Garden catch up & the big Six

A pretty hectic couple of nights in the garden all in all with a couple of new macros on 27th March. A very tatty Angle Shades and this furry little devil. It's quite an early record I would say, my earliest by  almost 2 weeks.

Muslin Moth

The big Six refers to Orthosias as I've finally recorded six different ones on one night. The full list for 28th March is as follows.

Upper Caldecote  Garden- 28-03-12- 33 of 11 species-

1497	Amblyptilia acanthadactyla		2
1524	Emmelina monodactyla		4
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1
1917	Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn	1
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	8
2185	Orthosia populeti	Lead-coloured Drab	1
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	6
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	3
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker	1
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	5
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	1

Home Wood- 28/03

Trent and I set up an 80w MV Bulkhead light on a tripod with a vertical sheet (Location #1). We also left a battery powered Twin Actinic/BLB Skinner trap further down one of the rides at Location #4 which Trent collected in the morning. 

After a few really warm days, it seemed like a good night to trap. But as night fell the temperatures plummeted in the clear conditions and as a result numbers were surprisingly low. We were beginning to lose heart by about 9.30pm and started to pack up. However just as we did so this turned up, a new species for the survey and a second for me in less than a week!

Dotted Chestnut

One of five species new for the site.

663 Diurnea fagella

This top scored with twelve caught between the two traps including four melanic specimens.

 Brindled Pug

Disappointingly, only one caught.

 Engrailed

 Herald

New for the site.

Home Wood species list- 28-03-12- 61 of 19 species-

0663	Diurnea fagella		12	Including 4 melanic
1663	Alsophila aescularia	March Moth	2
1746	Anticlea badiata	Shoulder Stripe	1
1747	Anticlea derivata	Streamer	1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	1
1917	Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn	1	NFS
1930	Biston strataria	Oak Beauty	1
1947	Ectropis bistortata	Engrailed	4
2139	Cerastis rubricosa	Red Chestnut	2
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	9
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	3
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	3
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker	2	NFS
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	5
2237	Lithophane ornitopus	Grey Shoulder-knot	1	NFS
2256	Eupsilia transversa	Satellite	8
2258	Conistra vaccinii	Chestnut	2
2260	Conistra rubiginea	Dotted Chestnut	1	NFS
2469	Scoliopteryx libatrix	Herald	1	NFS

The State of Drabs.....

...............has been an interesting talking point recently as we reach the peak of the Lead-coloured Drab flight period. There has been some confusion about what is the most reliable ID feature etc. So last night I caught yet another one and decided to photograph it next to a similarly coloured Clouded Drab. So why not have a go at identifying them? There is no prize but I thought it would be an interesting social experiment. I will write a post with all the differences as I see them.........(which may be useful, maybe not!). PS The competition is not open to anyone called Ben Sale!

I think everyone was pretty much on the money....................

     Clouded Drab                                         Lead-coloured Drab

Micros from 25th.....Help please

A couple of new micros, top one looks like an Acleris sp. The bottom one a leaf-miner of some description......answers on a postcard please.

1047 Acleris schalleriana

A Garden 1st!

263 Apple Leaf Miner Lyonetia clerkella

Thanks for the ID's Mark.........

Garden Update. 23-24/03

Ok, so it's not a Dotted Chestnut; and I'm not expecting anything as good any time soon. Nevertheless, another new macro to crush Trent's spirits still further and I fancy he may already have one eye on the 'offy'.

So not as many highlights, but a nice selection all the same. 

An imminent trip to Home Wood is on the cards, hopefully on Wednesday night- this should boost the list......and the work load! 

Red Chestnut

NFY, 23rd March

Clouded Drabs

Showing the variation in this common species. They can range from light brown to a very dark purple.

Lead-coloured Drab

Yes, I know I've posted this a couple of times before, but this is a male don't you know! Check out those feathered antennae........

Upper Caldecote Garden 23-03-2012- 49 of 12 species-

1288	Alucita hexadactyla	Twenty-plume Moth	1	NFY
1524	Emmelina monodactyla		3
1834	Eupithecia vulgata	Common Pug	1
1917	Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn	1
2139	Cerastis rubricosa	Red Chestnut	1	NFY
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	15
2185	Orthosia populeti	Lead-coloured Drab	1
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	10
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	10
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	2
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	3
2258	Conistra vaccinii	Chestnut	1

Upper Caldecote Garden 24-03-2012- 37 of 7 species-

1524	Emmelina monodactyla		3
1934	Agriopis marginaria	Dotted Border	1
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	10
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	4
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	11
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	5
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	3

.......22/03

After about three years of intensive trapping, catching new species is becoming more and more difficult. Though last night I caught my second new macro moth of the year. I suppose it was inevitable that I would eventually get one of these-

Dotted Chestnut

It's another scalp for the humble 15w BLB bulb on the shed at the bottom of the garden.

Twin-spotted Quaker

This time the 'spotless' form.

435 Zelleria hepariella

663 Diurnea fagella

649 Esperia Sulphurella

This day flying species was found today (23rd) and is NFY.

Upper Caldecote Garden- 22-03-2012- 46 of 15 species-

0435	Zelleria hepariella		1	NFY
0663	Diurnea fagella		1
0688	Agonopterix heracliana		1
1497	Amblyptilia acanthadactyla		2
1524	Emmelina monodactyla		6
1659	Achlya flavicornis	Yellow Horned	1
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1
1917	Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn	1
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	10
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	9
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	5
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker	1
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	4
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	2
2260	Conistra rubiginea	Dotted Chestnut	1	Garden 1st

Garden 20-21/03

This week has been superb so far, with a few more decent nights to come as we move into the weekend. In 2010 I claimed a 'dubious' Herald which I found hibernating under a piece of furniture. Trouble is the piece of furniture was taken out of the garage of a house five miles away from mine. Finally, I can sleep easy again with a 'legit' Herald under my belt........

