During the course of various jobs in the Obs garden today we disturbed three different moth species, of which the most interesting from a national perspective was a Mallow Groundling Platyedra subcinerea. Although a pretty common moth at Portland it seems to be designated as Nationally Scarce B and looks to be restricted more or less to the south of a line from Dorset to East Anglia; as a late summer emerger that overwinters as an adult before appearing again in the spring it isn't unexpected to find one now (although judging by our moth-trap records it doesn't usually get seen at this time of year unless it's chivvied from cover like today's specimen was) © Martin Cade: