Completing the Set......

It had to come eventually and 2nd October was the night. Pale-lemon Sallow finally completes the set. Although fairly scarce nationally, this area at least has thrown up quite a few records.



Pale-lemon Sallow

Grey Shoulder-knot

 NFY

 Satellite

Upper Caldecote Garden- 2 traps- 159 of 26 species-

0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  2
1413  Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis)  2
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1
1745  Mallow (Larentia clavaria)  3
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  2
1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  3
2107  Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  22
2109  Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)  5
2110  Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata)  2
2123  Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi)  1
2126  Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)  63
2134  Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)  1
2232  Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)  10
2237  Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus)  2 NFY
2240  Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri)  12
2256  Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)  1
2259  Dark Chestnut (Conistra ligula)  1
2266  Brown-spot Pinion (Agrochola litura)  1
2267  Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis)  7
2270  Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)  8
2276  Pale-lemon Sallow (Xanthia ocellaris)  1 NFG
2361  Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea)  1
2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  2
2389  Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)  4
2441  Silver Y (Autographa gamma)  1

Early Spring Highlights in the garden

Early Grey

NFY, 14th April

Satellite

NFY, 15th April

Early Thorn

NFY, 15th April

Pale Pinion

Only my 3rd record and the 1st in Spring. Not seen in 2012, NFY 17th April

Oak Beauty

NFY, 19th April

 Mystery Micro?

This was found on the outside of a window during the afternoon. It is probably 483 Epermenia chaerophyllella. But I've retained it as it's quite worn.

Another Newby

What started off as a warm day, quickly developed into a cold night. I turned the garden lights off at 9.30pm after recording 2 moths early in the evening. Both found under the now deceased 25w BLB compact lamp fixed on the shed at the bottom of the garden. It broke at I removed it from its fitting...........never mind. Just 1 Common Quaker and this-

Satellite

Surprisingly, I don't get too many of these despite being fairly common. NFY 25th February.

The last 2 days......9th-10th

At last! The weather has finally turned, the wind has dropped and the temperature has become more stable during the nights. So tonight (11th Feb) will be the 4th trapping session in as many days.

Pale Brindled Beauty

These 2 were the only catch on 9th February.

The 10th was slightly warmer with less wind, so as a consequence did fairly well. The micros caught were the first to come to light this year.

 Satellite

 Dark Chestnut

This is the 2nd record this year, I was hoping it was a Chestnut. The 'sharp corners' give it away though.

 Agonopterix heracliana (688)

The 1st of many, I would presume.

 Tortricodes alternella (1025)

Although common, this usually woodland species is a garden 1st- touché Trent!

This was the best night of the year so far- which wouldn't be hard!, 19 moths of 8 species so far this year..........

A little better.......03/04

Satellite

March Moth

Slightly less wind and an increase in temperature led to an improved catch of 17 moths of 8 species. The pick of the bunch was the Satellite which I catch vey few of. The March Moth was found inside the shed!

1. Common Quaker- 6
2. Clouded Drab- 3
3. Hebrew Character- 3
4. Small Quaker
5. Satellite
6. Dotted Border
7. March Moth
8. Emmelina monodactyla

Winding up to Spring!.....15/03

Yes it looks like Spring is finally on it's way with an impressive 10 moths of 7 species. New this year was 1 0f 2 Emmelina Monodactyla found in the trap, as well as a Garden 1st Clouded Drab (top photo). The list is as follows- All in the 30w Twin, the 8w portable in the more exposed area of the garden blanked!

1. Clouded Drab- 1(top)
2. Satellite- 1 (middle)
3. Common Quaker- 1
4. Dotted Border- 2 (bottom)
5. Emmelina Monodactyla- 2 (click for photo)
6. Agonopterix Heracliana- 2
7. Micro?- 1 Awaiting ID...........

The micro is probably an Acleris hastiana, but is impossible to tell without dissection! Many thanks David.

A Winter flurry.........18/01

A Really amazing catch considering it is January. After so much cold weather, a sudden temperature rise(6-8°C) and perfect conditions must have done the trick! No less than 3 new ticks for the garden starting with an Early Moth (top) which was found near the trap on some tarpaulin. Next down was 1 of 4 Winter Moth sp. caught, all preferred to settle near the trap rather than in it. Pictured is the lightest and largest of the 4, but to be honest compared to others I've seen they all looked quite light to me?..........any ideas?-

3rd down is only the second Satellite found in the garden, this one was on the side of the conservatory.

2nd from bottom is a very dark Mottled Umber- finally trapped after endless blanks, a welcome garden 1st.

Bottom is another shot of the Dark Chestnut.

On balance, well worth putting out the trap!

N.B. 1 of the Winter Moths (photo above) now confirmed as a 'Northern' and so is the 6th species so far this year and yet another debutant for the garden. Thanks to Andy & Melissa for confirmation.

Satellite..............26/10

This is the 100th Macro Moth for the garden in less than 4 months of trapping. The list has been hovering on 99 for over 2 weeks. The only other moth was another/the same? Feathered Thorn. Another overcast, mild night with a light SE wind. Temp 10°C.