500 in the garden in ONE year?

As a really good July came to an end I started thinking about the possibility of recording 500 moth species in a year (200 Micro, 300 Macro). This year, my records have eclipsed all previous year's efforts. My biggest ever Macro tally was 253 in 2011 and Micros, 207 in the same year. So far in 2013 as from last night I have recorded 276 Macros and I will beat my micro record when I add all of the leaf mines from various indigenous trees and shrubs from around the garden.
The real question is I suppose, can I record 300 Macros in a year? This is a big ask and I would have to record almost every species I've ever had in the last four months of the year to stand a chance.
So if I was to take a punt I would say 500 in year will be achievable, but 300 Macros in a year may just be a little optimistic- only time will tell.
I'm sure converting my trap to a twin T12 20w Synergetic in early July has also helped with this year's huge tally.........

Gold Spot

A second ever record- 4th September 2013.

 Orange Sallow

Two records so far this year.

 Red Underwing

Three records so far this year.

 Sallow

two records so far- many more to come.

 White-spotted Pinion

Two records so far, now recorded in every year since 2009. This RDB species is still clinging on in this area at least.

Twin 20w T12  Synergetic Skinner

New since early July 2013- this bad boy pulls 'em in like never before!

Belated Home Wood Update..........

.....As well as the ongoing survey of the wood, myself and Trent Duval were also testing a new light source for use with a battery. We put the traps 10 metres apart in a location that we've used many times before and simply compared the catch. The trouble is, from early on it was clear that the original Actinic/UV was performing much better than the low voltage 4.8w white LED lights on the other trap. By the next day the extent of the difference was very clear despite the LED appearing(to our eyes at least!) to be far brighter than the actinic.

Original battery 30w actinic/UV

The whole reason for the experiment was to devise an extremely light alternative to lugging the heavy car battery into the wood. The fold down sides and control box already fit into a rucksack, so the battery is the stumbling block. Here is the list for the original-

36 moths of 11 species-

0663  Diurnea fagella  4

1746  Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata)  1

1927  Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria)  3 NFS

1930  Oak Beauty (Biston strataria)  5

1947  Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata)  2

2182  Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)  9

2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  3

2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  1

2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  2

2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  5

+ 1 micro to identify

 4.8w white LED version

Alas, as can be seen by the low catch. Moths clearly don't really like the LED lights. So back to the drawing board as I don't think there is an actinic LED solution out there? If filters or a coating for the lights could be used- could it be made to work? A shame really, because weight and size wise, it's perfect. Strangely though, it was preferred by one species; Streamers seemed to like it! More info HERE

Just 5 moths of 4 species-

1747  Streamer (Anticlea derivata)  2
2182  Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 1
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
+ 1 acleris sp. to be identified

Home Wood Survey 29-09

A very warm and pleasant evening (17°C) with very little wind. And for the time of year I suppose we did quite well. But when it's that 'Summery' you expect to be swamped, however this wasn't the case. We set up just after 7.15pm and were packed up and ready to go by 10.00pm. This will probably be the last of the 'manned' trips for this year, as we will be reverting to battery actinics for the final few months.

The set up

 A fairly basic 80w MV Bulkhead on a tripod and a vertical screen made from an old gazebo. So just one light in Location #4 running off one generator. The photo shows Mr T. Duval keeping vigil.

 Small Wainscot

The 1st customer of the evening, just one caught.

 Sallow

 Barred Sallow

The result- 1x 80w MV Bulkhead with vertical sheet- 41 of 24 species- 7.15-9.45pm

• 0293 Caloptilia syringella 1 ID DVM- Location #4 
• 0321 Phyllonorycter messaniella 1 ID DVM- Location #4 
• 0336a Cameraria ohridella  1 ID DVM- Location #4 
• 0423 Argyresthia semitestacella 1 Gen. Det. DVM- Location #4  
• 0858 Hypatima rhomboidella 1 Gen. Det. DVM- Location #4 
• 1245 Grapholita janthinana 1 Gen Det. DVM- Location #4 
• 1334 Scoparia ambigualis 1 Gen. Det. DVM- Location #4 
• 1745 Larentia clavaria Mallow 1 
• 1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 2 
• 1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 3 
• 1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1 
• 1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1 
• 2020 Diloba caeruleocephala Figure of Eight 2  
• 2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 1 
• 2247 Dichonia aprilina Merveille du Jour 1 
• 2248 Dryobotodes eremita Brindled Green 4 
• 2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 2 
• 2262 Agrochola circellaris Brick 1 
• 2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 1 
• 2272 Xanthia aurago Barred Sallow 2 
• 2273 Xanthia togata Pink-barred Sallow 1 
• 2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 2 
• 2350 Chortodes pygmina Small Wainscot 1 
• 2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 8

Leaf mine and larval records for Home Wood- David Manning, Trent Duval- 27 species- 

