As I'm sure everyone is aware, this spring has been rubbish for insects - very frustrating for us entomologists! The few moth trapping sessions we have done so far this year have produced a grand total of 0 and there are very few day-flying micro moths around in the reserve's grasslands. In fact the best place for moths in 2013 has been....the office!
A month ago I found a small, but very pretty micro moth in the office toilet and on investigation identified it as Esperia sulphurella. This species has a base colour of chocolate brown and can be variably marked with yellow lines running down most of the wing length and yellow triangles on the leading and trailing edge of the wings. It distinctively has white markings on the antennae, about 3/4 of the way along and rests with the antenna facing forward. It is a fairly common and widespread species in England, with fewer records in Wales and Scotland. Look for it flying during the day in May and June.
Following this, I found another specimen of the same species, also in the office toilet earlier this week!
And continuing on the office moth theme, this lovely cinnabar moth was in the office on Wednesday this week - my first and indeed so far, my only cinnabar for the year. The reserve should be full of them by now flying during the day (and night), laying their eggs on ragwort. The eggs will hatch in a few weeks into the well known yellow and black striped caterpillars that you commonly see on ragwort plants.
And one moth, or moth larva, that we have found outside was this lovely drinker moth caterpillar on Phase 2, also on Wednesday. many thanks to Nicola Craven for the photo.