The End of Summer........

.........usually means the end of huge amounts of 'brown stuff' and heralds the beginning of more manageable numbers and the odd splash of colour.

Brown-spot Pinion f. rufa-pallida

 I don't get many B-s P's anyway. But have never seen the aberrant form before.

Centre-barred Sallow

Deep-brown Dart

Large & Small Ranunculus

 Caught on 18th September, this is the first time I've ever caught both on the same night. Whereas Large Ranunculus have remained fairly constant (4-5 per year), Small Ranunculus have become much more common. The late second generation idividuals overlap with their larger name sakes.

Orange Sallow

Sallow

White-point

A good year for these- this is my 3rd record so far.

Trent's Offy Run 03/08

A much improved night; its amazing just how much more is about after a short run of warm days. Though it seems it could be short lived as the wind and rain sweep back in. It was joked at the end of April/start of May that Summer was over and in hind sight the statement was pretty much correct as the weather has been a lot colder/wetter/windier than normal. Perhaps a so-called 'Indian Summer' can lift our spirits and list totals.

Anyway, the upshot was that important gaps were filled. With the afore mentioned in a previous post- Burnished Brass, finally making an appearance. NFYs totaled 3 of which 2 were brand new for the garden.

Trent's earlier fertile run seems to have fallen on stony ground and a trip to the offy now looks inevitable (again!). I say again.......he still hasn't obliged me from last year's wager. So heres a few photos, not including a pristine garden 1st Ypsolopha sequella that escaped my camera this morning!

Feathered Gothic

This is the 1st 'Gothic' type moth I've ever had in the garden.

 Burnished Brass

A long awaited year tick.

 Centre-barred Sallow

2 of 3 caught, the other was a bit battered!

The result- 03-09-11- Twin 15w Actinic/UV, Twin 25w FUL Actinic- 310 of 43 species-

•  0015 Hepialus sylvina Orange Swift 5 
•  0229 Monopis obviella 1 
•  0462 Ypsolopha sequella 1 Garden 1st 
•  0647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House-moth 1 
•  0648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House-moth 1 
•  0658 Carcina quercana 1 
•  0697 Agonopterix arenella 1 
•  0873 Blastobasis adustella 1 
•  1048 Acleris variegana 1 
•  1063 Celypha striana 1 
•  1309 Agriphila geniculea 41 
•  1316 Catoptria falsella 1 
•  1331 Acentria ephemerella Water Veneer 50 circa 
•  1342 Eudonia angustea 2 
•  1348 Parapoynx stratiotata Ringed China-mark 1 
•  1524 Emmelina monodactyla 4 
•  1690 Scopula imitaria Small Blood-vein 1 
•  1707 Idaea seriata Small Dusty Wave 1 
•  1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1 
•  1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 2 
•  1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 1 
•  1867 Aplocera plagiata Treble-bar 1 
•  1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 2 
•  1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2 
•  1956 Cabera exanthemata Common Wave 1 
•  1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1 
•  2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 1 
•  2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 3 
•  2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 47 
•  2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 5 
•  2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1 
•  2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 11 
•  2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 20 
•  2178 Tholera decimalis Feathered Gothic 1 Garden 1st 
•  2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 11 
•  2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 3 
•  2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 5 
•  2300 Mormo maura Old Lady 1 
•  2303 Thalpophila matura Straw Underwing 1 
•  2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 28 
•  2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 38 
•  2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 7 
•  2434 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 1 NFY

Home Wood Survey 31-08

After a haul of 90+ species just under 1 month ago, I did expect a fairly good catch. But in 2 1/2 hours we only managed 22 species. Conditions seemed to be good, although temperatures had been fairly low over the previous few nights. That said there were a few highlights- one being getting home at a reasonable hour!

Square-spotted Clay

This was the star moth of the evening.............

 Centre-barred Sallow

A nice fresh one!

 460 Ypsolopha parenthesella

1 of 2 caught.

The result- 8.00-10.30- Twin 25w Actinic Skinner, 80w MV Skinner- 61 of 22 species-

• 0460 Ypsolopha parenthesella 2 NFS
• 0658 Carcina quercana 3 
• 0969 Pandemis corylana Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix 2 
• 0972 Pandemis heparana Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix 1 NFS
• 1304 Agriphila straminella 2 
• 1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Moth of Pearl 1 
• 1682 Timandra comae Blood-vein 1 NFS
• 1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 1 
• 1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 1 
• 1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 20 
• 1893 Macaria liturata Tawny-barred Angle 1 
• 1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 3 
• 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 3 
• 1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 2 
• 2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2 
• 2131 Xestia rhomboidea Square-spotted Clay 1 NFS
• 2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 7 NFS
• 2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 1 NFS
• 2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 1 
• 2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 4

+ 2 micros to be Identified by DV Manning.

Not too much to report......03/09

Still plugging away with 1 twin 15w Actinic/UV trap and decided to do a full count. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything new last night. But tonight looks favourite for a couple of debutant's......maybe?

Centre-barred Sallow

A record breaking 4 retrieved from the trap last night.......

Cydia splendana (1260) 

Caught for the 1st time on 1st September.

 Nephopterix angustella (1465)

Again, caught for the 1st time 1st September.

 Scoparia ambigualis (1334)

1st for a while caught on 2nd September.

 Celypha lacunana (1076)

Only the 2nd for the garden, caught last night.

The full count-

1. Agriphila geniculea- 24
2. Large Yellow Underwing- 19
3. Uncertain/Vine's- 12
4. Turnip Moth- 10
5. Square-spot Rustic- 9
6. Setaceous Hebrew Character- 7
7. Small Dusty Wave- 5
8. Centre-barred Sallow- 4
9. Double-striped Pug- 3
10. Flounced Rustic- 3
11. Common Wainscot- 3
12. Lesser Yellow Underwing- 2
13. Straw Underwing- 2
14. Pale Mottled Willow- 2
15. Mouse Moth- 2
16. Yellow Shell- 2
17. Willow Beauty- 2
18. Orange Swift- 2
19. Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
20. Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
21. Cabbage Moth
22. Silver Y
23. Garden Carpet
24. Blood-vein
25. Celypha lacunana
26. Agonopterix arenella
27. Agriphila tristella

Back to the Mothin'.......29/08

After another short break to deal with a Wedding and a party it was back to the old routine. Though I did get a chance to tick the Red-backed Shrike just north of Biggleswade on 28th for a county 1st!

The mothing has a real Autumnal edge now with lots of wind, low minimum temperatures and the arrival of the 1st Sallows............

Centre-barred Sallow

1 of 2 caught.......

Vine's/Uncertain aberrant?

An odd looking one this.....the kidney marks have merged to form a wedge and it has little evidence of any other markings. Size wise, its about the same as one of the smaller Uncertains.....

The full count-

1. Rustic?uncertain agg.- 10
2. Flounced Rustic- 10
3. Large Yellow Underwing- 6
4. Turnip Moth- 4
5. Setaceous Hebrew Character- 4
6. Agriphila geniculea- 3
7. Centre-barred Sallow- 2 Year Tick
8. Mouse Moth
9. Nutmeg
10. Buff Ermine
11. Lesser Yellow Underwing
12. Small Dusty Wave
13. Common Wainscot
14. Pale Mottled Willow

One Sallow doesn't make a Summer................

..............But 2 do!

Top: Orange Sallow

Bottom: Centre-barred Sallow