Cayman Moths Pt 2........................

Here is another small selection of what has been trapped. As with last week, there were plenty of micros. I will have a better sort through the photos when I get back to the UK. The weather is far better this week, with warmer night time temperatures and just a light breeze.

A real cracker! Resembles a Footman sp. in shape and is 16mm long. Caught by my nephew Oliver Capewell.   

This is very similar to a Marbled Minor agg. in size and shape.

Geometer sp. 26mm wingspan.

A different Marbled Minor type moth.

Almost identical to a Buff Footman.

Pyralid, slightly smaller than the moth pictured below.

Pyralid, very similar in size and resembles Rusty Dot Pearl.

Brittania Golf Course

Just a couple of shots whilst having lunch on the veranda at the golf course................

Green Iguana

 Tricoloured Heron

Cayman Moths...............

Well, the Ratface USA has been out for a 3rd time in a week. The electrics perform well on the 110v power supply, but unfortunately it has been fairly windy and pretty cold for the time of year. However, there has still been a host of various beetles, lacewings, flying ants and even a grasshopper!

Anyway here are a few of the moths; I can't find out any information about any of them as I don't think mothing is high on the average Caymanian's agenda. There is a surprising amount of micro moths out here and most of the macros are on the small side. I have yet to catch anything huge, but I've got a bit longer to try. See What you think and try naming them if you can.

Botanical Gardens- Grand Cayman...........

.........Well, what a lovely place and what a temperature difference from Blighty!

After convalescing at my sister's house for a few days, it was time to get out and about. Luckily we've got a car at our disposal for the next couple of weeks and we made full use of it by yesterday going to the Botanical Gardens in the centre of the Island. I brought along my trusty compact Lumix and have been experimenting with some digiscoping ready for another foray in the next few days.

  

Trying to look like a rugged adventurer.....

 Greater Antillean Grackle

One of the commonest birds on the island.

 Caribbean Elaenia

 Green Heron

 Northern Mockingbird

 West Indian Woodpecker

 West Indian Whistling Duck

Uncommon in the region, but fairly plentiful on Grand Cayman. We saw 3 at the Botanical Gardens.

 Other birds not pictured were- Northern Flicker, Northern Water Thrush, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricoloured Heron, Least Bittern, Pied-billed Grebe, Black-winged Stilt, Common Gallinule, Magnificent Frigatebird, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Cuban Bullfinch, Palm Warbler, Bananaquit, American Redstart, Grey Catbird, Cayman Island Parrot and more.............

Acleris hastiana.....

..............Trapped in the garden for the first time since March 2010.

1053 Acleris hastiana

Chestnut................03-02

............was the only moth caught last night, despite having a couple of traps and a shed light burning last night. Other than this just a single Pale Brindled Beauty on 1st. These are the only trap nights since the 6th January!

Chestnut

06-01

I put out two Skinner traps and three moths were found on the shed wall by the trap at the bottom of the garden. With the two pictured was a single Winter Moth, but no hoped for Early Moth.

Mottled Umber

NFY

Pale Brindled Beauty

 A second record for the year

Another Acleris, Home Wood- 04-01........

............was not quite as good as I imagined with only three species recorded. I was very surprised not to see Pale Brindled Beauty or even Winter Moth. On a more positive note, the twin tube trap light was still burning brightly having been on for over 16 hours! Other than the photographed we also caught two Chestnut.

Early Moth

Never have we seen so many, an incredible 18 recorded. The site is surrounded on all sides by Hawthorn and Blackthorn so I suppose it's not that surprising. It is however, new for the site- which must indicate a very short flight period. Last year's visit was at the end of January.

 1051 Acleris logiana

  This almost escaped notice as it was very similar in colour to the egg boxes. Looking at shape, colour and the areas of raised scales, I believe this to be Acleris kochiella. Even if it is logiana, it would still be new for the site, I have kept it just in case it cannot be IDed by photos alone.
N.B. Having read further, A. kochiella is double brooded and it seems only the Summer generation is white. The over Wintering 2nd generation is usually much greyer. If this is always the case, the moth would have to be Acleris logiana. I have sent these images on to the recorder for confirmation.
.........now confirmed by David Manning, VC30 Micro Recorder.

At home I recorded a Winter Moth, which was new for the year- giving me 5 garden species so far.

