Although cooler and wetter than the past weeks, the moth trap put under the wood shed, produced the usual for this time of year.
December Moth (Poecilocampa populi)
This photo does this beautiful moth no justice. Its flight time is October to January, with its food plant again on broadleaf trees. The female is larger in size to the male.
Mottled Imber (Erannis defoliaria).
The moth here is the male. They fly between October and January, a true winter moth. The female is wingless and attracts the male to her by pheromones and therefore to her egg laying food plant, broadleaf trees and shrubs.
Feathered Thorn ( Colotois pennaria)
These have been flying for a good month here, and will do so until early December. Again the larval food plants are broadleaf.
Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)
This non-discript moth is normally flying until mid October, however the mild early Autumn has stretched its season.
The Sprawler (Asteroscopus sphinx)
This moth was first recorded in the Chilterns in 1953, but has spread North and although found in localised sites it is now not uncommon.
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