Last night`s catch (26/7/25)

 I trapped on three consecutive nights (2th-26th inclusive) though there was nothing really to shout about in my actinic on the following mornings; the 25th & 26th were both better than the rather cold night of the 24th. Essentially, low numbers (many species in ones or twos only) and mediocre diversity, with migrants limited to silver y (several) and dark sword-grass, though painted ladies and red admirals have been prominent by day in the garden. While doing garden work on the 24th (Thursday) a buzzing noise caught my attention and, thinking that it was a hornet, I glanced sideways to have a pretty good view instead of a hummingbird hawk-moth which then (typically) flew off. Mel Jones tells me that she also had one on the same afternoon at her Llansteffan garden and there were reports of sightings in SW England on the same day.

This morning`s trap had four 4-spotted footmen (they are very regular here), with 2 males and 2 females - normally the males predominate, especially at the start of their flight period. The most interesting moth in last night`s trap was Euzophera pinguis, a rather dull-coloured pyralid associated with ash (upon which the larvae feed). Photos below.