Earith Moths

October 2011

2011-12-11T13:59:00.002Z

Dissection from October.

Acleris ferrugana, 12th October, 1st garden record:

August 2011

2011-12-11T13:35:00.009Z

Dissections from August.

Coleophora artemisicolella, 2nd August, 3rd garden record:

Parornix betulae, 5th August, 1st garden record:

Bryotropha similis, 10th August, first since 2007:

Coleophora saxicolella, 11th August, 1st since 2007:

Epermenia falciformis, 15th August, first since 2008:

July 2011

2011-12-11T12:44:00.007Z

Dissections from July.

Cnephasia pasiuana, 5th July, caught regularly here but this is one of the first good photos:

Coleophora spinella, 7th July, last caught in 2006:

Coleophora taeniipennella, 8th July, 1st garden record:

Coleophora glaucicolella, 10th July:

June 2011

2011-12-11T11:55:00.011Z

Dissections from June 2011

Haplotinea insectella, 13th June. Trapped several times in the past but this is the first reasonable photo:

Aethes beatricella, 22nd June:

Falseuncaria degreyana, 26th June, 1st garden and 4th county record:

Coleophora prunifoliae, 26th June, 2nd garden record:

Coleophora paripennella, 27th June, 1st garden record:

May 2011

2011-12-11T11:39:00.003Z

Every year I retain a number of the more difficult micros for my county recorder to identify by dissection. The results for this year include 8 new species for the garden and another dozen or so that haven't been recorded here for several years. Photos of all these follow under the moth they were originally trapped. The total number of species trapped in 2011 now stands at 490 and the garden list moves up to 738 species.

I thought this might be a female Incurvaria pectinea but it proved to be my first Lampronia morosa and only the 5th county record:

Lampronia morosa:

11th October 2011

2011-10-12T17:48:00.003+01:00

A beautifully marked female Feathered Thorn was new for the year in a trap with ever decreasing numbers of moths despite the prolonged spell of warm nights. The non-moth interest was a Birch Shield-bug which hasn't shown up in the trap before.

4th October 2011

2011-10-05T08:02:00.003+01:00

I was briefly very excited by this moth-like insect found in the trap this morning. A closer look revealed the wings to be semi-transparent and once it moved a very unmoth-like head and neck appeared. It is a Brown Lacewing - Drepanepteryx phalaenoides.

2nd October 2011

2011-10-03T08:00:00.004+01:00

Another warm but clear night and once more the hoped for migrants stayed away. Compensation this time came in the form of a stunning Merveille du Jour - just the third record for the garden and the first since 2009.

I couldn't resist adding a picture of this amazing bug, the weevil Curculio nucum:

1st October 2011

2011-10-02T07:44:00.005+01:00

A rather dull result in the moth traps was livened up a bit with the presence of a House Cricket and a Dak Bush-cricket, both females.

30th September 2011

2011-09-30T21:13:00.003+01:00

Several successive nights of warm weather have had me hoping for a migrant or two in the trap but so far no luck. Just the 4th Choreutis pariana (Apple Leaf Skeletonizer) for the county that appeared tonight made up for previous disappointment.

8th September 2011

2011-09-09T17:18:00.003+01:00

After several nights of cold, windy, very autumnal weather things calmed down and warmed up. Three species were new for the year: a surprisingly worn Black Rustic, Frosted Orange and a very welcome Small Mottled Willow, the first here since 2006.

2nd September 2011

2011-09-03T09:32:00.002+01:00

A huge female Bulrush Wainscot and the first Centre-barred Sallow of the year were the highlights of a rather disappointing catch given the warm and humid conditions overnight. The number of species is quickly reducing now but numbers of particular species are rising - around 50 each of Large Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic and Flounced Rustic.

Bulrush Wainscot:

24th August 2011

2011-08-25T19:14:00.003+01:00

A tiny but very distinctive micro was the highlight of a fairly quiet night - the second county record of Parectopa oninidis. Several macros were new for the year and included the third garden record of Orange Sallow, much earlier in the year than the previous two records and so somewhat less worn.

