Dotted Duos............

Aren't the traps busy lately? I've had my best ever start to a campaign with 42 species by the end of March. I haven't recorded many micros so far, but have done incredibly well for macros.
I will post a few lists if I get a chance to catch up on my records. So just as a taster, I will offer these..........

Dotted Chestnut

 Finding one is great. But finding two is pretty unbelievable! Recorded for the third year running in the garden. NFY 31st March

 Dotted Border

 Well, it took a while. But just as I was beginning to give up hope- two turned up 31st March.

Quick Update......

Not too much time of late, but have been putting up to 3 traps on in my garden mainly to keep up with Trent. Who is once again building up an early lead. My extra efforts have been rewarded so far though..........

Dotted Chestnut

A 2nd record on 22nd April, after making it's debut last year.

Nut-tree Tussock

NFY, 23rd April

Emperor

A real slice of luck; I found this female in my trap on 24th April. After a few photos it was put in the hedge and later that day- three males turned up and mating took place. So hopefully more next year. I still have a female in pupae that looks as if it will hatch in the next few days. I may take it round Trent's if he's lucky..........

The early bird catches the worm.............25th April.

2nd best is nowhere and this male 'went home alone'.

1054 Acleris cristana

A 2nd record for this striking micro, NFY 24th April

 808 Platyedra subcinerea

NFY 24th April for this locally common annual visitor.

Upper Caldecote Garden 24-04-2013- 2x Twin 15w Actinic/UV, 1x Twin 25w FUL Skinners- 54 of 19 species

0688  Agonopterix heracliana  1

0697  Agonopterix arenella  1 NFY

0808  Platyedra subcinerea  1 NFY

1054  Acleris cristana  1 NFY

1288  Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla)  1 NFY

1524  Emmelina monodactyla  3

1643  Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia)  1 NFY

1747  Streamer (Anticlea derivata)  2 NFY

1760  Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata)  1 NFY

1862  Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)  6

1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  2

1927  Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria)  1 NFY

2179  Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea)  1 NFY

2182  Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)  3

2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  8

2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  7

2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  11

2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  2

2256  Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)  1

Brindled Beauty

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

.......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