Agonopterix yeatiana (Alison’s photo above) found by Alison Robertson near Castle Corner.
Alison told us that she went out at dusk on Monday and caught this small moth by the side of the road between Castle Corner and Fishers’ Bush. It turns out to be the first time it’s been recorded in Dumfriesshire!
This species is often found in coastal localities and one of the caterpillar foodplants, Hemlock Water Dropwort, is common around here.
She emphasised that ‘there’s nothing clever or particularly unusual in finding a new species for the county. In most cases it just means no-one has ever looked for it‘ – though we’re sure that it’s a bit of a good thing to add a dot to the Scottish and UK distribution maps!
The moth was returned to where she found it in the morning.
For a little more information, have a look here: www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/agonopterix-yeatiana
Found something unusual in Caerlaverock? Do let us know about it! caerlaverockcommunity@gmail.com