Parectopa ononidis:

Orange Sallow:

19th August 2011

2011-08-20T08:08:00.003+01:00

The first Caloptilia stigmatella since 2008 was the highlight of a very busy night where nearly half of the catch 0f 567 moths were Setaceous Hebrew Characters. A very dark tort was easily identified as Eudemis profundana from its bright orange crest. A second Pyrausta despicata for the year was a better marked individual than I've had here before.

Caloptilia stigmatella:

Eudemis profundana:

Pyrausta despicata:

11th August 2011

2011-08-12T21:19:00.004+01:00

A very warm and humid night produced just over 300 moths of 76 species with the micro Monochroa lutulentella new to the garden. Only a few were new for the year with the first Maiden's Blush since 2008, just the second garden record of Epinotia nisella and the first Bryotropha domestica since 2009.

Monochroa lutulentella:

Maiden's Blush:

Epinotia nisella:

2nd August 2011

2011-08-03T19:22:00.002+01:00

Warm and humid again overnight but an influx of thousands of tiny beetles meant that the moths couldn't settle and I suspect many more than usual escaped. There were a few new for the year including one that I suspect will prove to be Ear Moth.

Ypsolopha dentella was just the second garden record, the first being on 2nd August 2004 - 7 years ago to the night.

1st August 2011

2011-08-02T18:54:00.004+01:00

Another warm and humid night produced a good crop of moths, although not in the huge numbers I'd expect at this time of year. Several species were new for the year and two were new for the garden. The beautiful tort Lozotaeniodes formosanus has long been near the top of my most wanted list and didn't let me down when it finally appeared. There have been a few reports of Marbled Clover being seen in Cambridgeshire in the past few days - presumably straying from their stronghold in the Brecks - but it was still a great surprise to find one in the trap this morning.

Marbled Clover

Lozotaeniodes formosanus

31st July 2011

2011-08-01T21:19:00.002+01:00

A definite improvement over the past few days of cool, dry nights with a warm and humid one. Four or five species new for the year, the best of them the second garden record of Epinotia ramella being the first typical form:

12th July 2011

2011-07-13T07:43:00.004+01:00

The final trapping session before a two week break in Lesvos so it was nice to get another addition to the garden list - Lunar-spotted Pinion - as well as several new for the year including the first Bordered Sallow since 2007.

Lunar-spotted Pinion

Bordered Sallow

Yellow-tail

A tort trapped on 11th July has been identified as the second garden record of Endothenia ericetana:

10th July 2011

2011-07-11T18:07:00.005+01:00

A warm and humid night resulted in a huge catch - Chrysoteucha culmella were everywhere and simply uncountable. With several micros still to be identified the eventual total will be over 100 species across the two traps.

The very distinctive crambid Platytes alpinella, normally a coastal species, looks like being new for Huntingdonshire whilst a very pretty Scorched Carpet was new for the garden. The brown form of Agapeta zoegana caused me some grief in identifying it, Lesser Wax Moth was a second for the garden and just the fourth for Hunts, whilst the huge Orthotaelia sparganella was the first here since 2007.

Platytes alpinella

Scorched Carpet

Agapeta zoegana

Lesser Wax Moth

Orthotaelia sparganella

8th July 2011

2011-07-09T07:33:00.003+01:00

Another very damp night produced 5 species new for the year, the best being a beautiful Garden Tiger - the first since 2008 and only the fourth garden record. The biggest surprise though was a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the MV trap - I've not heard of this species coming to light before. The only other migrant in the trap was the first Rusty Dot Pearl of the year.

This was an unusual colour variation of The Dun-bar:

5th July 2011

2011-07-06T20:54:00.005+01:00

With heavy rain forecast throughout the night I very nearly didn't put the traps out - in which case I would have missed several year firsts and two garden firsts, one of which was a superb Striped Hawkmoth. This is just the 5th record for the county.

The other garden first was one of the easier torts to identify - it's the first tort illustrated on the UKMoths website - Phtheochroa inopiana:

Another probable migrant, and the first garden record since 2005, was a rather worn Evergestis extimalis:

3rd July 2011

2011-07-03T19:21:00.003+01:00

After numerous failed attempts I finally managed to get some reasonable photos of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. This one was dashing between clumps of lavender and, for once, hung around long enough for me to get my camera, remember how to change shutter speed, point and click...

