16th December 2015

An extremely late Calybites phasianipennella was the only moth in the MV trap overnight despite record warm temperatures. The common form here is f.quadruplella I rarely catch this, the nominate form.

1st December 2015

A single Pearly Underwing was the only moth in the traps after a very warm but rather windy night. It is only the 3rd garden record and the first since 2006.

26th November 2015

Possibly the last mild night of the year so both traps went out. The MV came back empty but the actinic held the first Winter Moth of the year and a fine male Gem showing that there are still a few migrants about.

August 2015

0556 Coleophora trochilella (6 & 7/08/15) 3rd and 4th garden records

1344 Eudonia mercurella (8/08/15) dark form

July 2015

0713 Agonopterix angelicella (12/07/15) 1st for garden

1047 Acleris Schalleriana (06/07/15) 1st for garden

1508 Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla (10/07/15) 1st for garden

2081 White-line Dart (19/07/15) 1st for garden

June 2015

As usual I retained a number of moths over the summer for dissection by my county recorder. The result was a further 4 new species for the garden list and numerous additions to the year list.

The only moth retained in June was this rather unusually marked Pandemis cerasana - I have to admit I was hoping for something more exotic!

16th November 2015

After several nights of strong winds keeping the traps close to empty a night of lighter winds but heavy rain was forecast. Trap contents were again very low but on the wall by the 125w MV was this Mottled Umber - just the second garden record after one back in 2006.

30th October 2015

A very late purple patch for me at the end of a largely uneventful mothing season. This fresh Dewick's Plusia was in the MV trap this morning with just half a dozen other moths. Looks like it might be an addition to the county list.

28th October 2015

A very poor night with just 6 moths across 2 traps. Happily this Merveille du Jour was one of them - the first record here since 2011.

26th October 2015

From the wing-shape this would appear to be a poorly marked Pale-lemon Sallow and has been retained for the county recorder to confirm the ID. If I'm correct then this would be just the 3rd garden record of this species and the first since 2006.

Update: confirmed by gen det as female Brick

25th October 2015

For various reasons I've hardly put the trap out this autumn so a fresh Duponchelia fovealis flying around in the house earlier today was a huge surprise. A first for the garden it also appears to be just the second record for the vice-county after one in 2013.

7th August 2015

The third garden record of Crocidosema plebejana and the first photogenic one.

18th July 2015

Small Dotted Buff was the first here since 2011 and was the best of a large catch overnight.A slightly worn Agapeta zoegana was also the first record here for 4 years. Silky Wainscot and Oak Hook-tip are both annual in small numbers.

11th July 2015

The 3rd and 4th garden records of Small Mottled Willow were the only moths of note on a very damp and busy night.

10th July 2015

A new moth for the garden in the form of Gypsonoma oppressana, the second garden record of Cydia fagiglandana and the third of Scarce Silver-lines. Not a bad night!

4th July 2015

A very warm night so a two very busy moth traps. Top of the catch list were the 3rd garden records of Red-necked Footman and of one of my favourite moths, Large Emerald. Scoparia basistrigalis is an uncommon visitor here and it's even rarer to get a well marked individual.

3rd July 2015

A very stormy night left both traps drenched but with a good number of moths. The second garden record of Brown Silver-line was the highlight.

1st July 2015

Aethes tesserana has been a long awaited addition to the garden list as I have netted it locally on a few occasions. As is always the way, the one I do eventually catch is a rather worn specimen. First new garden record of the year.

27th June 2015

The third garden record of Ethmia quadrillella was the high point of a slightly quieter night - the last record was in 2006.

27th June 2015

A beautiful, calm and sunny morning tempted me to put out the Hornet Clearwing pheromone lure HOR. It worked after a fashion when this smart Six-belted Clearwing showed up.

25th June 2015

I very nearly missed this Puss Moth which was sitting on a young maize plant several yards from the MV trap. Only the 3rd garden record and the first since 2009 - makes me wonder how many I've missed!

24th June 2015

Numbers now increasing with a warm and humid night last night with just under 70 species trapped. Bordered Straw was the highlight, the first of this species recorded here since 2009.

19th June 2015

A very slow start to the year evidenced by this being the first post. The weather has been largely cool and moth unfriendly across the country, improving just in the past few days. Pale Oak Beauty is only the second garden record, the first being back in 2004.

September 2014

1039 Acleris comariana (18/09/14) 1st garden record

July 2014

0496 Coleophora milvipennis (02/07/14) 1st garden record

0678 Depressaria sordidatella (05/07/14)

2343a Lesser Common Rustic (11/07/14)

1022a Cnephasia pumicana (12/07/14) 

1044 Acleris ferrugana (19/07/14) 2nd garden record

1038 Acleris laterana (29/07/14)

1454 Dioryctria abietella (29/07/14) 1st garden record

June 2014

1249 Grapholita lobarzewskii (02/06/14) 1st county record

1237 Pammene germmana (08/06/14) 1st garden record

1102 Endothenia nigricostana  (13/06/14) 3rd county record, 1st garden record

1177 Epiblema rosaecolona (20/06/14) 1st garden record