Blossom Underwing

Many thanks to Richard Bartlett for this image of a smart Blossom Underwing caught in his Nutfield garden on the 1st April (it's certainly no April Fools!). Whilst moths caught on the south coast are often believed to be migrants, our Blossom Underwings are no doubt part of the resident population. Unlike similar early-season Orthosia, this is far from a common 'garden moth', and as far as I'm aware is only well distributed in more rural parts of the county where it requires mature oaks for the larvae to feed on. 

The moths are Blossoming!

A night which was completely clear, didn't promise much, but the day had been warm, so I thought it was worth trying. Boy was it, as I got a total of 200 Small Quaker (with my previous trap, the most individuals of all species I got in one night was 107)! I also got a brand new species. I actually counted 199 Small Quaker, but I made a point of searching all the surfaces outside, in order to get that 200th, which I managed! The new one was a lovely Blossom Underwing.

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24th Mar:

200 Small Quaker

9 Common Quaker

4 Hebrew Character

3 Clouded Drab

3 Twin-spot Quaker

2 Brindled Pug NFY

2 Early Grey NFY

1 Dotted Border

1 Red Chestnut

1 Chestnut

1 Blossom Underwing NFM

1 Oak Beauty

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Brindled Pug

Early Grey

Blossom Underwing