Still Stalling......06-06

...............and not looking like getting going in the next few days at least. Last year's records tell me just how bad it is this year. 

Last year on this day- 215 species, 132 Macro and 83 Micro

This year (06-06-12)- 131 species, 89 Macro and 42 Micro

So I've tried to include a few highlights, although the Brown Rustic was battered and the Sallow Kitten had been eaten by a Spider- not very photogenic!

Small Dusty Wave

Found inside the house, NFY 31st May

 Yellow Shell

NFY, 5th June.

 1421 Large Tabby Aglossa pinguinalis

Found inside the house, NFY 5th June.

 1392 Udea olivalis

 1133 Epinotia bilunana

 Purple Bar

Upper Caldecote Garden, 06-06-12- 2x Actinic/BLB Skinners- 44 of 25 species-

0017	Hepialus lupulinus	Common Swift	3
1133	Epinotia bilunana		1	NFY
1176	Epiblema trimaculana		1	NFY
1392	Udea olivalis		1	NFY
1738	Epirrhoe alternata	Common Carpet	1
1752	Cosmorhoe ocellata	Purple Bar	1	NFY
1776	Colostygia pectinataria	Green Carpet	1
1819	Eupithecia exiguata	Mottled Pug	5
1834	Eupithecia vulgata	Common Pug	3
1937	Peribatodes rhomboidaria	Willow Beauty	2
1994	Phalera bucephala	Buff-tip	1
1997	Furcula furcula	Sallow Kitten	1	NFY
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	2
2102	Ochropleura plecta	Flame Shoulder	1
2147	Hada plebeja	Shears	5
2157	Lacanobia w-latinum	Light Brocade	1
2302	Rusina ferruginea	Brown Rustic	1	NFY
2333	Apamea anceps	Large Nutmeg	1
2334	Apamea sordens	Rustic Shoulder-knot	3
2337	x Oligia strigilis agg.	Marbled Minor agg.	2
2339	Oligia latruncula	Tawny Marbled Minor	1
2381	Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain	1
2387	Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	2
2389	Paradrina clavipalpis	Pale Mottled Willow	2
2441	Autographa gamma	Silver Y	1

A few highlights & Home Wood

 Things are still ticking over and Trent has eased into the lead! I discovered that I had left the perspex across my trap last night with nowhere for the moths to get into it. Doh!

Coxcomb Prominent

NFY, 28th May

Ingrailed Clay

Caught at Home Wood- 28th May

Buff-tip

Only the 'Buff-tip' remains. The Sparrows got there before me on 29th May.

 Flame

NFY, 30th May

 Bordered White

NFY 31st May, not seen in 2011.

Home Wood Species List- 28-05-2012- 102 of 30 Species-

0017	Hepialus lupulinus	Common Swift	10
0597	Elachista atricomella?		1	to be confirmed?
0986	Syndemis musculana		5
1174	Epiblema cynosbatella		2	NFS
1212	Rhyacionia pinivorana	Spotted Shoot Moth	4	NFS
1334	Scoparia ambigualis		4
1646	Watsonalla binaria	Oak Hook-tip	1	NFS
1680	Cyclophora punctaria	Maiden's Blush	1
1693	Scopula floslactata	Cream Wave	1
1727	Xanthorhoe montanata	Silver-ground Carpet	4
1764	Chloroclysta truncata	Common Marbled Carpet	1
1768	Thera obeliscata	Grey Pine Carpet	1
1776	Colostygia pectinataria	Green Carpet	17
185?	Eupithecia sp.	Pug sp?	1	awaiting gen. det. AB.
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	1
1906	Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	2
1936	Menophra abruptaria	Waved Umber	1	NFS
1944	Hypomecis punctinalis	Pale Oak Beauty	4
1950	Parectropis similaria	Brindled White-spot	1
1958	Lomographa temerata	Clouded Silver	3
1961	Campaea margaritata	Light Emerald	2
1981	Laothoe populi	Poplar Hawk-moth	1
2009	Ptilodon cucullina	Maple Prominent	1	NFS
2028	Calliteara pudibunda	Pale Tussock	4
2043	Eilema sororcula	Orange Footman	13
2060	Spilosoma lubricipeda	White Ermine	1
2078	Nola confusalis	Least Black Arches	1
2120	Diarsia mendica	Ingrailed Clay	1	NFS
2380	Charanyca trigrammica	Treble Lines	2
2422	Pseudoips prasinana	Green Silver-lines	2

Trying to catch up...........

....................but failing!- it's probably the same for all moth-ers at the moment as we compress a months worth of species into a couple of weeks. As well as some sizeable lists over the passed week or so. I also dumped my cheapo Chinese generator and an MV Skinner in Home Wood over night (28th May), which Trent collected very early this morning. There will be a later post on what was found, including the tricky job of sorting through the micros. This will no doubt be done with the assistance of out very own county recorder, David Manning.

In the meantime, some bedtime reading turned up. I haven't had chance for a good look yet- but I was on the pre- publication list; I think the book officially comes out on 31st May. The artwork is of Richard Lewington's usual high standard.

Anyway, here is a few shots- hastily taken between work, kids football, meetings and all the other s**t I have to do. Incidentally, I've finally put together Garden Year List for 2012- it can be found under 'Lists & Info' in the right-hand side column.

