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Sunday 7 June 2015

Sunny afternoon for mothing

Dicrorampha sequana, looking like a mating pair. Herts extinct from 1966 until yesterday!
Glorious sunshine so headed off to Westland Green to kick out a few moths from the meadow. Very little about, with just one Celypha lacunana in the half hour. Consequently, I moved on to Ash Valley Golf Course footpaths. Much better results with, in less than an hour: 4 cinnabar, 3 straw dot, crambus lathoniellus, Anthophila fabricana and plenty of a micro moth yet to be identified. Also, awaiting identification, a tiny leaf miner moth beaten from a horse chestnut,and resembling Cameraria ohridella, the horse chestnut leaf miner. However, very lively in the pot, so fridged for identification later tonight.
Edit: 2 micro moth species taken have now been identified. Firstly Dicrorampha petiverella, a common and expected garssland micro. Secondly, much more stunning; Dicrorampha sequana, a moth declared extinct in Herts, having not been seen since 1966. A superb find.
Thanks to Graeme Smith for the all important dissection to prove this was indeed the correct identification.
Of note, plenty of swallows an overhead great spotted woodpecker, with young calling from a nearby nest and a hobby over the golf course. First for the parish this year.
Anthophila fabricana: nettle tap moth

straw dot

cinnabar moth

Dicrorampha sequana

Details from Book of Hertfordshire Moths

D. sequana left, D. petivirella right. Note shapes of "saddle"

Dicrorampha petivirella

D. sequana left, D. petivirella right.



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