500 up..............

For the 2nd year in a row I've managed to record 500 species in the garden. I haven't trapped quite as much this year, but even so would have struggled to beat last year's 522 species. These are my last four NFY's.

Sprawler

Only the 2nd garden record on 14th November. Last caught, 9th November 2009.

Mottled Umber

This is the 5th record of this species. One per year since 2010. NFY, 15th November.

Winter Moth

Common in the garden and usually seen first at the beginning of the year. NFY, 15th November 

Scarce Umber 

 Only the 3rd record. NFY, 18th November. Last seen 28th November 2011.

October top 20

I did this last year with a very different outcome. It shows clearly just how good an October it was in 2013.  Last year's winner has been relegated to 4th place and to put it in context, I caught 63 Setaceous Hebrew Character on just one night ( 2nd October 2013). Whereas in 2014 it took a whole month to catch just 33! (not that I'm complaining)

October 2014

2267 Agrochola lychnidis  Beaded Chestnut 63
2092 Agrotis puta  Shuttle-shaped Dart  54
2240 Lithophane leautieri hesperica  Blair's Shoulder-knot 52
2126 Xestia c-nigrum  Setaceous Hebrew Character 33
2232 Aporophyla nigra  Black Rustic 31
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa  Lunar Underwing 26
1795x Epirrita dilutata agg.  November Moth agg. 19
0998 Epiphyas postvittana  Light Brown Apple Moth 18
2107 Noctua pronuba  Large Yellow Underwing 17
1760 Chloroclysta siterata  Red-green Carpet 15
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria  Willow Beauty 15
2245 Allophyes oxyacanthae  Green-brindled Crescent  14
2263 Agrochola lota   Red-line Quaker 13
1745 Larentia clavaria  Mallow 12
2109 Noctua comes  Lesser Yellow Underwing 12
1764 Chloroclysta truncata  Common Marbled Carpet 11
2231 Aporophyla lutulenta  Deep-brown Dart 11
1395 Udea ferrugalis  Rusty-dot Pearl 9
2375 Rhizedra lutosa  Large Wainscot 8
0464 Plutella xylostella  Diamond-back Moth 8

October 2013

2126 Xestia c-nigrum  Setaceous Hebrew Character 208
2107 Noctua pronuba  Large Yellow Underwing 118
2267 Agrochola lychnidis  Beaded Chestnut 117
2240 Lithophane leautieri  Blair's Shoulder-knot 76
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis  Pale Mottled Willow 44
2232 Aporophyla nigra  Black Rustic 39
2109 Noctua comes  Lesser Yellow Underwing 39
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa  Lunar Underwing 35
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria  Willow Beauty 31
2091 Agrotis ipsilon   Dark Sword-grass 19
1745 Larentia clavaria  Mallow 19
2092 Agrotis puta  Shuttle-shaped Dart  17
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa  Angle Shades 15
0998 Epiphyas postvittana  Light Brown Apple Moth 14
2264 Agrochola macilenta  Yellow-line Quaker  12
2375 Rhizedra lutosa  Large Wainscot 12
1764 Chloroclysta truncata  Common Marbled Carpet 11
1760 Chloroclysta siterata  Red-green Carpet 9
2263 Agrochola lota   Red-line Quaker 8
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 8

Home Wood 02-07-14

The perfect storm of three pairs of eyes, five different light positions and the best conditions of the year leant themselves to a massive list. There are still a few gen. dets. to do of both macros and micros. So expect quite a few extras to be added and hopefully something new for VC30. We ran all lights along one ride running east to west using three different generators. No doubt a huge amount to add to the overall list for the wood, when I get a minute!

Lights/traps used-

160w Blended MV Robinson
125w MV Robinson
80w Actinic/tungsten combo Skinner
80w MV Skinner
80w MV bulkhead on tripod with vertical sheet

Combined list of all traps 2100- 0245 216 species so far......