• 0029 Ectoedemia atricollis  Hawthorn
• 0037 Ectoedemia albifasciella  Oak
• 0042 Ectoedemia septembrella  St Johns wort
• 0050 Stigmella aurella  Bramble
• 0063 Stigmella lemniscella  Elm
• 0067 Stigmella plagicolella Blackthorn
• 0068 Stigmella salicis Sallow
• 0079 Stigmella perpygmaeella Hawthorn
• 0080 Stigmella ulmivora Elm
• 0089 Stigmella basiguttella Oak 
• 0092 Stigmella anomalella Rose      
• 0123 Tischeria ekebladella Oak  
• 0125 Emmetia marginea  Bramble
• 0159 Antispila treitschkiella Dogwood 
• 0274 Bucculatrix ulmella  Oak 
• 0275 Bucculatrix bechsteinella Hawthorn
• 0293 Caloptilia syringella  Ash
• 0297 Eucalybites auroguttella St Johns wort
• 0303 Parornix anglicella Hawthorn       
• 0308 Parornix finitimella Blackthorn
• 0329 Phyllonorycter spinicolella Blackthorn
• 0332 Phyllonorycter corylifoliella Hawthorn 
• 0352 Phyllonorycter schreberella Elm     
• 0356 Phyllonorycter tristrigella Elm       
• 0362 Phyllonorycter acerifoliella  Maple 
• 1097 Endothenia gentianaeana Larva in teasel-head 
• 1169 Gypsonoma dealbana Feeding signs on oak

........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

Home Wood Survey.....26/04

Well, it was that time again; another foray into the woods ensued. The plan was to go a few days earlier when the weather was perfect. But a genrator that I had ordered turned out to have been used as a football in the depot and had to be returned. When the replacement did finally turn up it was deployed in a new location (3) in the wood and left overnight to see how it would fare. Pity really as the wind and cooler temperatures probably hampered the catch somewhat.........

Mr T. Duval's van

We packed it to the rafters with 2 traps and a tripod stand with MV bulkhead attached. We seem to have acumilated a lot of gear in a reletively short space of time.

 Location 3

This is a new area at the Southern end of the main trails on an intersection. This is where the MV Skinner was left overnight. The new Chinese 2-stroke 850w generator with one 80w MV trap connected  managed to last 7 hours 20 minutes with approximately 1 litre of the 4.2 remaining. So in the middle of Summer this would be more than enough. Thanks to Mark Skevington for the idea. The 'Home Wood Survey' page has now been updated with location map and photos.

 Location 4

This is where the battery Actinic/UV was placed. Unfortunately the battery failed and the lights where out when we arrived in the morning (6.15am). However with more mature Oak trees and a mixture of low lying scrub and Coniferous trees, this looks a slightly better site than the others......

 Flame Carpet

4 caught loc. 2&3

 Frosted Green

2 caught Loc. 3&4

 Green Carpet

5 caught- Loc. 2,3&4

 Scorched Carpet

2 caught- Loc. 2&4

 Yellow-barred Brindle

1 caught- Loc. 3

 Pale Prominent

1 caught- Loc. 3

Adela reaumurella 150

4 caught- Loc. 2,3&4. ID, A. Banthorpe VC30 Moths

The results-

Location 2- 80w MV on stand with sheet, 8.45-10.45pm-  27 of 13 species

• Brindled Pug- 5
• Dwarf Pug- 4- NFS (New for Site)
• Green Carpet- 2- NFS
• Red Twin-spot Carpet- 2- NFS
• Flame Carpet- 2- NFS
• Cream Wave- 2- NFS
• Orange Footman- 2- NFS
• Adela reaumurella- 2- NFS
• Hebrew Character- 2
• Streamer- 1
• Brimstone- 1- NFS
• Early Grey- 1
• Common Wave- 1- NFS

Location 3- 80w MV Skinner, 8.45-dawn- 36 of 21 species-

• Brindled Pug- 7
• Dwarf Pug- 4
• Green Carpet- 2
• Common Pug- 2- NFS
• Brimstone Moth- 2
• Flame Carpet- 2
• Muslin Moth- 2- NFS
• Hebrew Character- 2
• Red Twin-spot Carpet- 1
• Pale Prominent- 1- NFS
• Maiden's Blush- 1- NFS
• Syndemis musculana- 1- NFS
• Yellow-barred Brindle- 1- NFS
• Least Black Arches- 1- NFS
• Frosted Green- 1- NFS
• Grey Pine Carpet- 1- NFS
• Mottled Pug- 1- NFS
• Adela reaumurella- 1- NFS
• Flame Shoulder- 1- NFS
• Orange Footman- 1- NFS
• Clouded Drab- 1

