Moth Gods keep Smiling........

........and they really do! In my last post, I dared to hope for a Pearly Underwing and Halloween night duly obliged. Having waited a long time for this species, I made sure all the diagnostic features were there before calling it. This particular individual really does resemble a Turnip Moth, as colour, pattern and size are all very similar.
 It has just laid c60 eggs in the pot I was keeping it in- apparently they feed on low growing plants such as Docks, Dandelions and Clovers. But the larvae are rarely found in Britain.

Pearly Underwing

 The size of the 'mohawk' is one of the distinguishing features- Pearly Underwing display a prominent raised stripe down the middle of the thorax. This one has very little frosting though.

The best feature is the 'pearly' hindwing and this one does have dark-veined, semi-translucent wings so is a clincher!

Feathered Thorn

Nice to see a few of these about too.

So what's left to get now?

Well I can think of a few more- Scarce Umber, Herald, Sprawler and December Moth are all possible.

Oh, and dare I hope for a Clancy's Rustic or a Delicate................

Upper Caldecote Garden- 31-10-2013- 1 trap- 6 of 6 species

1524  Emmelina monodactyla  1
1760  Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata)  1
1923  Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria)  1
2119  Pearly Underwing (Peridroma saucia)  1 NFG
2240  Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri)  1
2306  Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)  1

Early October.........

............and the good weather continued with another good batch of seasonal moths. In fact, I ticked off most of the expected October moths in just 2 nights! But it was never going to last, so after recording over 30 species on 2nd and having a decent night on 3rd. The gravy train suddenly ground to a halt and list totals crashed down to just 11 species on 4th. Good while it lasted though................

Merveille du Jour

Not seen since 2009 and then 2 turn up on 1st October

.

Red-line Quaker

465 Plutella porrectella

This is a close relative of the Diamond-back Moth, in fact it's the next number along! Garden 1st, 1st October.

343 Phyllonorycter esperella

This was found on a Hornbeam shrub and is a Garden 1st. Confirmed by D. Manning.

The result 01-10-11- Twin 15w Actinic/UV, Twin 25w FUL Actinic Skinner- 59 of 24 species-

• 0075 Stigmella floslactella 1 Leaf Mine on Hornbeam  
• 0343 Phyllonorycter esperella1 Leaf Mine on Hornbeam Garden 1st 
• 0362 Phyllonorycter acerifoliella 1 Leaf Mine- Field Maple Garden 1st 
• 0464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1 
• 0465 Plutella porrectella 1 Garden 1st 
• 0658 Carcina quercana 1 
• 0998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1 
• 1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1 
• 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 3 
• 2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1 
• 2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 8 
• 2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 6 
• 2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2 
• 2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2 
• 2231 Aporophyla lutulenta Deep-brown Dart 1 
•  2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 2 
•  2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1 
•  2247 Dichonia aprilina Merveille du Jour 2 NFY 
•  2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 1 NFY 
•  2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 10 
•  2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 5 
•  2273 Xanthia togata Pink-barred Sallow 1 
•  2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1 
•  2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 5

 Red-green Carpet

Good to see- I recorded it twice last year.

 Yellow-line Quaker

 Feathered Thorn

The result- 02-10-11- Twin 15w Actinic/UV, Twin 25w FUL Actinic Skinner- 82 of 32 species-

• 0227 Monopis laevigella Skin moth 1 
• 0229 Monopis obviella 2 
• 0658 Carcina quercana 1 
• 0998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1 
• 1048 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 1 
• 1342 Eudonia angustea 1 
• 1415 Orthopygia glaucinalis 1 
• 1425 Galleria mellonella Wax Moth 1 
• 1745 Larentia clavaria Mallow 1 
• 1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1 NFY 
• 1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1 
• 1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 1 NFY 
• 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2 
• 2026 Orgyia antiqua Vapourer 1 Flying during day. 
• 2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 1 
• 2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1 
• 2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 17 
• 2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2 
• 2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 7 
• 2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2 
• 2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 2 
• 2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 2 
• 2248 Dryobotodes eremita Brindled Green 1 
• 2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 2 
• 2264 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker 1 NFY 
• 2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 13 
• 2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 7 
• 2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 1 
• 2297x Amphipyra pyramidea agg. Copper Underwings 1 
• 2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1 
• 2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 2 
• 2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 3

Thorn Again!.........02/11

Despite blustery conditions, the trap produced 5 moths of 4 species. It's the 1st time I've had more than 1 Feathered Thorn, the other one was a bit daggy so I didn't bother with a photo.

It looks like the same again for tonight but even warmer with more blowy conditions........

Feathered Thorn

Also-

• Turnip Moth- 1
• Lesser Yellow Underwing- 1
• Garden Rose Tortrix- 1

............31/10

As good a night as could be hoped for at this late stage in the campaign with 9 moths of 8 species. Also a year tick in the shape of  a Rosy Rustic, quite late compared to last year's records. Low cloud, a still evening and a reletively high temperature could be the reason for this unexpected catch.

Rosy Rustic

 Angle Shades

 Feathered Thorn

The Catch-

1. Yellow-line Quaker- 2
2. Angle Shades
3. Feathered Thorn
4. November Moth agg.
5. Pale Mottled Willow
6. Light Brown Apple Moth
7. Willow Beauty
8. Rosy Rustic- Year Tick

FT..........15/10

Nothing hugely interesting of late as the mothing season starts to wind down. Temperatures, as expected dropped to their lowest so far; 5°C. Still, I wasn't surprised when this little beauty turned up as I had a few last year. But as far as the commoner species go, I'm beginning to run out........and still no Merveille du Jour!

Feathered Thorn

The count-

1. Willow Beauty- 2
2. Light Brown Apple Moth- 2
3. Grey Pine Carpet
4. Beaded Chestnut
5. Black Rustic
6. Shuttle-shaped Dart
7. Large Wainscot
8. November Moth agg.
9. Lesser Yellow Underwing
10. Sallow
11. Feathered Thorn- Year Tick

25/10.......

Last night's Feathered Thorn was only the 2nd record so far. Also a forth record for Green-brindled Crescent as well as a Silver Y.

The French Connection.......11/10

Bonjour! Another couple of new editions to the garden list. By far the best was this Merveille du Jour (above), it looks even more striking in real life than in any field guide!
As well as this, a Feathered Thorn (right) was skulking beside the trap.
Other trappings;

• SS Dart -2
• Lunar U -2
• Black Rustic -2
• Beaded Chestnut
• Garden Carpet