I trapped my earliest Willow Beauty on Thursday night, a rather small specimen more akin to the late summer third broods, I guess it's pupated a little early and emerged rapidly.
It was good to see some more of the returning common species as well. The temperature stayed just into double figures all night, but with a gusty wind once more by dawn.
The best moth of the night was a slightly worn Depressaria radiella, a moth that should be much more common than it is, this is only the 3rd garden record in 5 years. It feeds from various varieties of Umbelliferae which is prolific pretty much everywhere.
Whether it's not strongly attracted to light? or maybe it is easy pickings to be predated on within the stems of the dead plants over winter, who knows.
After the warm day of 20 degrees on Thursday, I made a trip out as I knew it would be turning cooler at nights now for at least a week.
Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 85 species
16/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap
Angle Shades 1 [NFY]
Iron Prominent 1 [NFY]
Seraphim 3 [NFY]
Spectacle 1 [NFY]
Streamer 1 [NFY]
Iron Prominent 1 [NFY]
Seraphim 3 [NFY]
Spectacle 1 [NFY]
Streamer 1 [NFY]
Willow Beauty 1 [NFY]
Chinese Character 1
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 1
Double-striped Pug 4
Early Grey 2
Hebrew Character 2
Nut-tree Tussock 4
Oak-tree Pug 4
Pale Prominent 1
Pine Beauty 1
Red Chestnut 1
Swallow Prominent 2
Chinese Character 1
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 1
Double-striped Pug 4
Early Grey 2
Hebrew Character 2
Nut-tree Tussock 4
Oak-tree Pug 4
Pale Prominent 1
Pine Beauty 1
Red Chestnut 1
Swallow Prominent 2
Micro Moths
Elachista canapennella 1 [NFY]
Epiphyas postvittana 3
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| Willow Beauty |
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| Angle Shades |
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| Depressaria radiella |
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| Iron Prominent |
.JPG) |
| Seraphim |
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| Streamer |