0014  Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli)  2
0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)  2
0018  Map-winged Swift (Hepialus fusconebulosa)  1
0161  Leopard Moth (Zeuzera pyrina)  2
0246  Tinea semifulvella  1
0385  Anthophila fabriciana  1
0410  Argyresthia brockeella  2
0411  Argyresthia goedartella  1
0422  Argyresthia albistria  1
0424  Bird-cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella)  1
0441  Paraswammerdamia nebulella  3
0449  Ash Bud Moth (Prays fraxinella)  7
0464  Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella)  1
0640  Batia lunaris  1
0642  Batia unitella  4
0647  Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)  2
0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  1
0658  Carcina quercana  2
0726  Metzneria metzneriella  1
0731  Eulamprotes atrella  1
0787  Bryotropha terrella  6
0844  Syncopacma larseniella  5
0874  Blastobasis lacticolella  3
0905  Blastodacna hellerella  2
0937  Agapeta hamana  11
0938  Agapeta zoegana  8
0946  Aethes rubigana  1
0965  Cochylis hybridella  2
0970  Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis cerasana)  15
0972  Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana)  3
0977  Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana)  7
0979  Archips crataegana  9
0980  Variegated Golden Tortrix (Archips xylosteana)  4
0989  Timothy Tortrix (Aphelia paleana)  1
0993  Cyclamen Tortrix (Clepsis spectrana)  2
0994  Clepsis consimilana  1
1001  Lozotaeniodes formosanus  1
1010  Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana)  5
1011  Pseudargyrotoza conwagana  1
1013  Olindia schumacherana  5
1020  Grey Tortrix (Cnephasia stephensiana)  1
1032  Aleimma loeflingiana  53
1033  Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana)  6
1036  Acleris forsskaleana  2
1037  Acleris holmiana  1
1047  Acleris schalleriana  1
1050  Acleris kochiella  1
1053  Acleris hastiana  1
1063  Celypha striana  5
1076  Celypha lacunana  10
1082  Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana)  5
1083  Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana)  3
1084  Hedya ochroleucana  1
1086  Hedya salicella  3
1094  Apotomis capreana  2
1113  Eudemis profundana  1
1115  Ancylis achatana  2
1133  Epinotia bilunana  1
1150  Epinotia abbreviana  15
1155  Epinotia brunnichana  3
1159  Holly Tortrix (Rhopobota naevana)  2
1163  Spruce Bud Moth (Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana)  1
1165  Zeiraphera isertana  13
1168  Gypsonoma sociana  2
1169  Gypsonoma dealbana  1
1175  Bramble Shoot Moth (Epiblema uddmanniana)  4
1200  Eucosma hohenwartiana  1
1201  Eucosma cana  6
1202  Eucosma obumbratana  10
1205  Bud Moth (Spilonota ocellana)  1
1236  Pammene fasciana  1
1288  Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla)  1
1293  Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)  15
1294  Crambus pascuella  3
1301  Crambus lathoniellus  1
1302  Crambus perlella  1
1304  Agriphila straminella  5
1313  Catoptria pinella  1
1331  Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella)  10
1333  Scoparia pyralella  1
1334  Scoparia ambigualis  9
1334a  Scoparia basistrigalis  15
1338  Dipleurina lacustrata  9
1376  Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata)  2
1378  Phlyctaenia coronata  1
1390  Udea prunalis  2
1392  Udea olivalis  2
1405  Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis)  12
1413  Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis)  1
1415  Orthopygia glaucinalis  3
1424  Endotricha flammealis  1
1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  1
1433  Cryptoblabes bistriga  1
1436  Conobathra repandana  11
1452  Phycita roborella  1
1461  Assara terebrella  3
1470  Euzophera pinguis  1
1474  Ephestia parasitella  2
1483  Phycitodes binaevella  1
1513  White Plume Moth (Pterophorus pentadactyla)  2
1651  Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata)  2
1652  Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis)  10
1653  Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides)  6
1669  Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria)  1
1680  Maiden's Blush (Cyclophora punctaria)  1
1682  Blood-vein (Timandra comae)  4
1702  Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata)  25
1705  Dwarf Cream Wave (Idaea fuscovenosa)  15
1708  Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata)  5
1711  Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata)  5
1713  Riband Wave (Idaea aversata)  19
1726  Large Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata)  30
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1
1732  Shaded Broad-bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata)  4
1738  Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata)  1
1752  Purple Bar (Cosmorhoe ocellata)  1
1758  Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata)  4
1759  Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata)  1
1765  Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata)  1
1769  Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica)  1
1777  July Highflyer (Hydriomena furcata)  3
1784  Pretty Chalk Carpet (Melanthia procellata)  2
1791  Brown Scallop (Philereme vetulata)  3
1813  Haworth's Pug (Eupithecia haworthiata)  1
1817  Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata)  1
1830  Wormwood Pug (Eupithecia absinthiata)  1
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  1
1837  Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata)  2
1856  Larch Pug (Eupithecia lariciata)  1
1858  V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata)  2
1860  Green Pug (Pasiphila rectangulata)  6
1862  Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)  2
1874  Dingy Shell (Euchoeca nebulata)  3
1876  Small Yellow Wave (Hydrelia flammeolaria)  2
1887  Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)  22
1888  Scorched Carpet (Ligdia adustata)  1
1893  Tawny-barred Angle (Macaria liturata)  3
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  7
1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  1
1921  Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria)  1
1922  Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)  5
1931  Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)  6
1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1
1940  Satin Beauty (Deileptenia ribeata)  1
1941  Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata)  11
1947  Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata)  9
1955  Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria)  11
1956  Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata)  3
1958  Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata)  31
1961  Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)  5
1962  Barred Red (Hylaea fasciaria)  3
1976  Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri)  2
1978  Pine Hawk-moth (Hyloicus pinastri)  1
1981  Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)  2
1991  Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)  1
1994  Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)  4
2007  Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula)  1
2008  Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina)  1
2009  Maple Prominent (Ptilodon cucullina)  3
2029  Brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea)  3
2030  Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis)  11
2031  White Satin (Leucoma salicis)  2
2033  Black Arches (Lymantria monacha)  1
2044  Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola)  3
2047  Scarce Footman (Eilema complana)  3
2049  Buff Footman (Eilema depressa)  20
2050  Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)  4
2061  Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)  1
2069  Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae)  1
2077  Short-cloaked Moth (Nola cucullatella)  4
2088  Heart and Club (Agrotis clavis)  3
2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  4
2098  Flame (Axylia putris)  2
2102  Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)  1
2107  Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  5
2109  Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)  2
2110  Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata)  1
2126  Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)  2
2128  Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)  2
2147  Shears (Hada nana)  1
2160  Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)  2
2192  Brown-line Bright Eye (Mythimna conigera)  2
2193  Clay (Mythimna ferrago)  2
2198  Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura)  5
2225  Minor Shoulder-knot (Brachylomia viminalis)  1
2278  Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)  1
2279  Sycamore (Acronicta aceris)  1
2302  Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)  6
2314  Dingy Shears (Parastichtis ypsillon)  1
2318  Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina)  10
2319  Lunar-spotted Pinion (Cosmia pyralina)  1
2321  Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)  11
2326  Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata)  1
2327  Clouded Brindle (Apamea epomidion)  1
2335  Slender Brindle (Apamea scolopacina)  5
2337x  Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.)  5
2339  Tawny Marbled Minor (Oligia latruncula)  2
2343x  Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.)  2
2345  Small Dotted Buff (Photedes minima)  9
2349  Mere Wainscot (Chortodes fluxa)  5
2381  Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines)  3
2382  Rustic (Hoplodrina blanda)  2
2410  Marbled White Spot (Protodeltote pygarga)  14
2421  Scarce Silver-lines (Bena bicolorana)  2
2422  Green Silver-lines (Pseudoips prasinana)  1
2423  Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana)  4
2425  Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)  1
2434  Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)  1
2442  Beautiful Golden Y (Autographa pulchrina)  1
2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  2
2466  Blackneck (Lygephila pastinum)  1
2473  Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula)  12
2474  Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis)  24
2477  Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)  14
2489  Fan-foot (Zanclognatha tarsipennalis)  6
2492  Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis)  4

