Posted in: Meadow Diary
By Neil Pinder
Jun 18, 2007 - 1:30:00 PM

June 2007

An evening’s moth trapping in early June produced 16 species of which 5 were additions to the reserve list. Amongst them were three Elephant Hawk-moths which, in my experience is the commonest of the Hawk-moth species, for I get around twenty a year in my garden trap.

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Newly emerged Elephant Hawk-moth
However, until I started running a trap regularly I had no idea that they were common, and I would have expected such a large and spectacular species to be found quite often. Their larvae can extend and withdraw their front section in the manner of a proboscis and it is this character that gives the moth its common name.

The open day was a success with fine weather and plenty of visitors to keep the wardens busy. The newly cleared path alongside the brook was described favourably and the Chub were kept busy swimming into the cover of an overhanging bush as visitors passed by. Early in the morning another addition to the reserve list, a Grey Squirrel, was present.