The Disturbing Stats of May

Firstly apologies to H.E.Bates for ripping-off the title of his book, but if only we had had the Darling Buds of May then perhaps we would not have such a sorry tale to tell of the garden moths in May 2013.

In common with almost everyone out there I too have suffered a dearth of moths in the garden and have looked back over the last five years to see just how bad things have been.  The stats below show the species and individual totals for the month of May in my back garden, but note that this includes all stages (adults, larvae, cases etc):

2009 - 98 spp, 650 individuals
2010 - 74 spp, 810 individuals
2011 - 137 spp, 1940 individuals
2012 - 89 spp, 685 individuals
2013 - 58 spp, 253 individuals

To lift the mood. A few images to catch up on some of those that did show in May...

Away we go.....

Finally, the moths begin to arrive...much warmer (dare I say almost hot temperatures) have resulted in the expected upturn in fortunes both when dusking and to the garden trap. Macros still predominate to the trap whilst micros continue to be encountered much more when dusking.

And the Puss Moths reared from eggs last year have started to emerge from their long slumber with 5 thus far.  They're crawling all over the kitchen in a "My family and other animals" sort of way....

Catch report - 125W MV back garden trap, East Kent

Cochylis atricapitana
LBAM - 7
Parsnip Moth
Endrosis sarcitrella
Pale Prominent
Waved Umber - 3
Small Waved Umber
Angle Shades
Flame Shoulder - 2
Green Carpet - 12
Common Carpet
Red Twin-spot carpet
Shuttle-shaped Dart
Clouded Drab
Fern
Shears
Latticed Heath

Some photo highlights: