Early stages: Argyresthia brockeella

This moth is one of the many whose larvae feed on the catkins of Birch, so has to be reared through for confirmation of ID.  But that said, it is definitely worth keeping a few pots of catkins to see what   emerges.

Whilst there may not be many visible external signs early on, if you keep these in pots you will soon see frass begin to accumulate as it is expelled from the catkin through a small hole.





This moth emerged a few days ago from catkins collected in early January at Fowlmead Country Park near Deal.

 

Early stages: Elachista apicipunctella

Well I didn't have long to wait to confirm the ID of the Elachista sp. larvae found mining Dactylis on the 2nd March.


Mine on Dactylis - housed two larvae


One of the larvae, pre-pupation

The larvae duly pupated a couple of days later and today, 21st March, the adults emerged...confirming the ID as E. apicupunctella.



Dave

A Beautiful Plume indeed

This one was new for the year to the garden MV trap last night, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla,
otherwise known as the Beautiful Plume, which in this case is certainly apt.



Other micros from last couple of nights nothing to write home about: several Epiphyas postvittana, good numbers of Agonopterix heracliana and Emmelina monodactyla.

Dave