Trent, Matt, Ben

Garden Traps March Summary

38 species were caught on 15 trap nights in March. See how your totals compare with mine................The clear winner as with every year is Common Quaker with a high count of 44 on 30th. There will be a lot more in April!

Common Quaker

An unsurprising winner.

Garden Trap totals for March 2014- 720 of 38 species.

2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 278
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 116
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 86
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 58
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 55
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 29
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 15
0688 Agonopterix heracliana 12
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 9
1663 Alsophila aescularia March Moth 5
2423 Nycteola revayana Oak Nycteoline 5
2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 5
2237 Lithophane ornitopus Grey Shoulder-knot  4
1930 Biston strataria Oak Beauty 4
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 4
2179 Panolis flammea Pine Beauty 3
1747 Anticlea derivata Streamer 3
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 3
1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume Moth 2
2260 Conistra rubiginea Dotted Chestnut 2
1852 Eupithecia abbreviata Brindled Pug 2
1659 Achlya flavicornis Yellow Horned 2
1934 Agriopis marginaria Dotted Border 2
2139 Cerastis rubricosa Red Chestnut 2
0974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 1
0240 Tinea pellionella Case-bearing Clothes Moth 1
0263 Lyonetia clerkella Apple Leaf Miner 1
0483 Epermenia chaerophyllella  1
2256 Eupsilia transversa Satellite 1
0695 Agonopterix alstromeriana  1
1643 Saturnia pavonia Emperor Moth 1
0892 Mompha subbistrigella 1
0682 Depressaria chaerophylli 1- NFG
0998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
1947 Ectropis bistortata Engrailed 1
2469 Scoliopteryx libatrix Herald 1
0697 Agonopterix arenella  1

