Just Micros....18/07

The only debutant's in last night's trappings were a few micros. I caught 4 new in all but failed to get a photo of what I suspect was Monopis obviella (229).

Other highlights included another Broad-barred White (4th record), a White Satin Moth (3rd record), Dingy Shears (3rd record) and a Knot-grass- which I haven't seen for some time......

Ypsolopha scabrella (455)

Batia unitella (642)

Wax Moth (1425)

Vestal and friends....17/07

Another 2 new macros for the year, even though temperatures got below 10°C. The prize surely goes to a garden 1st Vestal, which according to VC30 records hasn't been seen in the county since 2006......

Vestal

Dark Arches (dark form)

Dun-bar

This is the 1st this year- albeit a battered specimen!

Spectacle

"...........But I can see you, your brown skin shinin' in the sun.You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on, baby......" Don Henley- Boys of Summer (1984)

1. Chrysoteuchia culmella- 9
2. Dark Arches- 8
3. Buff Ermine- 7
4. Shuttle-shaped Dart- 3
5. Uncertain- 3
6. Crambus pascuella- 2
7. Heart & Dart- 2
8. Swallow Prominent
9. Light Arches
10. Scarce Footman
11. Light Arches
12. Smoky Wainscot
13. Common Footman
14. Scalloped Oak
15. Dun-bar- Year Tick
16. Vestal- Garden 1st
17. Pyrausta aurata
18. Riband Wave
19. Brown House-moth
20. Common Rustic agg.
21. Double Square-spot
22. Common Wainscot
23. Bright-line Brown-eye
24. Ruby Tiger
25. Nutmeg
26. Spectacle
27. Emmelina monodactyla
28. Dot Moth

The Emperor of Caldecote..........

Lately as a side line I've been feeding some Emperor Moth caterpillars. I've found them to be very greedy Hawthorn feeders. This requires a lot of my time, so I'm glad some have started to spin cocoons!.....

 

 Cocoons

I started with 12 of these critters, unfortunately I lost one. Out of the 11 I have left, 5 have spun cocoons already.................watch this space for more news.............

3 more Macros for the year...16/07

I was surprised at the turn out last night, as I wasn't going to do any trapping. But the wind dropped and while I was getting my beauty sleep, (much needed!) the trap produce the goods. Temperature down on recent nights to 12°C and some quite strong gusts at times didn't put the moths off completely. Though numbers were down, with just 1 twin 15w Actinic/UV trap out........

Scalloped Oak

Engrailed

Absolutely brilliant to get Engrailed as I missed out on it's 1st generation. Usually a woodland species, I just didn't think I'd get one.

Common Rustic agg.

The 1st Common Rustic agg.s of the year in 2 very different guises. I find the side on image the most diagnostic for this species, though its not pictured in any of my books.........the full run down-

1. Chrysoteuchia culmella- 7
2. Dark Arches- 5
3. Uncertain- 5
4. Endotricha flammealis- 4
5. Shuttle-shaped Dart- 3
6. Buff Ermine- 3
7. Common Rustic agg.- 2- Year Tick
8. Grey Tortrix sp.- 2
9. Scalloped Oak- 2- Year Tick
10. Riband Wave- 2
11. Clepsis consimilana
12. Clouded Silver
13. Crambus pascuella
14. Acleris forsskaleana
15. Dusky Sallow
16. Common Footman
17. Flame
18. Smoky Wainscot
19. Yellow-Tail
20. Pyrausta aurata
21. Engrailed- 1st Ever
22. Light Arches

3 Shakes of Pepper..........

I've caught a few Peppered Moths recently, but they seem to have just about finished for this year. I have been lucky enough to trap all 3 sub species too!

Biston betularia

This is the commonest of the 3 and the most regular in my traps.

 f. insularia

In between the 2, I have only trapped 1 of this form on 28th June.

 f. carbonaria

Only 1 trapped, but striking. This form is now in decline due to less air pollution! Apparently in the London area 100 years ago, this form was once the commonest. The moth over it's many generations since has gradually favoured the now most abundant white form.....

Queries? 13/07............