27th June 2011

2011-06-30T19:56:00.003+01:00

The busiest night of the year so far with temperatures not dipping below 17C. Several moths were new for the year, two of which had been recorded in the garden only once previously.

Beautiful Hook-tip, first since 2005:

Rhopobota naevana, first for 2 years:

26th June 2011

2011-06-29T18:32:00.002+01:00

Two species in the trap last night that hadn't been seen here for at least 2 years. A slightly battered Dusky Brocade, a moth that has never been particularly frequent locally, was last trapped in 2009. A pristine and surprisingly green Zeiraphera isertana was only the second garden record, the first was in 2008.

Zeiraphera isertana

Dusky Brocade

25th June 2011

2011-06-29T18:23:00.002+01:00

Udea prunalis was the first one trapped here since 2007.

21st June 2011

2011-06-22T20:02:00.002+01:00

Whilst it was a warm, damp night moth numbers were lower than I had hoped for, presumably because of the continuing strong winds. Still, several species were new for the year including the first Lackey since 2008.

15th June 2011

2011-06-17T19:53:00.005+01:00

Over 80 species made for a very busy morning before going off to work. Several species were new for the year, including the first Heart & Club since 2009, but best of the lot was a new micro for the garden list - Carpatolechia fugitivella.

Heart & Club:

Spilonota ocellana:

2nd June 2011

2011-06-03T20:22:00.003+01:00

Despite warm and dry weather for the past few weeks the wind has just been too strong to favour clearwing trapping. For the first time the wind dropped and conditions were perfect. I put out the TIP lure in the hope of attracting Currant Clearwing and sure enough, after about 40 minutes two males turned up. Another first for the garden and the 6th clearwing species.

1st June 2011

2011-06-03T18:47:00.004+01:00

June was off to a great start on Wedenesday night with 260+ moths of 74 species with a couple of micros still to be identified. Lots of species were new for the year but Epinotia demarniana was new for the garden - the first addition to the list so far this year.

Epinotia demarniana:

Aleimma loflingiana:

Tortrix viridiana:

29th May 2011

2011-05-30T20:51:00.008+01:00

A beautiful, freshly-emerged Double Square-spot was one of the highlights from last night and, as usual, I tried very hard to string it into Triple-spotted Clay. A good look at the hindwing proved it to be DS-spot however.

Platyptilia pallidactyla was new for the year:

Coleophora mayrella:

Helcystogramma rufescens:

11th May 2011

2011-05-11T19:15:00.001+01:00

A few day-flying species in the garden today despite it being overcast and blustery. Pyrausta aurata was the first of the year and several Glyphipterix simpliciella were in the open flowers of a Dwarf Mock Orange. On the same shrub was a female Adela reaumurella, just the second garden record of this species.

7th May 2011

2011-05-08T08:33:00.002+01:00

42 species across both traps was easily the mos productive session so far with lots of species new for the year and with the second and third garden records of Light Brocade.

9th April 2011

2011-04-10T07:44:00.004+01:00

The first post of 2011 after the usual quiet start to the mothing year. Last night was cooler than previous nights but still managed to attract a few species including the first Least Black Arches since 2008 - an extremely early individual. I also managed to get some reasonable pictures of Brindled Pug, something that I've found difficult in previous years.

August 2010 pt 2

2010-11-26T19:28:00.005Z

Parornix anglicella 13th August:

Bucculatrix bechsteinella 16th August (2nd garden record):

Tinea dubiella 20th August (1st county record):

Cosmiotes stabilella 27th August (1st garden record):

August 2010 pt 1

2010-11-26T19:14:00.006Z

Dissections from August.