A Belated review- 2013

Firstly, remember this? The original post is HERE. Well, it seems almost certain that this was indeed a Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet. There doesn't appear to be any red in the 'bar' whatsoever. But despite this, a gen. det. by Andy Banthorpe found it just to be a plain old Red Twin-spot. So back to the drawing board to find this species, not seen in VC30 since 2010.

 Red Twin-spot Carpet

 Caught by Actinic light- 7th May 2013

A total of 522 species were recorded in the garden in 2013.

Micros-
I recorded 218 species in 2013, below is a list of the 33 new additions for the year. All species requiring gen. dets. have been confirmed by the David Manning- VC30 micro moth recorder.

0099 Stigmella hybnerella
0254 Leucoptera laburnella Laburnum Leaf Miner
0266 Bucculatrix nigricomella
0293 Caloptilia syringella
0318 Phyllonorycter tenerella
0325 Phyllonorycter mespilella New for VC30
0358 Phyllonorycter froelichiella
0385 Anthophila fabriciana
0428 Yponomeuta rorrella Willow Ermine
0495 Coleophora spinella Apple & Plum Case-bearer
0559 Coleophora peribenanderi
0563 Coleophora argentula
0602 Elachista apicipunctella
0629 Biselachista utonella
0718 Ethmia dodecea
0719 Ethmia quadrillella
0737 Monochroa palustrella
0756 Parachronistis albiceps
0822 Scrobipalpa acuminatella
0868 Helcystogramma rufescens
0877 Stathmopoda pedella
0879 Batrachedra pinicolella
0936 Cochylimorpha straminea
0987 Ptycholomoides aeriferanus
1023 Cnephasia genitalana
1097 Endothenia gentianaeana
1165 Zeiraphera isertana
1168 Gypsonoma sociana
1192 Eucosma conterminana
1329 Donacaula forficella
1354 Cataclysta lemnata Small China-mark
1454b Dioryctria sylvestrella
1495 Marasmarcha lunaedactyla

0719 Ethmia quadrillella

Garden first- 14th July 2013

Macros- 
I recorded 304 species in 2013, below is the list of 36 new additions for the year. If required, all contentious species were confirmed by A & M Banthorpe- VC30 macro moth recorders.

1652 Thyatira batis Peach Blossom
1720 Orthonama obstipata  Gem
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet
1736 Catarhoe cuculata  Royal Mantle
1749 Pelurga comitata Dark Spinach
1788 Rheumaptera cervinalis Scarce Tissue
1792 Philereme transversata Dark Umber
1807 Perizoma albulata Grass Rivulet
1816 Eupithecia linariata Toadflax Pug
1874 Euchoeca nebulata Dingy Shell
1882 Pterapherapteryx sexalata  Small Seraphim
1889 Macaria notata Peacock Moth
1907 Epione repandaria Bordered Beauty
1920 Odontopera bidentata Scalloped Hazel
1944 Hypomecis punctinalis Pale Oak Beauty
1962 Hylaea fasciaria  Barred Red
1984 Macroglossum stellatarum   Humming-bird Hawk-moth
1992 Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk-moth
2014 Drymonia dodonaea Marbled Brown
2035 Thumatha senex Round-winged Muslin
2039 Atolmis rubricollis Red-necked Footman
2049 Eilema depressa Buff Footman
2105 Rhyacia simulans Dotted Rustic
2119 Peridroma saucia Pearly Underwing
2120 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay
2223 Calophasia lunula Toadflax Brocade
2276 Xanthia ocellaris Pale-lemon Sallow
2323 Apamea sublustris Reddish Light Arches
2326 Apamea crenata Clouded-bordered Brindle
2331 Apamea unanimis Small Clouded Brindle
2335 Apamea scolopacina  Slender Brindle
2336 Apamea ophiogramma Double Lobed
2345 Photedes minima Small Dotted Buff
2399 Pyrrhia umbra Bordered Sallow
2400 Helicoverpa armigera Scarce Bordered Straw
2410 Protodeltote pygarga  Marbled White Spot

Peach Blossom

Garden First- 12th July 2013

............And now onto the wine.

