Continuing good conditions (update)



Although winds have been from the north or west rather than the migrant-bringing south, early July nights have been reasonably warm and overcast and moth numbers and diversity at Dingestow have been good (by current standards). Red-necked Footman have appeared on three consecutive nights, along with wanderers such as Phtheochroa inopiana (Fleabane), Calamotropha paludella (Reed), Wood Carpet, Double Dart and Lilac Beauty. All have fewer than 10 previous Dingestow records. Late summer moths are already appearing: Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing and Svensson's Copper Underwing were new for the year on 6/7. Star of the show, however, was a gen det female Scoparia basistrigalis, new for Dingestow (my 536th Micro) on 6/7. It doesn't look like much in the photo, but in the flesh it was big, and the markings all fitted this uncommon species including the black terminal dots. I have caught a few potential basistrigalis in the Wye Valley in the past, all of which proved to be the common S. ambigualis when dissected, so I was pleased that this was finally the real thing.