Tuesday, November 27, 2012

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

Friday, November 23, 2012

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

Friday, November 16, 2012

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

Friday, November 9, 2012

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.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

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

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

New for late October

Green-brindled Crescent ab. capucina
 NFY, 20th October

Spruce Carpet
NFY, 21st October

 Red-green Carpet
NFY, 22nd October

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Garden List 17-10

Upper Caldecote- Twin 15w Actinic/UV Skinner, 15w BLB Bulb- 18 of 11 species-

1764    Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
2109    Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
2126    Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 4
2240    Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
2258    Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 1
2259    Conistra ligula Dark Chestnut 1
2267    Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 5
2273   Xanthia togataPink-barred Sallow1   NFY
2306    Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2384    Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1
2441    Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Bonus Tick........

............Having looked back through my records, I didn't get this when I usually do in Spring.

Grey Shoulder-knot
NFY, 15th October.

This was caught under a 15w BLB bulb at the bottom of the garden, with just a handful of others. Another Deep-brown Dart along with a Large Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Blair's Shoulder-knot.

Monday, October 15, 2012

List for 11-10-12

A couple of year ticks after a short break from trapping.

Upper Caldecote Garden- Twin 15w Actinic/UV Skinner 10 of 8 species-

1048    Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 1
1795x    Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 1    NFY
2126    Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
2232    Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 1
2247    Dichonia aprilina Merveille du Jour 1    NFY
2267    Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 1
2270    Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 3
2306    Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1

Saturday, September 29, 2012

List for 28-09..........

Pretty uninspiring really.


Upper Caldecote Garden- Twin 15w Actinic/UV Skinner- 12 of 8 species-

1048    Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 1
1937    Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
2107    Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2
2109    Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
2231    Aporophyla lutulenta Deep-brown Dart 1
2270    Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 3
2353    Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 1
2381    Hoplodrina alsines Uncertain 1

Friday, September 28, 2012

Mallow..............................

............one under my outside light when I looked this morning.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Just into Autumn ....... it's already over!.......

...................and very little time for mothing of late as my extension (promised to the Mrs for years!!) is finally under way. So I've been coping with lack of time and even space at times, especially when building materials have encroached onto my prime mothing locations. We do now have power at the bottom of the garden again, so I have been putting the trap on at weekends.
However, I need not worry; for Trent, in the style of Paddy Power has paid out early! Although he flogged his guts out to squeeze every last species out of his small town garden, he has fallen short by a considerable margin. Ironically, if the competition had been 'all in' as last year he would at this stage be 12 species in front- due to his superior micro moth list..................
Anyway, here is a few highlights from the last month- starting with the winnings!

The Wine
..............and for the most species of Macro Moths in 2012 with a total of? Well, I don't know yet. But probably not as good as last year's 253. Already dispatched- very nice indeed and Trent drank half of it anyway!

1332 Scoparia subfusca
 
A garden 1st, 24th August.

 Orange Sallow
First seen since 2009, found in the house- 9th September.

 Frosted Orange

 Large Thorn
A 2nd for the year, caught under a 15w BLB bulb, 16th September.

A 'real' Brown-spot Pinion
Quite rare in my garden- only the 2nd record, unlike Lunar Underwings- eh Trent? 22nd September.

 Deep-brown Dart
1st of the year, 22nd September.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

September.............Large!

............................has been pretty boring so far, with limited chances for mothing. That is until this turned up on 4th September. It's another 1st, macro number 309 for the garden list.
Thanks for putting me right Bill, indeed this was a very big Thorn! 
This represents the 63rd VC30 record, not seen since 2009.................................
  
September Thorn
Large Thorn!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Yarrow Pug

Before this year, I am sure I'd never seen Pugs like these before. I have now caught 6 and have posted a couple of examples below. They are large, with a 25mm wingspan and food plant (Hawk's beard) is abundant in the overgrown garden next door, anyone care to comment?

Yarrow Pug
Caught 9th August. Spot on Bill D!

Yarrow Pug?........probably
Caught 24th August.

To add to this, the example from 9th August was dissected by Andy Banthorpe of VC30 Moth Group. It was found to be a male Yarrow Pug, only the 12th confirmed for the vice county. I could be wrong, but the others (another 5) were probably the same species. I will pay more attention if I trap any next year. 

