March- so far.........

Well, what a contrast to last year's weather. The start of March really did seem to herald the start of the moffing season. At present I am 7 species in front of this time last year with a few notable absences still to get. I also managed to drop a battery powered trap off in Home Wood on the 14th, unfortunately I picked a less favourable night which is reflected in the list further down the post. Also a list for 16th- the best night of the year so far..........

Oak Beauty

NFY- 6th March, 3 recorded so far

Small Quaker

NFY 6th March

Grey Shoulder-knot

NFY- 3 caught 8th March and another 17th March.

Yellow Horned

NFY- 9th March, 2 caught so far.

Engrailed

NFY- 12th March, not recorded in 2013.

974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana

NFY- 12th March, 2 recorded so far. This is one of the most striking tortrix species and in VC30 at least, one of the commonest.

Home Wood

A little disappointing really. The 14th wasn't great by any means. A strong, cold westerly breeze blowing straight along the woodland rides seemed to have affected the catch.

Shoulder Stripe

Only one caught. Also surprisingly no Dotted Border, a moth that in previous years has been extremely common.

Home Wood- 14-03- Battery powered Actinic/BLB Skinner- 19 of 8 species-

0663  Diurnea fagella  1- NFY

1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  2

1746  Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata)  1- NFY

1947  Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata)  1

2182  Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)  6

2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  2

2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  2

2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  4

Back in the garden

Twin-spotted Quaker

NFY- 15th March, 2 caught so far

 Early Thorn

NFY- 16th March, 2 records so far.

 Oak Nycteolene

NFY- 16th March. An incredible 3 recorded in one night. Only the 5th, 6th and 7th garden records.

 Pine Beauty

 NFY- 16th March, 2 recorded so far.

Upper Caldecote garden- 16-03-2014- 3 traps- 69 of 13 species

0688  Agonopterix heracliana  1

0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  1- NFY

1524  Emmelina monodactyla  3

1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  3

1862  Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)  1- NFY

1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  1- NFY

2179  Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea)  1- NFY

2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  30

2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  10

2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  11

2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  3

2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  1

2423  Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana)  3- NFY

Proms............ 18-05

An improved catch last night and for the first time in a week, no sign of a biting wind at night. Prominents were the order of the night with three different species caught. Also of note was a Lychnis, a moth that I very seldom catch.

Iron Prominent

Pale Prominent

Common Pug

Lychnis

Waved Umber

974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana

697 Agonopterix arenella

Upper Caldecote Garden- 3 traps- 37 of 18 species-

0697  Agonopterix arenella  1
0808  Platyedra subcinerea  1
0974  Argyrotaenia ljungiana  4
1524  Emmelina monodactyla  3
1724  Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia)  3
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  3
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  3
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  3
1936  Waved Umber (Menophra abruptaria)  2
2000  Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)  1 NFY
2003  Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac)  1
2011  Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)  1 NFY
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  5
2173  Lychnis (Hadena bicruris)  1 NFY
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  1
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  2
2284x  Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi)  1
2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  1

Garden Update 03-05

A quick update with nothing too startling to report. Notable was a haul of  3 Powdered Quaker and the only other new moths recently have been Brindled Pug and Muslin Moth. The real surprise is the Orthosias are still going strong into May!

Powdered Quaker

NFY 28-04, six caught so far this year.

974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana

Louie and his sweep net were responsible for this year tick.

Upper Caldecote- 3 traps- 22 of 10 species-

0974  Argyrotaenia ljungiana  1 NFY
1524  Emmelina monodactyla  1
1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  1
2063  Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica)  1
2186  Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis)  3
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  3
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  4
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  6
2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  1
2306  Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)  1 NFY

Spring.......06/04

........And after not bothering for a few days due to high winds, it seems that Spring has finally sprung. The recent high temperatures must of helped as I recorded 4 new moths for the year in one night. I logged a temp of 15°C at 8.00pm which is by far the highest so far.

Pebble Prominent

Last year I had to wait until 19th May for this species.

 Brimstone Moth

Another fairly early addition.

 Agonopterix arenella 697

 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 974

The result- 21 of 10 species-

• Common Quaker- 5
• Hebrew Character- 5
• Clouded Drab- 4
• Early Grey
• Brimstone Moth- Year tick
• Pebble Prominent- Year tick
• Emmelina monodactyla
• Agonopterix arenella- Year tick
• Agonopterix heracliana
• Argyrotaenia ljungiana- Year tick

Tawny, in my opinion....13/04

.........It was Loiue to the rescue, as it was he who found these new garden moths. After I'd already counted everything in the trap and surrounds, Louie managed to find a Tawny Pinion on the shed and another mystery Micro on the fence!

Tawny Pinion

Micro Sp. ???

The Micro in question is only 9mm long and I have no idea what it is at present......But the real news is the Pinion, which I've added to my Pale Pinion record for last year. The rest of the count (19 0f 8)-

1. Powdered Quaker- 4 High Count
2. Hebrew Character- 4
3. Common Quaker- 4
4. Clouded Drab- 3
5. Early Thorn
6. Diurnea fagella
7. Tawny Pinion- Garden 1st
8. Mystery Micro? Garden 1st?

The mystery micro is #947 Argyrotaenia ljungiana, a common Tortricidae- Thanks to Ben Sale for his identification.