Wildlife

James Lowen

The star micro, however, was the absolutely gorgeous Lime Flame Chrysoclista lineella. As its name suggests, this jewel is a lime specialist, and the only times I have seen it are on the trunks of Small-leaved Lime during the day. So it was particularly pleasing to catch one.

These were all enjoyable moths, but the star was a brace of Langmaid's Yellow Underwing, caught alongside a single Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. I should really have photographed them side by side, but the LBBYU escaped while I was positioning it. It transpires that Langmaid's is now widespread and common in Kent: indeed, at this time of year, Dartford friend James Hunter says it is the default Noctua in his garden.

It was reassuring to see that the key ID features were the same on these two Langmaid's as on my new-for-garden Langmaid's in Norwich in late June. Here is the upper side of the hindwing on both individuals: note the discrete orange patch, surrounded by black.

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27 July 2025 London calling: Langmaid's and lime

I don't have enough time nowadays to trap overnight in nice remote locations. Cricket subsumes the weekends (and I've resolved to prioritise that until my body finally decays - which could be next decade or next Saturday), and too much work precludes midweek sallies. So when I do get the chance, even if it is in my parents' garden in south-east London, I eagerly take the opportunity to experience a suite of moths from a different area. I have had some nice mothing experiences there a few times, including catching some little-recorded moths in Kent back during the 2022 heatwave. This year, I trapped there on the nights of 10 and 11 July. Jersey Tiger was my far the most common moth, with 20-25 each night; it is a species that is now in Norfolk, but I've yet to see or catch one there. Gypsy Moth is also routine in London, so a lovely male was appreciated. Of micros, it was good to see Blastobasis rebeli. This was still relatively rare when I caught it in 2022, but apparently has expanded substantially (and it now appears even to be resident in Norwich, so is a garden candidate).

There's also a tentative third feature, which is really useful when viewing a candidate Langmaid's in the pot. This was pointed out to me by Ben lewis a few years ago (to whom thanks) - and has been consistent in the half-dozen Langmaid's I have seen, so is hopefully a good thing to check. It is on the underside of the folded forewing. Look two-thirds along the wing for a black line perpendicular to the costa. The theory is that Langmaid's is dark on the basal (head) side of this perpendicular line, whereas LBBBYU is orange.

And here is the underside of the hindwing, where you can see a nice smooth edge to the outermost black area, lacking the jagged or toothed effect of LBBYU.