Some pristine moths at Penhow

 16th May 2021

Penhow Woodlands NNR, Penhow

Decided to stay local for a trap tonight at Penhow Woodlands. Temperatures were around average for the time of year today with partly cloudy skies overhead this evening. 24 Moths of 16 species, so not large numbers of any species here which was expected, but it was nice to see Maiden's Blush, Cream Wave (which seems to be quite regular down here in the south) a pristine Purple-bar and Spectacle Moth.

 

Only one micro turned up tonight, a Pammene regiana (Regal Piercer). It's markings were like a few of the macro moths, pristine.

At some angles it appeared almost black in colour highlighting the yellow dorsal patch even more so. Given this moth is at it's start of emergence in May I guess it was only right to find a newly, emerged micro in excellent condition. The moth uses Sycamore as it's foodplant so distribution should be pretty widespread. However there are not a great deal of records in V35 oddly and it seems only to to found in 'singles'.