Bank holiday mothing

I spent my bank holiday in the Grimley and Hallow area searching for all the day-flying micros that should be emerging. The general impression was that there wasn't much about despite the warm and calm conditions - things seem to be a lot later kicking off this year.

Still, there were a few nice things about. Tree tapping and bush bashing eventually got us Cauchas rufimitrella and Adela reaumurella, whilst Mompha epilobiella and Nempagon cloakella provided a mediocre supporting cast. There was a surprising lack of Phyllonorycters - this time last year oak trees were alive with P. muelleriella, but no sign yesterday despite a good search. 

Cauchas rufimitrella

Desperate times call for desperate measures - shaking every branch of an oak in the hope that Phyllonorycter muelleriella would flush. All we got was a Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner.