A decent haul...............

..........for variety/numbers anyway, though not particularly good for any hoped for migrants with just a single Dark Sword-grass. For the time of year, 43 species is not to be sniffed at. Even if you do have to sift through Large Yellow Underwings and Setaceous Hebrew Characters to find the good stuff!
The Humming-bird Hawk-moth was seen in the back garden nectaring on Buddleja weyeriana, a yellow variety. The 2nd record this year.

Upper Caldecote Garden- 2 traps- 20/09/2015- 311 of 43 species-

0015  Orange Swift (Hepialus sylvina)  1
0674  Depressaria badiella  1 NFY
0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  5
1048  Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana)  1
1293  Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)  1
1309  Agriphila geniculea  1
1342  Eudonia angustea  3
1413  Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis)  1
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1
1745  Mallow (Larentia clavaria)  1 NFY
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  2
1862  Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)  1
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  3
1914  Dusky Thorn (Ennomos fuscantaria)  2
1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1
1961  Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)  2
1984  Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)  1
2087  Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)  1
2091  Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)  1
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  3
2107  Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  89
2109  Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)  11
2110  Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata)  1
2123  Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi)  1
2126  Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)  69
2134  Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)  19
2199  Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)  17
2231  Deep-brown Dart (Aporophyla lutulenta)  4
2232  Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)  5
2266  Brown-spot Pinion (Agrochola litura)  2 NFY
2267  Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis)  1
2269  Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago)  1
2270  Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)  25
2274  Sallow (Xanthia icteritia)  1 NFY
2293  Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica)  1
2299  Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis)  3
2306  Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)  1
2364  Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago)  1
2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  27
2389  Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)  4
2434  Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)  2
2477  Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)  1

Mallow

Brown-spot Pinions

Sallow

Depressaria badiella

The End of Summer........

.........usually means the end of huge amounts of 'brown stuff' and heralds the beginning of more manageable numbers and the odd splash of colour.

Brown-spot Pinion f. rufa-pallida

 I don't get many B-s P's anyway. But have never seen the aberrant form before.

Centre-barred Sallow

Deep-brown Dart

Large & Small Ranunculus

 Caught on 18th September, this is the first time I've ever caught both on the same night. Whereas Large Ranunculus have remained fairly constant (4-5 per year), Small Ranunculus have become much more common. The late second generation idividuals overlap with their larger name sakes.

Orange Sallow

Sallow

White-point

A good year for these- this is my 3rd record so far.

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!

Home Wood Survey 29-09

A very warm and pleasant evening (17°C) with very little wind. And for the time of year I suppose we did quite well. But when it's that 'Summery' you expect to be swamped, however this wasn't the case. We set up just after 7.15pm and were packed up and ready to go by 10.00pm. This will probably be the last of the 'manned' trips for this year, as we will be reverting to battery actinics for the final few months.

The set up

 A fairly basic 80w MV Bulkhead on a tripod and a vertical screen made from an old gazebo. So just one light in Location #4 running off one generator. The photo shows Mr T. Duval keeping vigil.

 Small Wainscot

The 1st customer of the evening, just one caught.

 Sallow

 Barred Sallow

The result- 1x 80w MV Bulkhead with vertical sheet- 41 of 24 species- 7.15-9.45pm

• 0293 Caloptilia syringella 1 ID DVM- Location #4 
• 0321 Phyllonorycter messaniella 1 ID DVM- Location #4 
• 0336a Cameraria ohridella  1 ID DVM- Location #4 
• 0423 Argyresthia semitestacella 1 Gen. Det. DVM- Location #4  
• 0858 Hypatima rhomboidella 1 Gen. Det. DVM- Location #4 
• 1245 Grapholita janthinana 1 Gen Det. DVM- Location #4 
• 1334 Scoparia ambigualis 1 Gen. Det. DVM- Location #4 
• 1745 Larentia clavaria Mallow 1 
• 1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 2 
• 1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 3 
• 1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1 
• 1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1 
• 2020 Diloba caeruleocephala Figure of Eight 2  
• 2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 1 
• 2247 Dichonia aprilina Merveille du Jour 1 
• 2248 Dryobotodes eremita Brindled Green 4 
• 2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 2 
• 2262 Agrochola circellaris Brick 1 
• 2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 1 
• 2272 Xanthia aurago Barred Sallow 2 
• 2273 Xanthia togata Pink-barred Sallow 1 
• 2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 2 
• 2350 Chortodes pygmina Small Wainscot 1 
• 2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 8

Leaf mine and larval records for Home Wood- David Manning, Trent Duval- 27 species- 

