The warm weather has helped us Moth trappers record large numbers of Spring Species, Orthosia species seem to have done very well this year with large numbers visiting my Braintree trap, 8 March trapping evenings produced 704 Small Quakers, 66 Hebrew Characters, 116 Common Quakers, 39 Clouded Drab and 14 Twin-spotted Quaker.
A knot Grass was found in a Polytunnel at work which is a very early record for this species which is usually recorded in May through to July.
Micro Moths have started to emerge from over-wintering with both Agonopterix and Acleris species being found in my polytunnels along with Stigmella and Elachista sp, a Leek Moth was also found today, my best find of Spring has been an Agonopterix purpurea [pictured] that was found during last week in a polytunnel, this quite a rare Moth in Essex.
I took an afternoon walk around Layer Wood in Tiptree with the hope of finding Orange underwing Moths flying around the Birch trees, they were easy to find with around 10 seen.
Steve Rolls.