Peter, many thanks for reply. I did find a huttoni on my front door a couple of years ago which I ID'd on the basis of it's hirsuteness! Do you think there is a good chance that's what these are? Cheers.

An incredible spectacle above Rodden Hive this morning. 10's of millions of Bug nymphs pouring along the ground, I'm not exaggerating the numbers either, I've never seen anything like it. Right across the field and paths. I really don't know what species they are though! @britishbugs.bsky.social

A bit of an assortment last night: 2nd record of Many-lined the best of the bunch. Took a quick photo in the trap, but frustratingly, no sign this morning. Also Ni Moth and 3 Cydia amplana best of rest. Agonopterix purpurea and 2 Limnaecia phragmitella rare enough here to warrant a photo.

Moth traps quiet last night, affected by the stiff easterly I fear. This attractive Spilonota worth a photo though. Also, saw 2 of these tiny, but distinctive Bees on my Butterfly transect. They appear to be female Osmia spinulosa, Spined Mason Bee, and seem to be very localised in Dorset.

Have had a house full of people since last Thursday and some very late nights, especially on Saturday 🤦‍♂️🏐. Little time for updates on here and not much to report anyway, but Webb's Wainscot worth a mention on Friday night. I did find time to photograph this pristine Maple Pug though.

I ran two traps at my inland survey site last night. Rather nonplussed when I saw this in one of the egg trays and it look a couple of minutes for the penny to drop. The Butterbur, a new moth for me and the first Dorset record since 2002. Very few county records. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

For the second year running I've found an Essex Skipper in my Conservatory. The black underside to the tip of the antennae is the diagnostic feature of course. I know that they're nearby on Lorton Meadows, so has no doubt wandered from there.

After a couple of very recent ones on Portland, it wasn't a huge surprise to find this Small Ranunculus in one of the traps this morning. The first I've had here, and I think probably the first Weymouth record? Otherwise, my 2nd ever Satin Beauty best of the rest. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Had this tiny one in May, Steve, which we assumed would be saxicola. Phil checked it and it was in fact maritima! They're very under recorded down here at least, purely because they need gen-det of course. I'm happy to call the big ones binaevella though!

Hi Keith, I had this in the trap very recently and John Walters commented and said it was good for rusticus. I did check this as well: www.cerambyx.uochb.cz/arhopalus_ru... I do not pretend to be a Beetle expert though!

A hint of something going on with 2 Acrobasis tumidana, Bordered Straw, Small Marbled and 6 Small Mottled Willow. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social Agonopterix ocellana and August Thorn were nfy, the latter only my 3rd ever.

I've done a few Butterfly transects this year, and the joint rarest species so far has been this Small Tortoiseshell from today! Equal billing with Clouded Yellow from a couple of weeks ago. Moth traps chugging along, but this Crescent Dart from yesterday worth a mention. Less than annual here now.

Spent some time eyeballing Dragons this morning. Well into double figures of Scarlet Darter at Silverlake, a real spectacle. Back-up cast comprised two pairs of Red-veined Darter and a Keeled Skimmer. Details in ALT.

More busy traps with another Small Marbled, Small Mottled Willow and Ethmia dodecea. Festoon and Plain Pug worth a mention. Least Carpet, M italica and E limbata now occurring virtually daily. Two tiny Hemp Agrimony Plume as well, worthy of a photo for sure.

The best from Rodden Hive were 2 Arctic Skua which came over Chesil Beach before heading back out into Lyme Bay. Some interest in the moth traps with 2 Small Marbled, 3 Small Mottled Willow, Ethmia dodecea and Acrobasis tumidana. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social Best-of-rest was this Aethes rubigana.

A long yomp out to Burning Cliff again this year to check an old site for Fragrant Orchid. Fairly dodgy going on the slippage there! No joy sadly, but did find Marsh Helleborines again, 27 of them around the wet area. Marbled Whites on my Butterfly transect later, showing how male and female differ.

Best Moth from the traps was this rather striking July Highflyer. A hint of something going on with a (bald) Small Marbled, Vestal and 5 Small Mottled Willow. Unusual to see a Tinea pellionella in the trap. Birding at Woodsford produced 3 Red Kite, Green Sand and a Hobby catching a Sand Martin!

I have lots of photos from France last week which I might drip feed. From a UK context, False Mocha is interesting, considered extinct in Dorset for sure. Also, Catocala conversa, one of the species with a yellow hindwing, no UK records yet...And, I had a Jubilee Fan-foot! You couldn't make it up..

Here's a proper camera photo before I released it into the garden. A real stunner!

A bit of Dragon and Damsel watching at Osmington Mills this morning. In order: Broad-bodied Chaser, female Emperor egg-laying, Scarce Chaser and Small Red-eyed Damselfly. Best from the moth trap was a Reddish Light Arches, the first I've had for years.

Moth traps stuffed again today, but the most bizarre occupant was this Red-tipped Clearwing, my first garden Clearwing! Also this very large Dusky Plume which was a new moth for me. The good book says that they don't often come to light. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Have had a chance to risk photographing the Jubilee Fan-foot as it has now been seen by several visiting admirers! Not the best looking moth I've ever caught, but one of the rarest. Also, Hedya nubiferana was long overdue for the garden and these 2 Longhorns, Leiopus sp and Arhopalus sp in the trap

I don't quite believe it, but I appear to have a Jubilee Fan-foot here. I've not dared to try and take a proper photo, so here's a pot shot. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Four traps run at two locations last night meant an early start to get them done before the heat set in. Manic scenes in all traps with insane numbers of Large Yellow Underwing. Photography impossible in these temps as well! Y. irrorella, another Splendid Brocade and D. sylvestrella from home.

I went up to the Trout Farm this evening to set up two moth traps for the night. It was searingly hot in inland Dorset tonight, much worse than being down here on the coast. A pair of Tufties have been there intermittently and tonight, ta-dah, 9 tiny Duckling! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

@rickylambert.bsky.social topped us all today with this cracking little Silver Hook. As far as I'm aware, the first Weymouth/Portland record. He kindly let me pop round to photgraph it this evening. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A few other highlights from last night: Crescent Plume, Marsh Oblique-barred (only my 2nd record), Platytes cerussella and Scoparia basistrigalis.

Weymouth: 23 years after seeing the first three Splendid Brocade from Weymouth, Puddletown and Portland in 2003, I've finally caught my own! This stunning Lesser Stag Beetle flew into my leg at the trap and hence got its portrait taken. Mad night here, 20+ nfy, garden year list not far off 400.

Very busy traps with 15 nfy including a worn Epinotia abbreviana, a new species for the garden. Dingy Footman larva on the fence by one of the traps this morning. Finally, some pics of Scarce Chasers from Osmington Mills this morning, at least half a dozen present.

One more post from France with some micros that were new for me: Dasycera oliviella, Elegia similella, Ematheudes punctella and the rather lovely Idaea ostrinaria (Purple-banded Wave).