Scrobipalpa atriplicella 2nd August (2nd garden record):

Coleophora versurella 5th August:

Ectoedemia louisella 9th August (1st garden record):

Bucculatrix albedinella 9th August (1st garden record):

Epinotia tenerana 9th August (1st garden record):

Phyllonorycter spinicolella 11th August (1st garden record):

July 2010 pt 2

2010-11-26T18:59:00.006Z

Oegoconia deauratella 13th July:

Celypha rosaceana 13th July (1st garden record):

Coleophora lutipennella (19th July):

Aethes cnicana 19th July (2nd garden record):

Spilonota laricana 21st July (1st garden record):

Gelechia nigra 27th July (2nd county record):

July 2010 pt 1

2010-11-26T18:38:00.008Z

July identifications from dissection.

Coleophora conyzae 7th July (1st county record):

Argyresthia cupressella 7th July (2nd county record):

Epinotia abbreviana 7th July:

Coleophora luscianipennella 7th July (2nd garden record):

Coleophora argentula 8th July:

An unusual form of female Cnephasia longana 10th July:

Coleophora therinella 11th July:

June 2010

2010-11-25T18:54:00.003Z

Results from the June micro dissections:

14/6 Elachista humilis (2nd garden record):

17/6 - Coleophora caespititiella:

May 2010

2010-11-25T18:38:00.004Z

I've just had the results of moth dissections for the year back from my county recorder. They add over 50 species to the year list (now 485), an impressive 15 species are new to the garden list (now at 718) and 3 are new to the county. Where I have photos of species not previously posted I'll post them here under the month in which they were trapped.

Nemapogon granella (new county record):

Cosmiotes freyerella:

18th November 2010

2010-11-24T19:26:00.003Z

By interesting coincidence this moth was at the same upstairs window as the Acleris logiana from last week. By further coincidence it is the second garden record of Scarce Umber - the first record was trapped at the same window 4 years ago.

13th November 2010

2010-11-24T19:06:00.002Z

Attracted to an upstairs window this tort proved by gen det to be the second county record of Acleris logiana.

12th November 2010

2010-11-13T10:20:00.003Z

A small let-up in the cold/wet/windy conditions overnight tempted me to put the trap out. Just two moths - The Brick and a nice form of Dark Chestnut.

5th November 2010

2010-11-06T07:52:00.002Z

On what may well have been one of the last trapping nights of the year it poured with rain but was warm and the strong wind of the past few days dropped. Just three moths made it to the trap - Feathered Thorn, November Moth and The Sprawler, the latter being just the third garden record and the first since 2006.

30th September 2010

2010-10-01T20:22:00.002+01:00

The first Grey Shoulder-knot here since 2008 was the highlight of a couple of nights where temperatures increased and moth numbers recovered. Several species were new for the year and there was a second garden record of Orange Sallow, one year and one day after the first. Unfortunately it was even more worn than last year's individual.

Grey Shoulder-knot:

10th September 2010

2010-09-11T07:42:00.002+01:00

A late Caloptilia robustella was new for the year in last night's catch and only the second garden record. Also new for the year were Black Rustic and Beaded Chestnut.

Caloptilia robustella:

6th September 2010

2010-09-07T17:14:00.002+01:00

Just the third garden record of Pyrausta despicata made putting the trap out on a warm, rainy and windy night worthwhile.

3rd September 2010

2010-09-04T07:37:00.002+01:00

Another cool and cloudless night produced another catch with few species. Centre-barred Sallow was new for the year but a pristine Antler Moth took pride of place and is new to the garden list.

21st August 2010

2010-08-22T08:51:00.005+01:00

Atrocious weather conditions overnight meant thoroughly drenched traps but a surprisingly good catch. Epinotia ramella, the dark form, becomes the 700th moth on the garden list whilst Webb's Wainscot and a late Broad-barred White were both new for the year.

Epinotia ramella f. costana:

Webb's Wainscot:

20th August 2010

2010-08-21T10:18:00.004+01:00

662 moths of 75 species was a considerable improvement on recent days despite a strong breeze throughout the night. Only two species were new for the year although a ting Stigmella sp. will be a garden first but requires dissection.

Oak Hook-tip, 1st since 2006:

Campion, 1st since 2007:

Cydia splendana, dark form:

16th August 2010

2010-08-17T18:42:00.004+01:00

A second garden record of Square-spotted Clay was the highlight of another busy night (400+ moths of 63 species), along with 2nd garden record of Six-striped Rustic. Gold Spot was the fourth record this year and there was a fifth White-point.

