The Pugs have Arrived

Summary of Moth Catch Sunday, 8th May

9.00 p.m. - Dawn

Minimum temperature 8.4 degrees centigrade

15w Actinic Skinner Moth Trap

6 x Heart and Dart
2 x Shuttle-shaped Dart

plus 3 of the "I am a nightmare to identify" pugs! One is so worn with one wing half missing that it is more or less unidentifiable although the few markings I can make out on the one full wing suggest brindled or mottled. The other 2, although worn, look more or less identical to each other and, after an hour or more looking through books and trawling the internet, my best guess is common pug (although grey pug comes a close second). There is absolutely no chance of taking a photo as even after a couple of hours in the salad drawer of the fridge they are flying round the moth pots in a blur of wings every time I pick the pots up. So it looks as though they will remain another 3 of my mystery moths.

I must admit I am full of admiration for moth bloggers who manage to get superb photos of pugs with markings that look just like the field guides! In fact, I am off to console myself now by scoffing my one remaining Easter egg :D.

One piece of good news I spotted today is that it looks as if (at long last after several postponements) the new RSPB reserve at Middleton Lakes is opening at the end of the month. Its closer to home than Brandon Marsh so I'm hoping to make regular visits once it has opened. The reserve has been closed to the public whilst various habitat improvements have been ongoing although we did go on a guided walk a few years back and it looked very promising. It will be interesting to see how it has changed.