It seems to be a very good year for the pea family and there is plenty of Sea Pea, Common Vetch, Subterranean Clover and Grass Vetchling flowering now. One of our uncommon vetches has been located close to Camber Castle by Frank Palmer. There is a large patch of Yellow Vetch within 20m of the castle walls to the north east, but don’t be fooled into thinking the flowers are yellow!
Highlight in the Lime Kiln trap this morning was a super female Pale Tussock (below). This is a common species, though less than annual at Lime Kiln. The larvae feed on a wide range of trees and shrubs and used to be a pest on Hop when this was more widely grown, and an alternative name for the furry larvae is ‘Hop Dogs’. Though it looks distinctive to our eyes, the silvery colouring apparently mimics a silk mass, camouflaging it from predators
Pale Tussock female