There was far more effort put into garden moth recording in 2020, which was undoubtedly due to Covid-19 and the subsequent restrictions. I recorded on 47 more occasions than the year before and put far more effort into micros. Thanks to Andy Banthorpe (AMB) for completing the many Gen. dets. from the specimens I took during the year.
Also, hip surgery meant I was out of action for some of the year, with operations to replace both at the end of March and the end of August. Big thanks to Louie for continuing to record and sweep net the garden while I was incapacitated!
In 2020, I recorded 523 garden species in total, a new record. There were 267 Macros (6th best total) and 256 Micros, my best ever total.
Recording days/Trap nights: 265 (+47 on 2019)
Records: 7700 (+2423 on 2019)
The year ended with an all time garden total of 831 species. (397 Macro, 434 Micro)
The table below shows the most productive month for species caught was July. By far the least was February. There were ten blank nights in just two months, spread evenly between January (5) and December (5) and the most trap days was August to October with 100% coverage in September.
Month Species Trap days
January 12 18
February 8 6
March 16 10
April 61 20
May 165 27
June 241 24
July 268 26
August 221 30
September 100 30
October 62 30
November 43 19
December 9 15
Although I started in 2009, the first full year was 2010.
Year Macro Micro
2019 265 216
2018 281 241
2017 274 207
2016 276 230
2015 256 199
2014 289 213
2013 304 218
2012 241 161
2011 253 207
2010 240 135
Most abundant-
Once again, Common Wainscot had a very good year, with an impressive 455 caught on just one night. (11th August)
73.291 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 3332
63.115 Acentria ephemerella Water Veneer 3214
73.325 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1301
73.193 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 1130
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 1004
73.109 Thalpophila matura Straw Underwing 747
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 685
63.080 Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 640
73.319 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 550
73.131 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 494
Micros
There were 24 new species added in 2020. Including three new to county species as well as the recently classified, Prays ruficeps, thought once to be a dark form of Prays fraxinella Ash Bud Moth .
49.369 Pammene agnotana 1- 11/04- 1st for VC30- Gen det AMB
04.071 Bohemannia pulverosella 1- 07/05- Gen det AMB
38.015 Elachista gangabella 1- 24/05- 14th record- Gen det AMB
49.047 Eana incanana 7- 01/06
20.015 Argyresthia curvella 1- 02/06
49.014 Archips crataegana Brown Oak Tortrix 1- 09/06
62.070 Synaphe punctalis 1- 18/06
37.058 Coleophora conspicuella 1- 21/06- 5th VC30 record
15.039 Phyllonorycter quercifoliella 1- 24/06- (No photo)- Gen det AMB
02.004 Eriocrania sparrmannella 1- 05/07- 15th VC30 record- tenanted leaf mine
49.129 Cochylidia rupicola 1- 10/07- 3rd VC30 record
48.002 Prochoreutis myllerana 1- 18/07- 5th VC30 record- Gen det AMB
15.093 Phyllocnistis xenia 1- 21/07- 5th VC30 record
49.295 Notocelia roborana 1- 23/07- Gen det AMB
15.085 Phyllonorycter joannisi 1- 30/07
49.256 Epinotia cinereana 1- 31/07- 1st for VC30- Gen det AMB
62.053 Ancylosis oblitella 1- 31/07- 2nd VC30 record- Gen det AMB
35.094 Aroga velocella 1- 06/08
39.005 Chrysoclista linneella 1- 11/08- 16th VC30 record
39.004 Dystebenna stephensi 1- 11/08- 2nd VC30 record
63.005 Pyrausta despicata 1- 11/08
22.003 Prays ruficeps 1- 18/08- 1st for VC30- ID, AMB
35.118 Scrobipalpa ocellatella Beet Moth 1- 15/09- Joint 1st VC30 record- Gen det AMB
15.004 Caloptilia elongella 1- 09/11- Gen det AMB
Pammene agnotana
Bohemannia pulverosella
Eana incanana
Argyresthia curvella
Archips crataegana Brown Oak Tortrix
Synaphe punctalis
Coleophora conspicuella
