News from Paul Whorton - from Pickerings Pasture this weekend: Blackneck (Lygephila pastinum).
In Britain, this moth has only one generation, flying in June and July, but it is double-brooded on the continent.
Occupying woodland and marshy areas, it is locally common in the southern half of Britain, with only scattered occurrences further north.
The species overwinters as a larva, which feeds mainly on Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca).
Well worth a visit for those mothy people amongst us
Another Blackneck (Lygephila pastinum) in the trap at Marbury this morning, along with a Silky Wainscot (Chilodes maritimus) and the Pyralid Phlyctaenia perlucidalis.
We too have had Blackneck again this year (after the first three for the garden last year) - on 27th June 2011.
Its also been a good year for new species for us too, with six thus far:- Monopis obviella, Cochylis nana, Acleris notana, Epinotia tenerana, Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula) and Triple-spotted Clay (Xestia ditrapezium). The most surprising moth however is The Fan-foot (Zanclognatha tarsipennalis), which we have recorded in numbers exceeding the previous 20 year totals combined! On more than one occasion its been the commonest moth in the trap, with a peak of 44.