Friday, August 24, 2012

All New.............

...................and a surprise really, as I expected once over 300 macros- new ticks would become harder and harder to achieve. But incredibly, I have trapped 30 new species this year- 17 Macro and 13 Micro. Now with a combined garden list total of 547 things have surely to slow down? I wonder just how many species can be caught over a long enough period of time.........

1461 Assara terebrella
To my knowledge, this is only the 2nd adult record in VC30 to date after the first in Home wood on 26-07-12. NFG- 14-08-12

 Chalk Carpet
Bizarre! The nearest chalk to my location is at the School. NFG 19-08

 Fen Wainscot
NFG- 19-08. The 11th 'Wainscot'

Burnished Brass
NFY 21-08. For some reason, these are quite scarce in my garden.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

In the reedbeds, Broom GPs

Last Sunday (19th) I decided to drop off a battery actinic/BLB Skinner at Broom Gravel Pits. The pits were first dug in the late 1990's and are now well established and I was curious to find out a possible source of the wetland species I trap in the garden. It would be logical to suspect they are carried on the prevailing wind towards my garden just over half a mile away to the north. I collected my trap- which was positioned HERE on Monday morning. There is a list at the bottom of this post.

Webb's Wainscot
One of three caught.

 Bulrush Wainscot
One of three trapped.

 737 Monochroa palustrella
The first time I've seen this species.

Broom GPs, G&M Pits- 19-08-12- Twin 15w Battery Actinic/BLB Skinner- c1093 of 37 species

0015    Hepialus sylvina Orange Swift 1
0737    Monochroa palustrella
1
0898    Limnaecia phragmitella
1
0937    Agapeta hamana
1
1200    Eucosma hohenwartiana
1
1292    Calamotropha paludella
6
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella
2
1309    Agriphila geniculea
5
1331    Acentria ephemerella Water Veneer 1000    circa
1348    Parapoynx stratiotata Ringed China-mark 5
1354    Cataclysta lemnata Small China-mark 1
1439    Trachycera advenella
1
1452    Phycita roborella
1
1470    Euzophera pinguis
1
1699    Idaea rusticata Least Carpet 2
1713    Idaea aversata Riband Wave 3
1776    Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 2
1825    Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck Pug 1
1906    Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1937    Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
1956    Cabera exanthemata Common Wave 1
2000    Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 3
2006    Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 2
2102    Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 11
2107    Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 7
2126    Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2
2154    Mamestra brassicae Cabbage Moth 1
2197    Mythimna straminea Southern Wainscot 1
2199    Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 1
2297    Amphipyra pyramidea Copper Underwing 1
2303    Thalpophila matura Straw Underwing 1
2321    Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 1
2353    Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 16
2369    Nonagria typhae Bulrush Wainscot 3
2373    Archanara sparganii Webb's Wainscot 3
Cochylis sp. 1   Awaiting gen det. DVM
Depressaria sp. 1   Awaiting gen det. DVM

Monday, August 20, 2012

More soon.........................

...................Snowed under at the moment but still trapping. A few decent new moths for my garden plus other highlights to come. In the meantime it was nice to trap such a well marked White-spotted Pinion.

This RDB species seems to be a VC30 specialty- I have now trapped it every year since 2009.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Bicentenary Hits................

.............to take the macro year list over the double century. Just a few shots of some of the highlights for now, with a list and some further information to follow.................time permitting. I've also got some other bits and pieces including a few Cnephasias and Common Rustic aggs. which could add to the garden list. 

Southern Wainscot
This is the 3rd record on Southern Wainscot this year. This shot shows the subtle band across the front of the thorax, another good diagnostic feature.

Tawny Speckled Pug
Caught on 8th August. I've retained a couple of worn pugs for inspection by the recorders.

 Purple Thorn
NFY, 8th August.

 Orange Swift
NFY, 9th August.

 1091 Apotomis lineana
A second ever record on 9th August for this scarce micro.

Small Mottled Willow
Two years in a row for this sporadic migrant, NFY 9th August.

 1350 Beautiful China-mark Nymphula stagnata
A long awaited garden first. 10th August.

 Tissue
The star lot, only the 40th record for VC30, though most of these records are not recent. Not seen in the vice-county since 2008. NFG 10th August.
To add to this- it is only the 4th record since 2003 and the first in August since 1982. It is also the first  in my 10km square (TL14) since 1975!

