Scarce Marsh Pearl

 

Scarce Marsh Pearl - and true to its name, this moth actually is scarce with only five reports ever in West Sussex and not even mentioned in my Moths or Micro Moths of Great Britain and Ireland, Field Guides. It is probably a migrant species and I do live on the South Coast but  then who knows, it may just be in the process of establishing itself here.

I initially took it to be an Anania or Udea sp. and did not take much notice of it. Fortunately I did take a picture and when I looked at it later the leading edge of the wings looked to be too straight for those species. After some searching I messaged Sean Foote at UK Moth Identification who came back with the answer.

Scarce Marsh Pearl - Psammotis pulveralis

I also had four other moths new to the garden, Oblique Carpet, Buff Arches, Hollyhock Seed Moth and Fleabane Smudge.

Oblique Carpet - Orthonama vittata

Buff Arches - Habrosyne pyritoides

Hollyhock Seed Moth - Pexicopia malvella

Fleabane Smudge - Digitivalva pulicariae

My moth numbers, both of species and quantity are well down this year with the poor weather through July being the main cause. However there have still been a few good moths through the trap.

Early Thorn - Selenia dentaria

Lunar-spotted Pinion - Cosmia pyralina

Herald - Scoliopteryx libatrix

Nut-tree Tussock - Colocasia coryli

Scorched Carpet - Ligdia adustata

Tree-lichen Beauty - Cryphia algae

Diamond-back Marble - Eudemis profundana

Little Ermel - Swammerdamia pyrella

Marbled Piercer - Cydia splendana

Pine Marble - Piniphila bifasciana

Acer Sober - Anarsia innoxiella

Comfrey Ermel - Ethmia quadrillella

The variety in shape colour and patterns never ceases to amaze me but at least it is gradually becoming a bit easier to identify the different species.

Raspberry Clearwing

 

The Clearwing lures worked their magic again in the few hot days we had at the end of June.

I was looking forward to a record year but then July was windy, cold and wet and I didn't even bother taking the lures out of the freezer.

August arrives and with it a few warmer days around the tenth and eleventh of the month. I wasn't really hopeful, it wasn't that warm and I had missed the flight season for some of the Clearwings, such as the Large Red-belted. However, if you don't try you don't find so it was worth having a go. Raspberry, Red-tipped and Six-belted should still have been around until the mid/end of August.

Raspberry Clearwing - Pennisetia hylaeiformis

Some limited success with a single Raspberry in the trap on the 10th and then three more on the 11th but no sign of the Six-belted or Red-tipped.

Raspberry Clearwing - Pennisetia hylaeiformis

It wasn't the successful year I had hoped for but the Raspberry was a lifer for me and took my year list to six, if I include the Orange-tailed seen at Bromley. The garden list also sits at six with the Orange-tailed and Large Red-belted, in the garden, being the key targets for next year.