The remit at the beginning of 2013 was for the contest to take place over a decent bottle of red wine to the value of £10 or more.

We won't go into statistics, (it will take too long) but safe to say both Trent and Ben had their arses handed to them last year!

Ben Sale

A plucky effort, that very early on, fell on stony ground. So far I haven't heard a lot from Ben, but consider him an honourable man. I think Stevenage could be a problem for him though, as quality wine shops could be a bit few and far between. Ben is a relative newcomer to said town, but has probably realised that most of the indigenous people prefer to drink alternatives such as HSL, Carlsberg Special Brew and Meths.

Ben- I await your offering!

Trent Duval

Trent made huge efforts in 2013 and early on at least he was the front runner, but through Summer and Autumn he took a real spanking. Last week, I managed to finally prise some wine out of him. Trent went more for quantity than quality, though that being said. Lindeman's Tollana punches well above it's weight for a wine of just £4.00 per bottle. This is a half price offer from Asda, so making his 3 bottle deal an acceptable offering.

Lindeman's Tollana

Acceptable- if you get three!

October Top 20..................

Here is a quick summary for October from my garden traps in Upper Caldecote. I didn't trap on 8 of the 31 days. It is no surprise that Setaceous Hebrew Character topped the league again as it did in September. A high count of 63 was recorded on 2nd. Also notable was the exceptional catch of Dark Sword-grass, a total of 22 caught this year so far after 3 in September.

2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character  208
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing  118
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut  117
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot  76
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow  44
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic  39
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing  39
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing  35
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty  31
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass  19
1745 Larentia clavaria Mallow  19
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart  17
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades  15
0998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth  14
2264 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker  12
2375 Rhizedra lutosa Large Wainscot  12
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet   11
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet  9
2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker  8
1524 Emmelina monodactyla  8

September Top 20.............

...........And considering I didn't undertake full counts between 2nd-6th including those dates, it's quite staggering. The vermin award for September goes to Setaceous Hebrew character, topping out on 24th with a count of 115. So out of the 3943 moths of 124 species recorded this one pest made up 22.9% of it!

2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 903

2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 680

2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 499

2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 202

2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 174

2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 119

1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 118

2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 89

2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 88

2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 78

2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 64

1309 Agriphila geniculea 60

2231 Aporophyla lutulenta Deep-brown Dart 49

1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 42

2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 40

2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 40

2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 39

2110 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 36

1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 35

1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 27

Paid in full.......for 2011

Well, that's another year out of the way! All the counters now have to be set at zero so we can do it all again.

But I have to say when it came to 2011's mothing I was pushed to the absolute limit as a 'most species' mothing competition took place against Trent Duval of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

To be honest, I thought I would easily win; the size of my garden and my more rural location surely made me the odds-on favourite. But time and time again Trent confounded me, managing to pull all kinds of surprising stuff from a town garden roughly 35' square.

In fact, at one point during the year he was 15 species in front and looking like running away with it.

Most people would be devastated to lose their job- I know I would be. But Trent reveled in it and spent night after night tending to multiple traps well into the small hours in the morning, a feat I couldn't compete with.

But slowly I managed to peg him back, mainly because of the diversity in the garden and it was the micro moths which really saved my bacon. Firstly, the kids armed with nets would constantly trap micros, pot them and put them in my 'beer' fridge for later identification. Secondly, micro recorder David Manning spent a good couple of hours in the garden during September and managed a leaf mine count of 24 species. As well as all the valuable help with various photos and micro queries I had throughout the year.

It was now down to macros as Trent didn't have a chance of catching up on overall total or my now impressive micro list. Luckily at the last knockings I managed to pull clear of him; the final nails in the coffin proved to be singles of Mottled Umber and Scarce Umber. Both only second records, plus one of three December Moths- another one he couldn't get..................

To the Victor, the spoils!

So here it is; the wine. More than worth waiting for too! I'm not really a  connoisseur, but know what I like. In the centre a passable 'Frenchie' which has already been consumed. Flanked by four bottled of 'The Black Stump' reserve. One of my favourites- read a review HERE.
This year's competition (2012) will hopefully be slightly more laid back and will be contested over macros only.


Some very brief stats-


Trap days- 265!

New Macros for 2011- 35
New Micros for 2011- 74

Macros species caught in 2011- 253
Micro species caught in 2011- 207

Species list for 2011- 460
Species list for the garden since August 2009- 521


Happy New Year all and here's for a good 2012................