Sunday, January 24, 2010

Brindled straw flat-body & common wasp

One of my traps in the garden here at Sedlescombe contained a small, lively moth when I visited on this mild January afternoon.

It was a brindled straw flat-body (Agonopterix arenella), a common and widespread Oecophorid moth in Britain with larvae that feed on thistles and related plants.

20100124 Vespa Agonopterix South View 016

The adults hibernate over winter, but are clearly quite active in mild weather.

Perhaps another consequence of the mild weather was the discovery of a very active worker common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) in the kitchen this morning.

20100124 Vespa Agonopterix South View 002

I know wasp colonies do sometimes survive the winter, but I am not aware of any attic nests this year and it has been extremely cold for some weeks until the last few days.

20100124 Vespa Agonopterix South View 001

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