Rare/scarce moths from Totternhoe Quarry 6th July 2013

The Beds Moth Group / Wildlife Trust field meeting at Totternhoe Quarry on the evening of 6th July 2013 was very successful. 112 species seen and great to have over 50 lekking male Ghost moths - a county record!
The best finds are listed below followed by photos of some of them:-

550  Coleophora silenella – first county record – a case feeder on the seed of Bladder Campion. Identified by David Manning by dissection.

595  Elachista biatomella – 3^rd county record – a leafminer of grasses. Identified by David Manning by dissection.

727a  Metzneria aprilella – 4^th county record and first since 1998  - feeds on Greater Knapweed (prev records from Cockayne Hatley RIS trap in 1986, 89, 98)

732 Eulamprotes unicolorella – 2^nd county record and first since 1983 – supposed to feed on St John’s Wort (prev record Cranfield in 1983). Identified by David Manning by dissection.

1240 Grapholita caecana – 2^nd county record – feeds on Sanfoin (prev record swept at Totternhoe Qry in 2009)

1518 Hellinsia lienigianus – 3^rd county record and first since 1999 – potted by Mike Harrison and id by Andy Whitney – feeds on Mugwort (prev records Luton airport & Cockayne Hatley RIS trap in 1999)
1843 Thyme Pug - 2^nd county record and first since two collected at Sharpenhoe in 1948. This one was a female and was identified by dissection. This feeds on Wild Thyme.

Metzneria aprilella

Grapholita caecana

 Hellinsia lienigianus

 Thyme Pug