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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Surreybirder" data-source="post: 1450897" data-attributes="member: 1211">Brian, my understanding is that sloe is quickthorn, which comes out earlier than hawthorn (hence the name). The blossom comes out before the leaf, so the adults are about when the flowers are out. According to Larger moths of Surrey... "A typical site would be scrubby grassland with a good growth of sloe, as isolated bushes rather than thickets, on which the adults can be found resting; the appearance of the sloe blossom being a good guide to when the species emerges.... A suitable method for locating it is for one person to hold a lamp whilst others tap the sloe bushes and catch the moths as they are disturbed."  Of course the sloe pug feeds on the blossom, so it is easier to search for as a larva at about this time of year. So far I've not managed to find one! I must go out again at night with my umbrella <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />Ken</blockquote>