 Latticed Heath
A garden first, 10th August.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Home Wood 26/07

Once again I left a small  80w MV Skinner in the wood overnight. In the morning myself and Trent went to pick it up with the cheapo Chinese generator still going strong at 6.30am. For just £60, it has proved to be cheap to run and very reliable, if a little on the noisy/smoky side!
A lot of the micros are currently with David Manning for Gen Dets, mainly Coleophora and Cnephasia sp.
I also have what looks like a Triple-spotted Clay and a very worn pug for Andy Banthorpe.

Black Arches
 Very common in Home Wood.

196 Morophaga choragella
This is the Cork Moth's big brother- with a whopping 25mm wingspan.

 Burnished Brass

 Large Twin-spot Carpet

 Dingy Footman  f. stramineola

Home Wood list- 57 species so far (awaiting gen dets)

0196    Morophaga choragella
1   Location#4
0642   Batia unitella
9   Location#4
0658    Carcina quercana
2   Location#4
0765    Teleiodes vulgella
1   Location#4- NFS
0938    Agapeta zoegana
1   Location#4
1010    Ditula angustiorana Red-barred Totrix 2   Location#4
1020    Cnephasia stephensiana
4   Location#4- NFS
1032    Aleimma loeflingiana
1   Location#4
1036    Acleris forsskaleana
1   Location#4- NFS
1037    Acleris holmiana
2   Location#4- NFS
1038    Acleris laterana
1   Location#4
1083    Hedya nubiferana Marbled Orchard Tortrix? 5   Worn, with DVM- Location#4
1086    Hedya salicella
1   Location#4- NFS
1175    Epiblema uddmanniana Bramble Shoot Moth 1   Location#4- NFS
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella
3   Location#4
1316    Catoptria falsella
1   Location#4- NFS
1331    Acentria ephemerella Water Veneer 5   Location#4- NFS
1334    Scoparia ambigualis
12   Location#4
1376    Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie 2   Location#4
1415    Orthopygia glaucinalis
1   Location#4- NFS
1640    Euthrix potatoria Drinker 4   Location#4
1667    Comibaena bajularia Blotched Emerald 1   Location#4
1673    Hemistola chrysoprasaria Small Emerald 1   Location#4- NFS
1699    Idaea rusticata Least Carpet 1   Location#4
1702    Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 6   Location#4
1708    Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave 3   Location#4
1713    Idaea aversata Riband Wave 6   Location#4
1726    Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata Large Twin-spot Carpet 2   Location#4
1732    Scotopteryx chenopodiata Shaded Broad-bar 1   Location#4
1777    Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 2   Location#4- NFS
1906    Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1   Location#4
1917    Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1   Location#4
1919    Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn 1   Location#4- NFS
1921    Crocallis elinguaria Scalloped Oak 1   Location#4- NFS
1922    Ourapteryx sambucaria Swallow-tailed Moth 1   Location#4- NFS
1937    Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2   Location#4
1947    Ectropis bistortata Engrailed 9   Location#4
1958    Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 1   Location#4
2029    Euproctis chrysorrhoea Brown-tail 3   Location#4
2030    Euproctis similis Yellow-tail 22   Location#4
2033    Lymantria monacha Black Arches 16   Location#4
2044    Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 29   Location#4
2049    Eilema depressa Buff Footman 4   Location#4
2050    Eilema lurideola Common Footman 8   Location#4
2061    Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 2   Location#4
2127    Xestia ditrapezium Triple-spotted Clay? 1   To be confirmed?- Location#4
2128    Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot 4   Location#4
2318    Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 1   Location#4
2321    Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 1   Location#4
2345    Photedes minima Small Dotted Buff 1   Location#4
2349    Chortodes fluxa Mere Wainscot 4   Location#4
2381    Hoplodrina alsines Uncertain 4   Location#4
2425    Colocasia coryli Nut-tree Tussock 1   Location#4
2434    Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 1   Location#4
2474    Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 1   Location#4
Coleopha sp. 1? 8   Location#4- awaiting gen det.
Coleopha sp. 2? 1   Location#4- awaiting gen det.