9 August 2013 - Cider with Rosy Rustic

Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea)

A moth that might have flown straight out of the pages of Laurie Lee.  Hydraecia means 'a dweller near water' and micacea means 'to quiver' or 'to glitter'. The Rosy Rustic has been recorded before but not photographed and, as this specimen was as fresh as a daisy, it gets its own slot as the representative of the Moth Night catch.  The choice of last weekend certainly guaranteed the trap was full - but with so many Large Yellow, Lesser Yellow and Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings rampaging at every slight disturbance it made recording the other species rather difficult.  No Tiger moths - though they were flying a couple of weeks ago.  Anyway the full record of moths caught will be submitted to the national records.
Meanwhile the White Satin moth eggs have hatched and the tiny creatures are devouring willow leaves and poplar leaves at an astonishing rate.  They chiselled their way out of the egg capsule and fell on the leaves immediately.  A photograph will be posted tomorrow.  First trap since Jane left for other shores - she did a great job this summer.