Square-spotted Clay:

Six-striped Rustic:

15th August 2010

2010-08-16T16:50:00.003+01:00

Still in the doldrums before the autumn species arrive so most traps are rather unexciting. Setaceous Hebrew Character numbers are building with nearly a third of the total catch of 360 moths being SHC; total species was down to just 42. The only real highlight was a first record of Ypsolopha parenthesella for the garden.

8th August 2010

2010-08-09T18:25:00.003+01:00

The arrival of two further White-points, this time fully-winged individuals, lends weight to my theory that they are breeding locally, I think, especially as other migrants are very thin on the ground. Having said that there was also a Rusty Dot Pearl in the trap this morning and I was surprised to see that it is the first recorded here since 2008. The highlight however was the first Mompha propinquella for the garden.

6th August 2010

2010-08-07T08:36:00.004+01:00

A White-point was the only addition to the year list from a busy night although the 2nd Ear sp of the year looks substantially different to the first (larger and plainer) (Edit: identified by gen.det. as Saltern Ear). The White-point has one deformed wing which presumably hinders flight and makes me doubt its migrant status.

White-point (4th garden record):

Saltern Ear:

3rd August 2010

2010-08-04T19:21:00.004+01:00

We seem to be alternating warm and cold nights at the moment. Last night was warm (and wet) and resulted in over 500 moths of 91 species. A second garden record of Agapeta zoegana was the highlight with an Ear species which will have to wait for determination (edit: identified by gen.det. as Ear Moth).

Agapeta zoegana:

Ear Moth:

1st August 2010

2010-08-02T19:20:00.005+01:00

After a couple of cool nights producing disappointing catches to close down July, August started with a muggy night and 380 moths of just under 100 species. There were several year firsts and another tort new for the garden, Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana:

Third garden record of one of my favourite moths, Latticed Heath:

30th July 2010

2010-07-31T17:20:00.003+01:00

Only Twin-spotted Wainscot was new for the year amongst the catch last night but one of each form gave me the chance to show the pair side-by side:

27th July 2010

2010-07-29T17:43:00.003+01:00

The purplish patch continues with another new tortrix for the garden - Apotomis lineana.

Phycita roborella, new for year:

26th July 2010

2010-07-27T19:38:00.002+01:00

Catches are slowly reducing in both numbers and variety with 250 moths of 85 species across both traps last night. One was new to the garden, a beautiful Eucosma campoliliana.

25th July 2010

2010-07-26T19:31:00.003+01:00

Lots of micros to the trap last night with lots new for the year and one new to the garden.

Phyllonorycter harrisella, garden first:

Cochylis dubitana:

24th July 2010 (overnight)

2010-07-25T09:17:00.004+01:00

Large Twin-spot Carpet, a garden first, was the highlight of a smallish catch here which also included several year firsts.

Bulrush Wainscot:

Gelechia senticetella:

24th July 2010

2010-07-24T15:24:00.002+01:00

A warm, still morning tempted me to put out clearwing lures again. This time I tried for Six-belted and sure enough within twenty minutes this fine individual turned up. I left the lure out for about 2 hours but nothing else was tempted.

21st July 2010 - daytime

2010-07-21T19:20:00.004+01:00

When I got back from work at around 4.30 it was very warm and less windy than the last few days - perfect weather for clearwing lures. Checking the ALS guide I noted that Yellow-legged Clearwing was listed as being out in July and active in the afternoon, so out went the VES lure. Within ten minutes two males had arrived and allowed me to net and photograph them with the minimum of fuss. Despite numerous luring attempts over the past 4-5 years this was a garden first and the 4th clearwing species recorded.

Yellow-legged Clearwing:

20th July 2010

2010-07-21T19:02:00.008+01:00

Another large catch with several new species for the year.

