........Trent's Nemesis

Over the past few nights Trent has got back into the lead in the Mothin' Marathon and now has to suffer the consequences. He got in front about a month ago and this was enough to receive a verbal warning. But now with the competition in full flow, it is time to unveil the ultimate sanction. 

When it was used last year I had my best results, as it retains a lot of which it attracts during the night. As I don't do much patrolling, just about everything I record is in the traps; therefore I probably miss an awful lot.

The Gazebo

 The harvesting method is very simple- 1) Wait until morning. 2) Let Louie out into the garden with a light weight insect net. 3) Give him some pots and zip down the sides. 4) Don't let him out until all moths are potted ready for photos and ID.

                          Gazebo Interior                                                             Tramp-o-trap

The light fitting inside the gazebo is a twin T12 40w BLB tube and fitting that neatly tie-wraps to the inside of the roof frame.
Mean while, last night's effort was to put the twin 25w FUL Skinner in the trampoline to test. This would be good for night patrols as all moths end up either on the in or outside of the safety net. However, by morning they all hide in the most inaccessible areas around the crash mats and underneath. Not something I will be doing again, though it did lead to my highest ever count of Large Nutmegs (43).

 1176 Epiblema trimaculana

New for year, 18th May.

 986 Syndemis musculana

Garden 1st, 18th May.

 1474 Ephestia parasitella

 Tawny Shears

 Light Brocade

 Poplar Grey

The results for 19th May- 121 of 29 species-

• 1707 Idaea seriata Small Dusty Wave 1
• 0275 Bucculatrix bechsteinella 1 1st of the year
• 0263 Lyonetia clerkella 1 Garden 1st
• 0247 Tinea trinotella 1
• 2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1
• 1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
• 1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
• 2278 Acronicta megacephala Poplar Grey 1 1st of the year
• 1177 Epiblema rosaecolana 3
• 1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 2 1st of the year
• 2337x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 4
• 2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 31 High Count!
• 2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 7
• 2333 Apamea anceps Large Nutmeg 43 High Count!
• 2007 Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent 1
• 2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 4
• 2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 4
• 2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 6
• 2147 Hada plebeja Shears 1
• 2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
• 1301 Crambus lathoniellus 1
• 2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 2
• 2334 Apamea sordens Rustic Shoulder-knot 2
• 2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 1
• 2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 2
• 2167 Hadena perplexa Tawny Shears 1 Garden 1st
• 2157 Lacanobia w-latinum Light Brocade 1
• 1474 Ephestia parasitella unicolorella 1
• 1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 1