Some wanderings

As I had a day off today I decided to try and find some Broom shrubs that are now in flower and easy to spot, the reason being behind the fact that Agonopterix assimilella using this as it's foodplant and the larval spinnings should be quite easy to spot.
 

Driving out from Stevenage I noticed lots of bushes in people's gardens, this looked promising and so my first stop would be at Waterford Heath.
NO, a bit at zero bushes found there, but easily distracted by the large amount of Teasels around I decided to pick some to take home to check for Endothenia larvae....more o that later.

Next stop was Panshangar Park, where this rare moth was last recorded on BROOM! So it must be here....somewhere....anywhere? All I found after 90 minutes of walking was Gorse and then I found some! Unfortunately no larval spinnings were observed.

Nevermind, a quick trip across the pond to where a large area of Bullrush were situated and a couple of quick snaps of the easy to find Limnaecia phragmitella (obvious from the huge clumps of frass exploding fro the head).

Now, back to the Teasels
I took 8 heads home, 1 had nothing in it, 5 had Endothenia gentianaeana (no anal comb and reddish head) larva inside, the other 2 had Endothenia marginana (blackish head, anal comb observed) larva inside.

All in all it was nice to get out in the fresh air for a couple of hours.

 

Limnaecia phragmitella Larva

Bullrush emaciated by larva

Endothenia ready for emergence

Endothenia gentianaeana larva

Endothenia marginana larva