I had another good moth trap this morning – it’s amazing the difference a fully working battery makes! Setaceous hebrew characters, Xestia c-nigrum were the order of the day, with 22 in the trap. This is a common species flying from May – September, the larvae feeding on a variety of herbaceous plants.
Bright line brown eye, Lacanobia oleracea is a pretty little species and one that I haven’t seen at Langford this year until today. They usually fly from May – July, but can fly later in a second generation, which is presumably where this individual has come from. The larvae feed on oraches and goosefoot.
Autumn species are now showing well, with several species this morning. Canary-shouldered thorn, Ennomos alniaria is one of our most striking species and flies from July – October. The larvae feed on a variety of tree species. There were two rosy rustics, Hydraecia micacea this morning, a common and widespread species that can vary greatly in base colour from almost pink-brown to dark brown. They fly from August – October and the larvae feed on roots of a variety of low growing herbaceous plant species. Sallows are a feature of autumn and all species are beautiful, with a range of yellow, pink and brown markings. There were 2 sallows, Xanthia icteritia in the trap this morning, both of the pale form flavescens.
Finally, a species that I haven’t seen for some time, the Miller, Acronicta leporina. This species flies from June – August, the larvae feeding on birch. The photo below shows today’s specimen – a lovely insect!
My butterfly transect this afternoon was also successful, with 48 individuals of 9 species recorded. Clouded yellows are still on the wing in good numbers and I counted 3 on the transect, plus many more on Phase 2. Common blues are still flying in their second generation, which is far better than the first earlier in the year and small coppers are numerous at the moment on the Phase 1 grassland.
And some quick bird news with the 6 dunlin, 3 ringed plover and ruff from yesterday still present on Phase 2 for their second day.