Herald

NFY and arguably a Garden first- 20th March

240 Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella

Less impressive was this found in my bedroom (not in my wallet!). It's a probable as there is a couple of similar species........also caught on 20th March.

 Yellow Horned

This daggy specimen was NFY, 21st March.

 Upper Caldecote Garden 20-03-2012- 44 of 12 species-

0240	Tinea pellionella	Case-bearing Clothes Moth	1	NFY
0663	Diurnea fagella		1
0688	Agonopterix heracliana		1
1524	Emmelina monodactyla		2
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	8
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	11
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	5
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	2
2256	Eupsilia transversa	Satellite	11
2469	Scoliopteryx libatrix	Herald	1	NFY

Upper Caldecote Garden 21-03-2012- 24 of 8 species-

1524	Emmelina monodactyla		2
1659	Achlya flavicornis	Yellow Horned	1	NFY
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	5
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	7
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	5
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker	1
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	2
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	1

A score...........

..............and three days before the same total last year, with a few more available. After missing out last year it was good to finally catch up with one of these-

Pine Beauty

This was found on the shed wall under the 15w BLB bulb.

 Lead-coloured Drab

More or less a carbon copy of the female trapped on 12th.

Upper Caldecote Garden- 17-03-2012- 21 of 7 species-

1497	Amblyptilia acanthadactyla		1
1934	Agriopis marginaria	Dotted Border	1
2179	Panolis flammea	Pine Beauty	1	NFY
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	5
2185	Orthosia populeti	Lead-coloured Drab	1
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	6
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	2
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	5

.........15/03

After a day off, the lights were back on for the 15th March. The usual stuff was recorded until I found this under the last egg box in the Twin Actinic/UV Skinner!

Twin-spotted Quaker

I also put on a 15w BLB bulb at the bottom of the garden, on the shed. Early in the evening this proved productive with a NFY Double-striped Pug and a new micro in the form of Diurnea fagella. They both absconded before a photo could be taken.

 Small Quaker

Loads of these around this year, with 18 trapped so far. This is a nice well marked one.

Upper Caldecote Garden- 15-03-2012- 24 of 10 species-

0663	Diurnea fagella	Diurnea fagella	1	NFY
0688	Agonopterix heracliana	Agonopterix heracliana	1
0695	Agonopterix alstromeriana	Agonopterix alstromeriana	1
1524	Emmelina monodactyla	Emmelina monodactyla	1
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1	NFY
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	3
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	8
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	5
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker	1	NFY
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	2

Nothing but Orthosias! 12/03

........Now I haven't checked, but I'm sure this is the first time I've recorded five Orthosia species without catching anything else. Later in the year I will probably catch Powdered Quaker, but that's usually about it. I have trapped Twin-spotted Quaker just once; in 2010 and have yet to record it in Home Wood so far. Obviously the highlight of the evening was the Lead-coloured Drab as I only caught one last year. March has been very productive with at least one new macro moth on five consecutive nights..........

Lead-coloured Drab

It is fairly easy to overlook this species as they can look an awful lot like the similar Clouded Drab. Especially if the markings are faint or worn. The example above is fairly well marked, so some easy comparisons can be made. Generally size is a good indicator, Lead-coloured Drab is usually smaller. The wing tips are also much less pointed. Also look at the reniform Stigmata (kidney mark), this is proportionately slightly larger on the wing and usually looks darker and more contrasting compared to Clouded Drab. If you have a male Lead-coloured Drab, the task is made easy by the bipectinated (feathered) antennae, which are not present in Clouded Drab. However, the above specimen is a female, so lacks this particular field mark.

Upper Caldecote Garden 12-03-2012- 12 of 5 species-

2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	2
2185	Orthosia populeti	Lead-coloured Drab	1	NFY
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	2
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	1
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	6

OB- 11/03

Always nice to see. Yellow Horned, Shoulder-stripe and Twin-spotted Quaker next (hopefully).

Oak Beauty

Upper Caldecote Garden- 11-03-2012- 25 of 9 species-

1524	Emmelina monodactyla		1
1663	Alsophila aescularia	March Moth	1
1930	Biston strataria	Oak Beauty	1	NFY
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	6
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	8
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	2
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	2
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	3
2256	Eupsilia transversa	Satellite	1

At last............

..........some warmer weather and some new moths. After a week of not bothering due to cold nights and blustery winds, the lights went back on on 8th March. Six new species in three nights, the best of which was last night. Thirteen species on 10th was very unseasonal indeed.........at least for my garden. Could be another good one tonight.

Clouded Drab

 Common Pug

My earliest record- 8th March 2012

 Small Quaker

Three recorded so far. NFY, 9th March 2012.

Early Grey

NFY, 10th March 2012.

 Early Thorn

NFY, 10th March 2012.

 1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla

NFY, 10th March 2012.

Upper Caldecote Garden- 10-03-2012- 31 of 13 species-

0688	Agonopterix heracliana		4
0998	Epiphyas postvittana	Light Brown Apple Moth	1
1497	Amblyptilia acanthadactyla		1	NFY
1524	Emmelina monodactyla		5
1663	Alsophila aescularia	March Moth	2
1917	Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn	1	NFY
1934	Agriopis marginaria	Dotted Border	1
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	2
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	6
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	1
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	4
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	3	NFY
2259	Conistra ligula	Dark Chestnut	1