1 October 2013

30 September 2013 – Beaded Chestnut

Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis)

The last night of September and the rain is still holding off.  This morning there were a number of moths in the trap, many of them looking like they were variants of each other.  This was the most distinctive and I am reasonably confident that it is a Beaded Chestnut – a new species to the gardens.  There were a number of variants and a little research reveals that Agrochola lychnidis (slightly bilious feeder on Lychnis family) appears in a variety of disguises and the larvae dine upon campion, carnations and ragged robin, all found in the quarry garden.  The moth photographed was the most cleanly marked of the half dozen or so that had similar markings.  Red-line and Yellow-line Quakers were present – four of the former and three of the latter – but many of the other occupants were caddis flies and surly looking wasps.  An encouraging catch though so the trap is now set for tonight.