July / August changeover

Steady mothing over the last couple of weeks rather than anything over exciting but certainly better than early summer. Another new for garden from the list of uncommon and local species in the county.

 White Satin - first for garden on August 1st

Buff Arches - always get a handful of these each year and had a max on one night of three last year including one in the bedroom

Nut Tree Tussock - these arrive in two generations with records in April / May and July / August

Cloaked Minor - don't get many of these , average just two per year so far

Common Emerald - average three per year and usually they are battered so good to get one without chunks out of its wings

Start of August update

July was not so good as last year, no doubt the result of the cooler wetter weather. Wychwood Moths recorded just 80 macro species in the whole month compared with 112 in July 2010. Fortunately there were a few good ones in there as previously shared. Here is a catchup on some images taken in the last week or so including a few from the first couple of days in August when thankfully the last three warm nights have increased the volumes and the species count has gone back above my "aim" of 30+ per night.

Currant Pug

Maple Pug - this tiny one just reached 8mm on the ruler for the forewing length

Small Rivulet - rather battered unfortunately

Large Twin-spot Carpet - again rather battered but was a NFG on 1st August

Nutmeg

Heart & Club gallery - lots of variation again. Biggest numbers between mid-June and mid-July with a one night maximum of 23, a little short of the 34 last year.

Grey Dagger agg.

Bright-line Brown-eye

Phoenix - three of these now this year, one of my favourites

Scalloped Oak - had more in 2011, one night max of 3, this one is "peppered"

Dunbar - top image is the darkest one I have had, the vast majority are of the pale form

Cloaked Minor - not had many of these this year