Pine Hawkmoth, 3rd garden record:

The Gothic:

The Drinker, 3rd garden record, but a very worn individual:

Copper Underwing, identified from underneath of hindwing:

Eudemis profundana, a better marked individual than last year:

Small Scallop, a less worn moth than last year:

19th July 2010

2010-07-20T21:37:00.004+01:00

A very warm, humid night resulted in a large catch which I rushed to get through before work. At least 107 species (several micros remain to be ID'd) including several new for the year and a garden first.

Buff Footman, new for the garden:

Juniper Webber, 3rd garden record:

16th July 2010

2010-07-17T08:00:00.005+01:00

Several nights of cool, windy evenings reduced catches drastically. Some improvement last night resulted in just over 200 moths of 67 species. Five were new for the year: the first Plain Wave since 2007, an early Svensson's Copper Underwing, confirmed by checking the underside of the hindwing, the 2nd garden record of Aethes rubigana, Least Carpet and The Clay.

11th July 2010

2010-07-12T18:24:00.005+01:00

A much cooler night but although rain was forecast it didn't materialize. Numbers were well down in the MV trap with half the moths of the previous night but interestingly the actinic actually performed better with c60 more moths of 9 more species.

Six species were new for the year including the second garden records of Mere Wainscot and V-Pug. Unfortunately the pug was dead in the bottom of the trap. I've also included a photo of a Double Lobed together with a Common Rustic trying to look like a Double Lobed.

Mere Wainscot:
Double-Lobed (left) & Common Rustic:

10th July 2010

2010-07-11T11:41:00.003+01:00

A species list of just over 100 again overnight one new species for the garden and 13 new for the year.

Shaded Broad-bar, new to the garden:

Garden Dart:

Crambus pascuella:

9th July 2010

2010-07-10T10:08:00.008+01:00

Moth numbers down a little from previous nights with 372 moths of at least 104 species. One species was new for the garden and a further 19 were new for the year.

A second garden record of The Blackneck was rather spoilt when the moth escaped before I could photograph it. I've cheated by including a photo of the previous individual, caught in 2006.

Stenoptilia pterodactyla, nfg, the white marking on the costa can be seen in the 2nd photo:

Oak Eggar, female, second garden record:

Brown-tail, last recorded in 2008:

Peppered Moth ab. carbonaria, first garden record of this form:

Epiblema foenella, first record since 2008:

The Blackneck:

8th July 2010

2010-07-09T12:39:00.005+01:00

Another excellent night with 16 new species for the year and 3 new for the garden. Nearly 400 moths of 100 species with Chrysoteuchia culmella again too numerous to count.

Ruddy Carpet was new for the garden list:

Dotted Fan-foot (nfg):

Batrachedra pinicolella (nfg):

Leopard Moth, first since 2006:

Pediasia contaminella, first since 2005 and very nearly overlooked amongst the other crambids:

Sitochroa palealis, more photogenic than last year's individual:

7th July 2010

2010-07-08T12:42:00.005+01:00

Both traps out for another muggy night produced just short of 400 moths of 91 species with several micros still to be identified. Again there was a phenomenal number of crambids (nearly all Chrysoteuchia culmella and Crambus perlella) which may well have taken the total moth count to over 1000 - if I'd counted them!
Stars of the night were a lovely Pammene fasciana, a new garden tick, and only the second record of the equally lovely July Highflyer. Burnished Brass f.aurea was the first of this form trapped this year and I had to include a picture of the most brightly marked Double-striped Pug that I've seen.

Pammene fasciana:
July Highflyer:
Burnished Brass f.aurea:
Double-striped Pug:

6th July 2010

2010-07-08T12:24:00.003+01:00

After a fortnight in moth-free (and very nearly bird-free) Kefalonia I put out the MV trap as soon as I got back. Things have improved and there were 266 moths of 70 species with so many crambids that I didn't count them. Lots new for the year including a poorly marked Oak Nycteoline and several Dingy Shears, including a very nicely marked individual.

20th June 2010

2010-06-21T06:41:00.002+01:00

Not new for the year and not new for the blog but this Nemapogon cloacella netted in the garden yesterday must have just emerged and is beautifully marked:

14th June 2010

2010-06-15T18:36:00.003+01:00

Found dead at the bottom of the trap, in an otherwise unremarkable catch, were two interesting micros. One I have been unable to place and is on the 'Unidentified' blog. The other was a first for the garden - Phyllonorycter nicellii.