Into 2013, Garden Trap + one to ID?

................And a Happy New Year to all. It seemed like a good time for a first attempt at trapping in the garden. So with temperatures hovering around 10°C, I put out a twin actinic skinner and hoped for the best.

An early patrol produced just an Agonopterix heracliana. But another check in the morning gave me a few more species. Tonight (04-01), along with two garden traps I've also dropped off a battery operated Skinner in nearby Home Wood, so hopefully more goodies to report tomorrow...........

Pale Brindled Beauty

Found on the shed wall by the 15w BLB bulb.

 Dark Chestnut

One of two found in the skinner trap at the top of the garden.

688 Agonopterix heracliana

First moth of 2013.

 Acleris sp.??

Found in the skinner, but a little worn. Any ideas? Photos taken in poor light and then flew whilst trying to get a better shot. On the small side for an Acleris.

Mottled Umber 24-11

Another one for the year list in the shape of the third garden record of Mottled Umber. Also, three Winter Moths on the lit windows of my workshop were notable. One of my only realistic targets left is Northern Winter Moth, but this  hasn't been seen in the garden for almost two years...........

Mottled Umber

 Winter Moth

3 Amigos!.........

How anything flew last night I will never know! Gusts of up to 40 mph and driving rain; I can only assume that these three were an extremely local hatch. It's the first time I've recorded more than one on a single night. They were all caught under a 15w BLB bulb on the front of my garden shed. 

Tonight I went out and found a single Winter Moth on a lit window.........

December Moths

NFG- Upper Caldcote 13-11-12

Not too much in the way of macro moths at the moment as the Autumn wears on. But the 13th was especially mild and as a consequence, did manage to trap a handful of moths (list at the foot of this post). Pick of the bunch was this Acleris sp. which I have retained. I think it is either ferrugana or notana; either would be new for the garden. Now confirmed as Acleris ferrugana, gen. det. D. Manning VC30 Moths.

1044 Acleris ferrugana

 34 Ectoedemia occultella

NFG- Seems to be a few of these reported this year. One I didn't record last year on the same Birch Tree.

 114/15 Stigmella glutinosae/alnetella
Whoops! This is a diptera (fly) mine. It is made by Agromyza alnivora

Well spotted A. Banthorpe of VC30 Moths.

Gaden list for 13-11-2012- 7 of 7 species-

0229	Monopis obviella		1
1044	Acleris ferrugana	Acleris ferrugana/notana	1	To be confirmed
1760	Chloroclysta siterata	Red-green Carpet	1
1769	Thera britannica	Spruce Carpet	1
2232	Aporophyla nigra	Black Rustic	1
2258	Conistra vaccinii	Chestnut	1
2267	Agrochola lychnidis	Beaded Chestnut	1

Upper Caldecote Garden 7-11

Not a great deal of trapping at the moment, but I've continued to leave a 15w BLB bulb on overnight. I recorded a single Silver Y on 1st, this was after a few blank nights. The 7th proved to be a better night with three species recorded, a Willow Beauty with the photographed species below. Last night looked a decent night so I put out my trap and caught............nothing!

Feathered Thorn

NFY- 7th November

 November Moth agg.

Garden List 24-10

Beaded Chestnut

Top of the shop with 5 caught. A very late Square-spot Rustic was also notable.

Upper Caldecote- Twin 15w Actinic/UV Skinner & 15w BLB Bulb- 24 of 15 species

1048	Acleris variegana	Garden Rose Tortrix	1
1764	Chloroclysta truncata	Common Marbled Carpet	2
2087	Agrotis segetum	Turnip Moth	1
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	1
2109	Noctua comes	Lesser Yellow Underwing	1
2126	Xestia c-nigrum	Setaceous Hebrew Character	2
2134	Xestia xanthographa	Square-spot Rustic	1
2232	Aporophyla nigra	Black Rustic	1
2237	Lithophane ornitopus	Grey Shoulder-knot	1
2240	Lithophane leautieri	Blair's Shoulder-knot	1
2245	Allophyes oxyacanthae	Green-brindled Crescent	2
2263	Agrochola lota	Red-line Quaker	2
2267	Agrochola lychnidis	Beaded Chestnut	5
2306	Phlogophora meticulosa	Angle Shades	1
2441	Autographa gamma	Silver Y	1