No longer lacking Lackey

It is often tempting to spend more time looking at the gaps in the list of species rather than at the list itself and starting at the top I was aware that everyone else I knew with a moth trap in the county had a Lackey and I had not. As a result I was pleased to finally get one on 25th as a new for the garden. Significantly rarer in the county and missing from everyone else's garden list is August Thorn, so it was rather a surprise to get another one of these as a second garden record to follow on from the previous individual trapped on July 5th 2011.

August Thorn - 25th July. Note the distinctive kink (and almost creating a small blotch) in the crossbar at the front of the forewing which was also a feature on the previous individual caught last year, The inner crossbar also consists of a big parabolic curve.

Lackey - garden first 25th July

Clouded Border - scarce here, only four caught in three summers so far, all in July

Swallow-tailed Moth - up to three flit around the trap on some nights but majority do not end up inside

Snout - not particularly common at Wychwood moths, this is only the fourth trapped

Small Elephant leads the parade

Two warm and increasingly humid nights came with lots of promise. Saturday did not deliver much but Sunday was a lot better.

A few new for the year and one new for the garden which was hidden in the bottom of the trap and clinging on to the last bit of life and subsequently expired in the pot shortly after photo taken.

Small Elephant Hawkmoth - seen better days, NFG 26/6

Vapourer - only one of these in Wychwood Ave last year

July Highflyer - seven of these last year, all in July, so this one is early!

Swallow-tailed Moth - a regular visitor

Reddish Light Arches - regular here on the chalk badlands

Cabbage Moth

Small Dusty Wave - common here

Yellow Shell - common here