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17 May 2019 The eyes have it

Six weeks ago, that kind gentleman Keith Kerr bequeathed to my daughter a quartet of Eyed Hawk-moth pupae. Keith was keen that Maya have the opportunity to watch them emerge into beautiful adult moths. The first two did so this week, and Maya's excitement was a wonder to behold.

Of wild moths, it has still been slow going in the garden. That said, two new macros reached us: Great Prominent and the wonderfully punky Chamomile Shark. There have been three of the latter caught around Norwich in recent weeks, which suggests it might be having a good season.

I will leave you, however, with another hawk - the third Lime Hawk-moth of spring so far. That might even be a record.

Poor catches have largely been down to cold, clear nights. The same conditions by day produces much sun, however. And diurnal inverts have loved this. A Hairy Dragonfly was new for the garden - and a considerable surprise as we are a mile or so from the nearest stream where they occur. More expected were plenty of hoverflies and mining bees around our Choicya, for example.