Another batch of recent catches and a couple of queries.......I have now stowed the Gazebo away and I didn't trap on 14th and probably won't now until the weekend.

Ruby Tiger

Believe it or not, only the 2nd caught this year!

Bordered White

Only the 2nd ever record.

Foxglove or Toadflax?

I have caught a lot of Foxglove Pugs this year. But this one was very small and much more heavily marked. If pushed I would still say Foxglove.

Cloaked Minor!

This faded moth could be anything as far as I'm concerned. Similar in size to Marble Minor agg.

One of the many guises of Cloaked Minor. Thanks Ian W for the expert overview!

Epinotia nisella (1138)

Others recent highlights-

1. Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing- female
2. Nut-tree Tussock
3. Smoky Wainscot
4. Mere Wainscot- a 3rd record!
5. Spruce Carpet
6. Coxcomb Prominent- 2nd record

Down by the Gazebo this week.....

The combination of the Gazebo with twin 40w BLB and a twin Actinic/UV trap seems to be paying dividends and the moment. I've managed to snap a 'few that got away' last week.

Trachycera advenella (1439)

Orthopygia glaucinalis (1415)

Broad-barred White

Brown-line Bright-eye

Campion- battered!!

Clouded Border

Common Emerald

Coxcomb Prominent

Dusky Sallow

Bordered Pug

Id by Ben Sale- Many Thanks!!

A few more Micros........

The challenging world of Micro Moths has really stepped up a gear in the last few weeks. So here's a little selection with a couple of unknowns thrown in.....

Thistle Ermine (1485)

Brown China-mark (1345)

Calamotropha paludella (1292)

Thanks Skev and David!!

Micro #2- Actually a macro!!

IDed as Brown Scallop by Skev, Thanks!

Gold Triangle (1413)

European Corn-borer (1375)

Dipleurina lacustrata (1338)

Argyresthia goedartella (411)

A few more Macros........

A few more to the good as far as photos are concerned. Though a good opportunity to snap my 1st garden Clouded Border slipped through my fingers............

Dingy Shears

Buff Arches

Haworth's Pug

Least Carpet

The good mothing weather continues, so anything could be thrown up in the next few days........

Mere Wainscot??

This very non descript moth turned up this morning. Definately new for the garden...............

Mere Wainscot confirmed by VC30 Moths.

Nights with White Satin........08/07

Perfect conditions last night and a trap full this morning. A very light wind, cloud cover and high temperature gave the garden a few more newbies...........

Cloaked Minor

White Satin Moth

   (1483)

Spindle Ermine (427)

Brown-tail

Only 1 twin 15w trap out and 46 species trapped. Not bad for the humble Actinic. The full list is as follows-

1. Chrysoteuchia culmella- 21
2. Uncertain- 12
3. Crambus pascuella- 10
4. Common Footman- 8
5. Flame- 6
6. Riband Wave- 6
7. Celypha striana- 6
8. Scarce Footman- 4
9. Brown-tail- 4 Garden 1st
10. Heart & Dart- 4
11. Acleris forsskaleana- 3
12. White Satin Moth- 2 Garden 1st
13. Grey Dagger- 2
14. Bird-cherry Ermine- 2
15. Apple Ermine- 2 Garden 1st
16. Dark Arches- 2
17. Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix- 2
18. Crambus perlella
19. Yellow-Tail
20. Buff Ermine
21. V-Pug
22. Small Blood-vein
23. Common Pug
24. Large Nutmeg
25. Marbled Minor agg.
26. Common Wainscot
27. Poplar Grey
28. Fan-foot
29. Double Square-spot
30. Single-dotted Wave
31. Red-barred Tortrix
32. Grey Tortrix sp.
33. Carcina quercana- Garden 1st
34. Clepsis consimilana
35. Batia lunaris
36. Willow Beauty
37. Buff-Tip
38. Mottled Rustic
39. Dwarf Cream Wave
40. Broad-barred White
41. Cloaked Minor- Garden 1st
42. Mere Wainscot??
43. Codling Moth
44. Phycitodes binaevella- Garden 1st
45. Spilonota ocellana- Garden 1st
46. Small Magpie