9th Aug...........Vuvuzela hover fly

Nothing new in the trap mothwise, plenty of rainwater tho, but lately I am being plagued by wasps. 70 plus wasps in two traps the previous night and 30 plus in the one trap last night. At first glance I thought I had a hornet in the trap but it turned out to be a large hover fly. I havent noticed one of these in the garden before. Pictured alongside a Common Wasp for size comparison is a VOLUCELLA ZONARIA which sounded more like a Vuvuzela as it flew away !

8th July.....Magpie

After a very enjoyable evening at Chicksands Wood, hosted by Andy & Melissa, it was home to check the garden traps. Best weather for a while, warmer with just a hint of a breeze. Waiting for me on the back door, attracted by the kitchen lights, was a very welcome garden first, a spectacular.....................
..................MAGPIE MOTH

on the brick wall near the funnel trap a PALE PROMINENT

SPECTACLE in the skinner, near the house

Two TURNIP MOTHS ensuring I get another trapful next August

A very well marked BUFF ERMINE

COMMON WAINSCOT 35 species of macro and 12 micro including 3 x COPPER UNDERWING and a SVENSSONS COPPER UNDERWING which is the first time I have identified one, having taken the trouble to check the hindwing details.

5th, 6th, 7th, Aug...new micro + 1 unid'd macro

Warmer weather = more moths. A garden "first" for this smart little micro.......
YPSOLOPHA SEQUELLA

micros rule at the mo, I seem to be inundated with SH. SH. DARTS, , COM. RUSTIC aggs and STRAW U'WINGS so it made a nice change to see a few micros and rack my inadequate brain as to the ID.

TRACHYCERA ADVENELLA unless I'm mistaken !

This one I'm not sure of.....any ideas welcome............................ Thanks Ben, hope you've settled in to your new gaff.

FLOUNCED RUSTIC

IRON PROMINENT

LESSER BROAD- BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING

Had to put this fella in.....another slug meets his/her/its end

MARBLED BEAUTY showing orange background rather than my usual white ones

MAPLE PUG

VINE'S RUSTIC

YELLOW SHELL

4th August......Too Cold !

Been away for a few days working in Wales. It was a lot warmer there than Bedfordshire ! Temperatures came close to single figures last night and the trap results reflected this with just 25 moths of 12 species. Among those were a "first for year"
FLOUNCED RUSTIC Results:-
8 Shuttle-shaped Dart
3 Turnip Moth
2 Straw Underwing
2 Buff Ermine
2 Riband Wave
2 Common Rustic agg
1 Small Waved Umber
1 Lime-speck Pug
1 Copper Underwing
1 Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 Silver Y
1 Flounced Rustic
We need another 10 degrees at night !

Month ends on a Sallow note

The last few days have seen temperatures fall and numbers down. Here are the highlights for 28th - 31st July. Star of the show is this
BORDERED SALLOW

least but not last........

LEAST YELLOW UNDERWING

My 17th SMALL RANUNCULUS for the year, an incredible tally.

DOUBLE-STRIPED PUG

SHARK....third one this year

DUSKY SALLOW

KNOT GRASS

a new micro for my garden..........................

DONACAULA FORFICELLA
first for the year and many more to come...

STRAW UNDERWING

this black example completes the set, after previous white, and black & white forms of this.....

PEPPERED MOTH