Location 4- 2x15w Actinic/UV- 8.30-dawn- 6 of 6 species-

• Scorched Carpet- 1
• Green Carpet- 1
• Frosted Green- 1
• Muslin Moth- 1
• Maiden's Blush- 1
• Adela reaumurella- 1

There's no place like Home...23/02

After turning up at Broom GP's main gate in September last year and realising that my key, issued to me by the estate didn't work. I knew that time was up for mothing at this site. During last year I also tried to arrange a field survey in Sheerhatch Wood. This, like many others in the area is an estate run shooting wood. So after talking to the warden (a man more suited to Victorian times than the present day), realised that I wouldn't be making many inroads here either and it's worth mentioning that the same estate controls both sites!
But Hallelujah, we now have a new site to trap- Home Wood, run by the Forestry Commission though is still a private site. Although separated from Sheerhatch by just over a mile, attitude wise they are poles apart! There is now a page dedicated to Holme Wood under 'Lists and Info' on the right of the page- HERE.

Home Wood

The trap on the morning of 24th Feb- looking west along the main ride.

So this was the 1st outing at a new site.  It was decided to start with just to drop off a battery driven twin 15 watt Actinic/UV trap and collect it in the morning. The results were better than expected........photos courtesy of Trent Duval- (We are the Campions)

Small Brindled Beauty 

Spring Usher

Engrailed spp.

  March Moth

  

 Dotted Border

Clouded Drab

The list is as follows-

1. Small Brindled Beauty- 7
2. Dotted Border- 5
3. March Moth- 5
4. Tortricodes alternella- 2
5. Spring Usher
6. Engrailed spp.
7. Hebrew Character
8. Pale Brindled Beauty
9. Clouded Drab

24 moths of 9 species is pretty good for an unmanned Actinic trap.

A New Weapon!!.....................

As the mothing season starts to peak, I thought I'd well and truly open Pandora's Box. So I decided to hook up a twin light rig and tie-wrap it to the inside of our octagonal gazebo. I decided to use a pair of T12 40w Blacklight Blue tubes (BLBs) and just simply waited for it to get dark. With this I also put out my 15w twin Actinic/UV Skinner Trap.

Gazebo Trap!

The results were staggering with the 1st attempt, recording in excess of 65 species before I gave up recording! I used this system over the weekend and now have a total of 162 Macro and 73 Micro species for the year!

Viewed from my window

There will be some more actual moth posts soon. It has taken me so long just to straighten out my records......STOP PRESS!........a Ghost Moth has just turned up in the trap. Make that 163 Macros!!

UV..........12/05

Twin UV 30w trap

Powdered Quaker Double-striped Pug

Another bitterly cold spell during the night saw a minimum temperature of -2°C. But a few graced trap, even though it is operating with just UV Blacklight Blues at the moment. The light emitted looks extremely dull to our eyes, but to a moth they must be like beacons!

1. Muslin Moth- 2
2. Powdered Quaker- 25th record
3. Grey Dagger
4. Double-striped Pug
5. White-shouldered House-moth

The UV super screen.

As the weather and temperatures have been far from ideal, I decided to get ahead of the curve and create a new contraption!

This is the V2 of Trent Duval's original UV screen. The principle is the same but some notable improvements have been made. The 'screen' itself is a value white roller blind from Argos.

When rolled down, it connects to retaining hooks. This keeps it taught even in breezy conditions and after use can be easily stowed away again.

The 15w Blacklight Blue low energy bulb is connected to a lamp holder. This is mounted onto a long length of 25mm conduit which can be extended from under the shed canopy.

Only when its dark do you see just how bright the light actually is, plus there's the option of a 25w upgrade. Hopefully to moths and insects this will prove irresistible. For best results, just add a bit of Spring Weather!

The Von Trap Family......

Twin 25w Actinic FUL Trap Production!

The trap arms race with Trent Duval (We are the Campions) continues as we welcome the prototype 50w (2x25w) FUL Skinner into the fold. I just wish the weather was a slightly more favourable for mothing! I did test 1 of the Actinic/UVs last night and even though temperatures plummeted to just 1°C, it still caught a few.........

The Battle of the Traps....21/03

30 watt Actinic/UV

Upgraded 15 watt Actinic portable

15 watt Actinic

Just for experimental purposes I put out 3 traps last night. Conditions could have been a bit better with a clear, fairly cold night and a fairly bright moon. (36% of full)

The results were as follows-

30 watt Actinic/UV

1. Hebrew Character- 2
2. Clouded Drab
3. Common Quaker
4. Small Quaker
5. Emmelina monodactyla
6. Agonopterix heracliana

Upgraded 15 watt Actinic portable

1. Common Quaker- 3
2. Clouded Drab

15 watt Actinic

1. Hebrew Character- 2
2. Common Quaker
3. Emmelina monodactyla

It proves absolutely nothing as the 30w trap is in the most sheltered position. But it is nice to see the portable at least keeping up with the mains version in close proximity to each other.