March ... In like a lamb, out like a lion. ... Mar 28 - Apr 5

Gale force winds at the tail end of March certainly defied the old proverb, even so I decided to run the garden traps in the vain hope of getting a stray March Moth or Oak Beauty.
These two common early Spring moths are rarely encountered at The Dells and it looks like both species have eluded the 2015 year list.
Brindled Pug is an immediate target right now as I missed it last year for the first time ever, although I spent 10 days in hospital during the height of the flight.
The mothing has been dire of late but will pick up big time from now.
 Species list is 22 down on last year but 11 better than 2013.

March 28 - April 5

28th March
Warm (min. temp. 8.2 deg)
Windy, gusts to 40 mph.
Cloudy.
0998 Epiphyas postvittana, 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla, 1
2187 Common Quaker, 1
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker, 1
2190 Hebrew Character, 1
2243 Early Grey, 2

2189 .. Twin-spotted Quaker

29th March
Cooler, 4.2 deg C min. temp.
Windy, 35mph gusts
light rain clearing
1524 Emmelina monodactyla, 2
2187 Common Quaker, 2
2188 Clouded Drab, 3
2190 Hebrew Character, 1
2243 Early Grey, 2
Larva on garden brick wall, grazing on lichen.
Around half an inch long.(width of a brick seam)
Marbled Beauty, final instar before pupation.

30th March
6.9 deg C min. temp.
Very windy, 70mph gusts.
One trap, sheltered side of house.
The strong gusts were enough to re-arrange my garden furniture, despite this, there were two "adrenalin rush" moths in the trap the following morning ...
2188 Clouded Drab, 1
2243 Early Grey, 1

31st March
2.8 deg C min. temp.
Cold and windy, 30mph gusts
2190 Hebrew Character, 1

Year first Peacock butterfly in garden amongst the Dog Violets, much later than last year (9th March) ...

... however, Brimstone and Tortoiseshell were only 5 days later than 2014

1st April
4.6 deg C, prolonged light rain with a strong gusting breeze.
Traps under rain covers.
0663 Diurnea fagella, 1
2182 Small Quaker, 1
2188 Clouded Drab, 2
2190 Hebrew Character, 3
2306 Angle Shades, 1, year first

Angle Shades

Small Quaker

Year first Bee Fly, warming up on the garden wall, much later than 2014, on the 8th March.

Bee-fly, Bombylius major

2nd April
6.4 deg C min.temp.
Persistent light rain after midnight.
A year first Muslin Moth (male, females are white) arrived on exactly the same day as last year

Muslin Moth

0663 Diurnea fagella, 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla, 1
1862 Double-striped Pug, 2
2063 Muslin Moth, 1, year first.
2187 Common Quaker, 4
2190 Hebrew Character, 3
2243 Early Grey, 3

This tiny Pea Weevil was on the garden shed window.
About 5mm in length ...

Pea Weevil, Sitona lineatus

3rd April
6.8 deg C min. temp. Calm but light rain. Trap covers on.
0663 Diurnea fagella, 1, white, the previous 2 were dark
1524 Emmelina monodactyla, 1
2187 Common Quaker, 1
2188 Clouded Drab, 3
2243 Early Grey, 2

4th April
6.1 deg. C min. temp. Calm, overcast
1524 Emmelina monodactyla, 3
2187 Common Quaker, 3
2188 Clouded Drab, 2
2190 Hebrew Character, 5
2243 Early Grey, 6

5th April
2.4 deg C min. temp. Calm, sharp drop in temp when skies cleared, with a near full waning moon.
1524 Emmelina monodactyla, 2
2187 Common Quaker 2
2190 Hebrew Character 4
2243 Early Grey 3

2015 ... 24 species to date
2014 ... 46 species to date
2013 ... 13 species to date