More from the garden

Been a bit lazy recently, both in terms of getting out and about, and in updating the blog. Recent additions have mainly been of the mothy type, a good week with the trap meaning I'm still way ahead of my species total from previous years. Away from the moths I got myself another springtail tick with the blind soil dwelling species Protaphorura armata, several of which were left briefly exposed when I lifted up a flower pot.

Protaphorura armata

The garden is well and truly in flower now, and attracting lots of bees and other pollinating insects. New for the year were several of the common mining bee Andrena flavipes, whilst the red mason bees were busy, but not interested in being photographed. More cooperative were the mint moths that had appeared right on cue, and the shiny Rosemary Beetles that have appeared out of nowhere. There were also several of the common micro moth Argyrotaenia ljungiana, a pretty little species which seems to pop up just about everywhere.

Andrena flavipes

Mint Moth

Rosemary Leaf Beetles getting busy

Argyrotaenia ljungiana

The moth trap had been fairly quiet recently, but was lit up at the start of May by a lovely Chocolate-tip, along with a supporting cast of Chinese Character, Flame Shoulder and the first Cockchafers on the year. The escapee list also continued to grow, with red twin-spot carpet and pebble prominent both showing a clean pair of heels!

Chinese Character

Cockchafer

Chocolate-tip

Flame Shoulder

Briefly breaking up the stream of moths, a very bright 22-spot Ladybird was a nice find in the garden, as was a large red damselfly hawking for aphids. Moths were soon back on the agenda though, with scorched carpet and maiden's blush the best of the recent finds.

22-spot Ladybird

Pale Tussock

Cochylis atricapitana

Garden Carpet

Small Phoenix

Scorched Carpet

Maiden's Blush

Green Carpet

Common Pug

White-shouldered House Moth

Total: 217 Species - see all the photos here

Lifelist 1317 Species Additions: Protaphorura armata and the micro moth Notocelia cynosbatella