Until Sunday I had thought that Small Argent and Sable was a rare moth clinging perilously to a couple of Exmoor sites. Chris and I visited the site near Dunkery first and following instructions from David Ayling found the moth quite easily. It was flying all along a stretch of unburnt Heather, Bilberry and Bedstraw and I counted at least 28 individuals. As we sat back at the car eating sandwiches two even flew over the car.

We then made for the original site on the Somerset/Devon border. I had instructions as to how to follow a footpath up a hill until I reached some trees. On the way to this site I stopped at a suitable looking bit of moorland and found 2 more flying there. As we reached the original site, all thoughts of a long struggle uphill to the trees disappeared as I spotted one in the hedge as I parked the car!!! This soon turned into several, including some in Devon.

As we sat with our tea and cake in Watersmeet tea gardens I had to wonder what all the fuss was about, this species looks as common as muck :-)

We also saw an inordinate number of this beetle. At first I thought it was Garden Chafer but I am now fairly convinced it is Euchlora dubia. Anyone got any thoughts?