8th June 2010

2010-06-09T07:51:00.002+01:00

The melanic form of Dog's Tooth is frequent in the trap here but this one at first looked more like an aberrant Bright-line Brown-eye. In the hand this moth had a rich, oily sheen which isn't apparent in the picture.

5th June 2010

2010-06-06T07:54:00.008+01:00

An even busier night with 243 moths of 66 species across the 2 traps. 20 species were new for the year including several that didn't show up last year and one new species was added to the garden list - Pammene aurana.

Foxglove Pug (2nd garden record):

Orange Footman (2nd garden record):

Green Silver-lines (1st since 2006):

The Shears (1st since 2006):

Scorched Wing (1st since 2007):

4th June 2010

2010-06-05T07:53:00.005+01:00

For the first time this year a haul of over 100 moths for the night - 165 of 42 species with 14 new for the year and one micro to be identified. Highlight of the night was a Small Elephant Hawkmoth not seen here since 2008.

Elachista canapennella:

25th May 2010

2010-05-26T19:16:00.003+01:00

I've not recorded the melanic form of Peppered Moth here, although it is fairly common in VC31, so I was pleased to find the intermediate form f.insularia amongst an otherwise undistinguished catch.

24th May 2010

2010-05-25T05:54:00.002+01:00

A cooler and consequently quieter night enlivened by the arrival of the first addition to the garden list so far this year - a nicely marked plume moth, Platyptilia gonodactyla.

22nd May 2010

2010-05-23T07:53:00.008+01:00

A run of warm nights finally produced reasonable numbers of moths, with many new for the year. Of note were a well marked Oak-tree Pug, just the second garden record after one in 2007 was identified by dissection, and a female Muslin Moth, also just the second record here. A poorly marked Powdered Quaker caused some confusion as, in the hand, it looked very like an odd wainscot species.

Oak-tree Pug:

Female Muslin Moth:

Powdered Quaker:

5th May 2010

2010-05-06T19:41:00.005+01:00

Things still very slow with bright but unseasonably cold weather. 15 moths of 10 species is nothing to write home about but at least there were several new for the year: Brimstone Moth (2), Common Pug (4), Buff-tip and Flame Shoulder. Best catch was just the second garden record of Pseudoswammerdamia combinella.

25th April 2010

2010-04-26T06:33:00.003+01:00

A fairly warm night following another prolonged cold period produced Streamer and Herald, new for the year, and this odd Knot Grass which had me puzzling for some time. The usually white spots in the trailing corner are the same grey as the ground colour.

23rd March 2010

2010-03-24T17:40:00.002Z

A very slow start to the year with my first trapping session not until the middle of March with horribly cold weather making it fairly pointless trying any earlier.

On the positive side that does mean I've yet to get any null returns. Last night was about the warmest so far and resulted in 22 moths of 6 species, the star being a Lead-coloured Drab

Agonopterix heracliana - 1
Dotted Border - 1
Common Quaker - 3
Clouded Drab - 11
Hebrew Character - 5
Lead-coloured Drab - 1

29th November 2009

2009-11-29T19:14:00.002Z

What I suspect will be the last new species for 2009, a Winter Moth, to a lit window this evening. This means the year list finishes at 498.

September 2009

2009-11-29T08:57:00.002Z

Identified by dissection.

Mompha bradleyi 7th September (1st for garden):

August 2009 - Part 2

2009-11-29T08:46:00.006Z

More August moths identified by dissection.

Ear Moth 14th August (1st for garden):

Cosmiotes consortella 16th August (1st for garden):

Cosmiotes freyerella 19th August:

Dichrorampha simpliciana 19th August:

August 2009 - Part 1

2009-11-29T08:24:00.012Z

Some August moths identified by dissection.