Rustic Shoulder-knot

NFY, 20th May

 Spectacle

NFY, 21st May

 Poplar Grey

NFY, 22nd May

 Foxglove Pug

NFY, 23rd May

 Oak Hook-tip

Last seen in 2010- NFY, 23rd May

 Shears

Seven trapped so far- NFY, 23rd May

 Buttoned Snout

The very first intact specimen- NFY, 23rd May

 White Ermine

NFY, 25th May

 Figure of Eighty

Last seen in 2010- NFY, 25th May

 Orange Footman

Last seen 2010- NFY, 25th May

 Mottled Rustic

NFY, 27th May

 Pine Hawk-moth

Last seen 2010- NFY, 27th May

Ochreous Pug?

Well, hasn't it been busy lately? Winter seemed to end at the beginning of the week, followed by Summer from Tuesday onwards. I've got a lot to catch up on, but will post some lists and a few photos later. Below is what I believe to be an Ochreous Pug. The size, angle of the wings and position of the central spot seem to all be right for the species. The photo isn't good and the moth is somewhat worn...........if confirmed it would be a 1st for the garden.

A couple more......... 16-05

................but to be honest, in previous years I would have been snowed under!

Pebble Prominent

Upper Caldecote Garden- 16-05-2012 - 14 of 12 species-

1524	Emmelina monodactyla		2
1834	Eupithecia vulgata	Common Pug	1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	2
1853	Eupithecia dodoneata	Oak-tree Pug	1
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1
1906	Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	1
1927	Lycia hirtaria	Brindled Beauty	1
2003	Notodonta ziczac	Pebble Prominent	1	NFY
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	1
2102	Ochropleura plecta	Flame Shoulder	1	NFY
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	1
2425	Colocasia coryli	Nut-tree Tussock	1

Eye of the storm- 7/8th May

A brief warm interlude in an otherwise cold, wet and windy week allowed me to trap for a rare two nights in a row. Unfortunately this didn't last, so the the lights will be on standby for the near future. This is a selection of the new species over the two nights, others not pictured were Common Carpet and Pale Mottled Willow.

Nut-tree Tussock

NFY- 7th May

 Streamer

Left it late- NFY 7th May

672 Parsnip Moth Depressaria heraclei 

NFY- 7th May

 697 Agonopterix arenella

NFY- 7th May

808 Platyedra subcinerea

This nationally scarce species is a regular sight in the garden- NFY 8th May.

 Pale Tussock

NFY- 8th May

 Waved Umber

NFY- 8th May

 Nut-tree Tussock

This is the first time I have seen the dark form of the species.

Long live the King!

After missing out on last years hatch, this is the first of my captive bred Emperors to emerge after being dormant for two years. It is over two weeks later than last years hatch and who could blame them as the inclement weather continues.

I still have one male and a female left, so could be a chance of some more assembling............

................and the second male emerged just a day later (5th May).

Emperor

01-05...................

Upper Caldecote Garden- 2x15w Actinic/UV Skinner, 15w BLB Bulb- 14 of 11 species-

0130	Incurvaria masculella		1	NFY
0648	Endrosis sarcitrella	White-shouldered House-moth	2	NFY
1342	Eudonia angustea		2
1524	Emmelina monodactyla		1
1648	Drepana falcataria	Pebble Hook-tip	1	NFY
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	1
1853	Eupithecia dodoneata	Oak-tree Pug	1	NFY
1883	Acasis viretata	Yellow-barred Brindle	1	NFY
1906	Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	1
2019	Clostera curtula	Chocolate-tip	1	NFY
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	2

Pebble Hook-tip

Oak-tree Pug

Chocolate-tip

Yellow-barred Brindle

I like Chinese........

Chinese Character

Despite another terrible night with wind and rain a plenty, I still added another 2 new macros to the list.  Along with the Chinese Character was a Brindled Pug. Also a Shuttle-shaped Dart and a late Clouded Drab.

27/04...............

................................and still really poor. This was the only real highlight with just a miserly 4 moths caught-

Brindled Beauty

Others in this otherwise forgettable night- E. monodactyla, Angle Shades and a Hebrew Character. 

Wretched!.........

............and that's an understatement. The mothing has been terrible of late; so bad in fact that I've only had a handful of trap nights in April. Incredibly, this time last year I'd already recorded 54 species of macro. However this year I reached just 30 species on 24th April. So the photos below are ALL the highlights since my last post 2 weeks ago.

BTW- Thanks for the English lesson Mr. Grimsey, my homework will be in on time this week. Spell check doesn't seem to work on Blog titles. Mind you, 'Retched' is appropriate too!

Swallow Prominent

 Powdered Quaker

Both the above represent half the catch on 24th April. The 2 other moths were an Angle Shades and a late Early Grey.

 985 Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana

Seen on a rare sunny spell during the day on 23rd April.

 On 19th April I found this larval web on a small Hawthorn at Broom GPs. I think they are Brown-tail caterpillars............

Still cold............

............and that's why I haven't bothered trapping since 2nd April. The 12th wasn't much better with only five moths caught. All I had in the way of macros was a late March Moth, Clouded Drab, Red Chestnut and this-

Garden Carpet

One day earlier than last year.

And from the 10th April-

 1342 Eudonia angustea

Flew into my workshop after dark.

 1361 Pyrausta aurata

Caught in a net by Louie in his Easter holiday.

Garden 02/04

A fairly good haul after a two day break. The weather has remained fairly cool so I didn't bother on the 3rd either. Two new ones keeps me ticking over though............

1054 Acleris cristana

Only my second ever record............

Brimstone Moth

Common, but nice to see anyway.........

Upper Caldecote Garden- 02-04-2012- 28 of 12 species-

1054	Acleris cristana		1	NFY
1524	Emmelina monodactyla		5
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1
1906	Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	1	NFY
1934	Agriopis marginaria	Dotted Border	1
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	2
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	7
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	3
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker	2
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	3
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	1
2256	Eupsilia transversa	Satellite	1