• 0029 Ectoedemia atricollis  Hawthorn
• 0037 Ectoedemia albifasciella  Oak
• 0042 Ectoedemia septembrella  St Johns wort
• 0050 Stigmella aurella  Bramble
• 0063 Stigmella lemniscella  Elm
• 0067 Stigmella plagicolella Blackthorn
• 0068 Stigmella salicis Sallow
• 0079 Stigmella perpygmaeella Hawthorn
• 0080 Stigmella ulmivora Elm
• 0089 Stigmella basiguttella Oak 
• 0092 Stigmella anomalella Rose      
• 0123 Tischeria ekebladella Oak  
• 0125 Emmetia marginea  Bramble
• 0159 Antispila treitschkiella Dogwood 
• 0274 Bucculatrix ulmella  Oak 
• 0275 Bucculatrix bechsteinella Hawthorn
• 0293 Caloptilia syringella  Ash
• 0297 Eucalybites auroguttella St Johns wort
• 0303 Parornix anglicella Hawthorn       
• 0308 Parornix finitimella Blackthorn
• 0329 Phyllonorycter spinicolella Blackthorn
• 0332 Phyllonorycter corylifoliella Hawthorn 
• 0352 Phyllonorycter schreberella Elm     
• 0356 Phyllonorycter tristrigella Elm       
• 0362 Phyllonorycter acerifoliella  Maple 
• 1097 Endothenia gentianaeana Larva in teasel-head 
• 1169 Gypsonoma dealbana Feeding signs on oak

14th & 15th September

It looks like Autumn is right on top of us as the weather starts to become unsettled. And after some high winds, the 15th yielded a few seasonal moths.

Black Rustic

 Sallow

 Frosted Orange

The result- 14-09-11- Twin 15w Actinic/UV, Twin 25w FUL Actinic Skinners- 64 0f 28 species-

•  0015 Hepialus sylvina Orange Swift 2 
•  0229 Monopis obviella 1 
•  0648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House-moth 1 
•  0658 Carcina quercana 1 
•  0697 Agonopterix arenella 1 
•  0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 2 
•  0994 Clepsis consimilana 1 
•  1309 Agriphila geniculea 3 
•  1413 Hypsopygia costalis Gold Triangle 2  
•  1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1 
•  1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 6 
•  2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 4 
•  2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 10 
•  2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 5 
•  2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2 
•  2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 3 
•  2154 Mamestra brassicae Cabbage Moth 1 
•  2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 2 
•  2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 2 NFY 
•  2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 1 
•  2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 1 
•  2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 1 NFY 
•  2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 1 
•  2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1 
•  2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 7 
•  2361 Hydraecia micacea Rosy Rustic 1 
•  2364 Gortyna flavago Frosted Orange 1 NFY 
•  2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 2

On 15th the traps were relatively empty, but I found this indoors-

216 Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella

 I'm not sure which one- but looks to be new for the garden. I've sent these record shots to D. Manning, but have also retained the moth just in case......No, not new for the garden- it's a 2nd record. It was a debutant 7th May.........ID D. Manning.

Yellow-line Fever......11/10

Another good night despite a drop in temperature to 7°C.  I've recently repositioned the trap nearer the house and this seems to have helped. But wheres my Merveille du Jour?

Yellow-line Quaker

Another Year Tick.

 Large Wainscot

A total of 6 so far..........

 Beaded Chestnut

The 16th & 17th caught this year.

 Sallow

5th of the year.

 Vine's/Uncertain/Rustic

This was caught on 9th October and I've given up deciding what it is. It seems long passed it's flight season.

It seems that this late flyer is a Vine's Rustic- Thanks to Andy of VC30 Moth Group.

The Count-

1. Willow Beauty- 4
2. November Moth agg.- 2
3. Garden Rose Tortrix- 2
4. Turnip Moth- 2
5. Large Wainscot- 2
6. Beaded Chestnut- 2
7. Yellow-line Quaker- Year Tick
8. Large Yellow Underwing
9. Shuttle-shaped Dart
10. Lunar Underwing
11. Light Brown Apple Moth

A Sallow Note.......26/09

A very surprising evening........damp, drizzle, wind and low temperatures lent themselves to the best night for quite a while. 2 new for the year and both expected at some stage. Conditions were still very murky this morning and my camera struggled under the bad lighting conditions. Out of many images I was only half satisfied with these- but over the moon with the count!

Blair's Shoulder-knot

Sallow

The full run down-

1. Lunar Underwing- 7
2. Turnip Moth- 5
3. Beaded Chestnut- 4
4. Black Rustic- 3
5. Blair's Shoulder-knot- 2 Year Tick
6. Willow Beauty- 2
7. Large Yellow Underwing- 2
8. Lesser Yellow Underwing
9. Sallow- Year Tick
10. Mallow
11. Large Ranunculus
12. Common Marbled Carpet
13. Emmelina monodactyla
14. Shuttle-shaped Dart
15. Setaceous Hebrew Character

20/09/2009

This is a pale phase Sallow. The highlight of the night's trapping. 41 of 15 species including-

• Lunar U 17
• Willow Beauty 5
• LYU 4
• Black Rustic 2
• SS Dart 2
• Garden Carpet 2
• Gold Fringe
• Brimstone
• Sallow
• Flounced Rustic
• Pale Mottled Willow
• Turnip Moth
• SHebrewC
• Rustic sp.
• Deep-brown Dart

Trap results for 16/09/2009

A slightly better evening with 26 moths of 13 species. Including 2 new ones, Least Carpet (top) and Mallow (centre right). Also pictures are Silver Y and Sallow (bottom right).

LYU 7
SS Dart 3
SS Rustic 3
Willow Beauty 2
SH Character 2
Rustic Sp. 2
Common Wainscot 1
Silver Y 1
Sallow 1
Mallow 1
Lunar U 1
Lesser YU 1