Yponomeuta rorrella 2nd August (1st for garden):

Yarrow Pug 5th August:

Coleophora clypeiferella 5th August (1st for garden):

Phycitodes maritima 8th August:

Lesser Common Rustic 10th August (1st for garden):

Parornix finitimella 11th August:

July 2009 - Part 3

2009-11-29T08:08:00.009Z

Final selection of July moths identified by dissection.

Coleophora striatipennella 25th July (1st for garden):

Scoparia basistrigalis 28th July (1st for garden):

Phycita roborella 28th July:

Monopis weaverella 28th July:

Yponomeuta malinellus 31st July:

July 2009 - Part 2

2009-11-28T21:22:00.011Z

More moths identified by dissection.

Rhopobota naevana 4th July(first for garden):

Haplotina insectella 4th July:

Bryotropha senectella 4th July:

Coleophora flavipennella 5th July:

Paraswammerdamia nebulella 5th July:

Maple Pug 23rd July:

Golden-rod Pug 24th July:

July 2009 - Part 1

2009-11-28T16:33:00.013Z

Micros, and a macro, identified by dissection.

Biselachista utonella 1st July (first for VC31):

Scoparia pyralella 2nd July:

Endothenia gentianaeana 2nd July:

Cnephasia genitalana 2nd July:

Coleophora sternipennella 2nd July:

Coleophora ibipennella 3rd July:

Dark Dagger 3rd July (first for garden):

June 2009 - Part 3

2009-11-28T09:41:00.003Z

Final ID from dissection for June - but I really think I should have got this one!

Gypsonoma dealbana 30th June (first for garden):

June 2009 - Part 2

2009-11-28T09:21:00.011Z

Micros identified by dissection.

Coleophora violacea 12th June (first for garden):

Oegoconia quadripuncta 14th June:

Bryotropha terrella 14th June:

Cnephasia stephensiana 17th June:

Epiblema grandaevana 26th June (first for garden):

Coleophora lineolea 26th June:

Coleophora serratella 29th June:

June 2009 - Part 1

2009-11-28T08:29:00.020Z

Micros identified by dissection from the first part of June.

Bactra lancealana 2nd June:

Cnephasia incertana 2nd June:

Coleophora alcyonipennella 2nd June:

Coleophora peribenanderi 2nd June:

Monopis obviella 12th June:

Deltaornix torquillella 12th June:

May 2009

2009-11-28T08:03:00.005Z

I received back from Barry Dickerson, the Hunts moth recorder, a list of identifications made from dissections and, where I have them, I will start to post photos here. These add over 50 species to my year list, 17 of which are new to the garden and one new to the county.

Gynnidomorpha alismana:

27th October 2009

2009-10-28T07:14:00.003Z

A Juniper Carpet was a nice surprise on what was a very quiet night, despite being warm and still. An unexpected addition to the garden list.

25th October 2009

2009-10-25T07:28:00.002Z

After nearly two weeks of mostly reasonable trapping conditions but small and rather dull catches, finally a Merveille du Jour makes it all worth while. Only my second garden record, the previous one was in 2006.

13th October 2009

2009-10-14T07:22:00.004+01:00

A forecast of a warm and dry night sounded hopeful but it was only half right and it rained for most of the night. 40 moths of 13 species was the disappointing result but there was one new for the year.

Green-brindled Crescent:

This is an unusual form of Acleris variegana:

10th October 2009

2009-10-11T08:07:00.003+01:00

19 species last night with another two new for the year - November Moth(2) and Dark Chestnut. I'll record the November Moths as 'ag.' but they are most likely dilutata as this is the only one of the three Epirrita species that I've recorded here.

Dark Chestnut:

November Moth:

9th October 2009

2009-10-10T07:54:00.003+01:00

The cold weather has arrived and over the past few days where trapping has been possible it has been largely unproductive. Last night things improved and although it was wet early on the temperature stayed in double figures and a few moths turned up. Interestingly the two species that were new for the year were two of the only three micros in the trap.

Acleris rhombana:

Phyllonorycter messaniella:

2nd October 2009

2009-10-03T08:01:00.002+01:00

A mild but windy night produced just 78 moths of 20 species although two were new for the year.

Feathered Thorn:

Yellow-line Quaker: