Garden Leaf-mining Results for 24-09

325 Phyllonorycter mespilella

 A new species for VC30, right under my nose. Confirmed a few days later (D.V. Manning) by means of a vacated pupal case on the underside of the leaf. The food plant pictured is Conference Pear (Pyrus communis). In the wild it feeds on Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis) and Wild Pear (Pyrus pyraster). But is an extremely scarce species with relatively few records.

List of Leaf Mines for Upper Caldecote Garden- TL166457 20 species-

Eriocrania sp.  1- vacated mine in Birch- NFY
0050  Stigmella aurella  5- Mines on Raspberry variety- NFY
0075  Stigmella floslactella  3- Mines on Hornbeam- NFY
0099  Stigmella hybnerella  20- Mines on Hawthorn- NFY
0111  Stigmella microtheriella  4- Mines on Hazel- NFY
0254  Laburnum Leaf Miner (Leucoptera laburnella)  100's on a small Laburnum shrub- NFG
0263  Apple Leaf Miner (Lyonetia clerkella)  100's on various shrubs/trees
0265  Bucculatrix cristatella  1- Mine in Yarrow
0275  Bucculatrix bechsteinella  2- Mines in Hawthorn- NFY
0293  Caloptilia syringella  3- Mines in Lilac- NFG
0304  Parornix devoniella  2- Mines in Hazel- NFY
0310  Callisto denticulella  3- Mines in Apple- NFY
0318  Phyllonorycter tenerella  3- Mines in Hornbeam- NFY
0323  Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae  15- Mines on Hawthorn- NFY
0325  Phyllonorycter mespilella  2- Mines on Pear- NFG and for VC30!-
0332  Phyllonorycter corylifoliella  20- Mines on Hawthorn/Apple/Pear
0332a  Firethorn Leaf Miner (Phyllonorycter leucographella)  2- Mines on Hawthorn- NFY
0343  Phyllonorycter esperella  6- Mines on Hornbeam- NFY
0345  Phyllonorycter rajella  20- Mines on Alder- NFY
0353  Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella  1- Mine on Birch- NFY

Pupae- image of cremaster (tail end) 

"The hooks at the tail end of the pupa (cremaster) are somewhat similar
in many species of Phyllonorycter sp. Fortunately they differ noticeably between mespilella and blancardella.
I am certain that you had mespilella, and John Langmaid (the national expert) has now agreed."

D.V. Manning

      Plate 43 P. mespilella                                                 Plate 44 P. blancardella

25-09 Another big night.........

.......and even better than last! Only one new macro moth in the form of a Large Wainscot, but more variety and a few surprising records. A very late Beautiful Hook-tip, Marbled Beauty and Orthopygia glaucinalis.

Large Wainscot

NFY- not seen in 2012.

Beautiful hook-tip

A rare Autumn record.

 Dusky-lemon Sallow

 Second record this year.

 Red-green Carpet

My first multiple record with two in one night.

Upper Caldecote Garden- 2 traps 430 of 44 species-

0647  Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)  1
0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  1
0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  4
1048  Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana)  1
1398  Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella)  1
1413  Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis)  5
1415  Orthopygia glaucinalis  1
1425  Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella)  1
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  4
1745  Mallow (Larentia clavaria)  1
1760  Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata)  2
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  4
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  1
1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  16
1961  Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)  1
2087  Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)  3
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  1
2107  Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  106
2109  Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)  28
2110  Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata)  4
2126  Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)  100
2134  Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)  2
2199  Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)  9
2231  Deep-brown Dart (Aporophyla lutulenta)  11
2232  Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)  15
2240  Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri)  11
2248  Brindled Green (Dryobotodes eremita)  1
2252  Large Ranunculus (Polymixis flavicincta)  1
2266  Brown-spot Pinion (Agrochola litura)  1
2267  Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis)  4
2270  Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)  54
2272  Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago)  1
2274  Sallow (Xanthia icteritia)  3
2275  Dusky-lemon Sallow (Xanthia gilvago)  1
2293  Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica)  1
2298  Svensson's Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera)  1
2299  Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis)  2
2361  Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea)  1
2364  Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago)  1
2375  Large Wainscot (Rhizedra lutosa)  1 NFY
2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  3
2389  Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)  16
2473  Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula)  1
2477  Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)  3

Monster, Monster!

Looks like one of the greatest Autumn nights ever.................for this VC30 garden anyway.

Dusky-lemon Sallow

NFY

Dotted Rustic

NFG

Beaded Chestnut

NFY

Upper Caldecote Garden- 24-09-2013- 2 traps- 403 of 37 species

0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  4
1048  Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana)  1
1261  Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella)  1
1398  Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella)  1
1413  Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis)  6
1707  Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata)  1
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  8
1838  Tawny Speckled Pug (Eupithecia icterata)  1
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  1
1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  17
1961  Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)  1
2087  Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)  3
2091  Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)  2
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  1
2105  Dotted Rustic (Rhyacia simulans)  1 NFG
2107  Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  87
2109  Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)  18
2110  Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata)  5
2126  Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)  115
2134  Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)  3
2199  Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)  8
2231  Deep-brown Dart (Aporophyla lutulenta)  12
2232  Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)  15
2240  Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri)  4
2248  Brindled Green (Dryobotodes eremita)  1
2267  Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis)  1 NFY
2270  Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)  53
2274  Sallow (Xanthia icteritia)  4
2275  Dusky-lemon Sallow (Xanthia gilvago)  1 NFY
2297  Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea)  1
2299  Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis)  2
2306  Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)  1
2361  Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea)  1
2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  8
2389  Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)  11
2477  Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)  2

More Migrants........

Vestal

After trapping a very plain individual on 17th July 2010, I had to wait three years for the next. Unfortunately, the individual caught on 1st August this year escaped before a photo. It was nice to get another opportunity on 16th September when this well-marked specimen turned up.
There is still time for a few more migrants. One of my target species for this year is Gem, which I have yet to see anywhere.

Recess

Well the weather has turned and the trap has been rested for a couple of nights. The night of the 12th did contain a couple of highlights. Full list at the foot of this post. The brown stuff is now finally beginning to abate so I'm hoping for some good, mild Autumn weather if I'm going to break the 300 macros in a year target.

Small Ranunculus

The best year in the garden so far- this being the 10th record in 2013. In this part of the world at least this moth has become fairly common in a short period of time and now has to be reclassified.

 White-point

The second record this year- a bad photo of a pristine individual.

Upper Caldecote Garden- 12-09-2013- Twin T12 20w Synergetic Skinner 162 of 35 species

0450  Hawthorn Moth (Scythropia crataegella)  1

0964  Cochylis dubitana  1

0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  2

1048  Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana)  2

1309  Agriphila geniculea  2

1342  Eudonia angustea  1

1524  Emmelina monodactyla  1

1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1

1867  Treble-bar (Aplocera plagiata)  1

1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1

1961  Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)  4

2087  Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)  2

2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  1

2107  Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  20

2109  Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)  9

2110  Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata)  1

2126  Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)  49

2134  Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)  8

2145  Nutmeg (Discestra trifolii)  1

2154  Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)  2

2165  Small Ranunculus (Hecatera dysodea)  1

2194  White-point (Mythimna albipuncta)  1

2199  Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)  5

2270  Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)  2

2274  Sallow (Xanthia icteritia)  1

2298  Svensson's Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera)  2

2299  Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis)  13

2306  Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)  1

2353  Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea)  3

2361  Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea)  1

2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  17

2389  Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)  2

2434  Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)  1

2452  Red Underwing (Catocala nupta)  1

2477  Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)  1

Garden Highlights

Best of the recent catches....................

Large Thorn

 A year tick on 8th September after recording it twice last year. (4th,16th September 2012)

 White-point

 A second record on 9th September after recording it for the first time on 9th June 2012.

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!

No. 340

Another new macro to add in an incredible year for the garden..........

Bordered Beauty