 [NFG] Pyrausta purpuralis 1 [NFY]