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

Back in Blighty.............

.........So feeling jet-lagged and cold. But the good news is it seems, I have not lost any ground in the wine race against the hard working Trent and Ben. I've managed 3 trap nights since we've been back, with the best coming last night.

Twin-spotted Quaker

Clouded Drab

I've caught 3 Clouded Drabs so far. 

.........15/03

After a day off, the lights were back on for the 15th March. The usual stuff was recorded until I found this under the last egg box in the Twin Actinic/UV Skinner!

Twin-spotted Quaker

I also put on a 15w BLB bulb at the bottom of the garden, on the shed. Early in the evening this proved productive with a NFY Double-striped Pug and a new micro in the form of Diurnea fagella. They both absconded before a photo could be taken.

 Small Quaker

Loads of these around this year, with 18 trapped so far. This is a nice well marked one.

Upper Caldecote Garden- 15-03-2012- 24 of 10 species-

0663	Diurnea fagella	Diurnea fagella	1	NFY
0688	Agonopterix heracliana	Agonopterix heracliana	1
0695	Agonopterix alstromeriana	Agonopterix alstromeriana	1
1524	Emmelina monodactyla	Emmelina monodactyla	1
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1	NFY
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	3
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	8
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	5
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker	1	NFY
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	2

The Actinic Strikes Back!.....28/04

Micro?- awaiting ID

Muslin Moth Chocolate Tip Mullein Pale Prominent Red Twin-spot Carpet

Twin-spotted Quaker

Brimstone Moth

A monster haul, the best so far for my garden. I put 2 traps out, both twin 15w Actinics. These were placed at either end of the garden and with near perfect conditions, I couldn't lose- 47 Moths of 23 species!

1. Hebrew Character- 9
2. Clouded Drab- 5
3. Common Quaker4
4. Brindled Pug?- 4 I think they all were
5. Shuttle-shaped Dart- 4
6. Double-striped Pug- 2
7. Flame Shoulder- 2
8. Muslin Moth- Garden 1st
9. Twin-spotted Quaker- Garden 1st
10. Chocolate Tip- Garden 1st
11. Red Twin-spot Carpet- Year tick
12. Waved Umber- Garden 1st
13. Powdered Quaker
14. Brimstone Moth- Year tick
15. Mullein- Garden 1st
16. Pale Prominent- Year tick
17. Parsnip Moth
18. Agonopterix heracliana
19. Agonopterix arenella
20. Emmelina Monodactyla- 2
21. White-shouldered House Moth
22. Micro??- awaiting ID
23. Argyrotaenia ljungiana

The Micro??? is a probable dark form Pammene fasciana (1236)