Your Thoughts.............

Could be good, could be nothing. Caught at The Lodge, Sandy. Unfortunately pretty worn and not retained. I would be interested to know opinions on this..........

Sharp-angled Carpet

After being listed as 'probably extinct' and not seen in VC30 since 1987. It just shows you anything is possible. After this example, a second was caught in the north of the vice-county shortly afterwards. Well done Steve Blain!

I say!

For the last week or so I have been spoilt. Rare stuff cropping up all over the place, but little time to do any of it justice. I have an ever growing unIDed micro collection which currently resides in the freezer. It's mostly Cnephasias and the odd Oegoconia sp.
I will add more at some other time.....................

Royal Mantle

8th record for VC30, NFG- 20th July

 Red-necked Footman

Up until this year there were just four records in VC30. Two were found at The Lodge earlier this month, so provided no more have been found it's the 7th record. NFG- 22nd July.

What's this?

I think the odd one like this my have evaded my detection before.........this is very worn, but was on the small side compared to most Willow Beauty's I've seen and definitely brown rather than grey.

Willow Beauty ab?

Trio of Newbies....12-07

...........more to follow when I get half a chance. I, like everyone else who sticks a trap out in anger, have been totally inundated. But three new garden macros in a night has got to be worth a post. I have now cut down to one trap while the Saharan weather continues...........

Double Lobed

 Peach Blossom

 Small Seraphim

.....only the 10th record in VC30. Not seen since 2009.

Mr & Mrs Ghost.........

Caught 9th and 7th July respectively. This is only the 2nd male I've trapped, for some reason the females are more frequent in the garden.

Ghost Moth

Brocades......07-07

........and more to add as trapping becomes difficult to keep up with. 

Toadflax Brocade

In nearby Biggleswade these seem to be common. Looks to be a colony near the railway line feeding on  Antirrhinum sp. (Snap Dragon). Which of course is the cultivated version of Toadflax. Finally on the list after 4 years of intensive trapping, NFG- 6th July.

Dusky Brocade

NFY-7th July

 Marbled Brown

 NFG- 7th July

987 Ptycholomoides aeriferanus

......and I would rather call it a Larch Tortrix. NFG, not seen in the VC30 since 2010.

Upper Caldecote Garden- 07-07-2013- 3 Traps- 70 species-

  Cnephasia species (Cnephasia sp.)  3

0014  Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli)  1 NFY

0642  Batia unitella  1 NFY

0987  Ptycholomoides aeriferanus  1 NFG confirmed by DVM

0989  Timothy Tortrix (Aphelia paleana)  1

1010  Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana)  1

1033  Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana)  1

1063  Celypha striana  3

1076  Celypha lacunana  1

1083  Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana)  2

1176  Epiblema trimaculana  2

1261  Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella)  2

1293  Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)  14

1294  Crambus pascuella  20

1302  Crambus perlella  4

1304  Agriphila straminella  1 

1331  Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella)  2 NFY

1334  Scoparia ambigualis  2

1344  Eudonia mercurella  2

1378  Phlyctaenia coronata  1

1392  Udea olivalis  1

1413  Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis)  1

1421  Large Tabby (Aglossa pinguinalis)  1 NFY

1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  1

1653  Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides)  1

1669  Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria)  1

1707  Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata)  1

1711  Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata)  2

1713  Riband Wave (Idaea aversata)  3

1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  2

1765  Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata)  1

1807  Grass Rivulet (Perizoma albulata)  1

1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  2

1837  Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata)  3

1860  Green Pug (Pasiphila rectangulata)  4

1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  1

1922  Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)  2

1931  Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)  1

1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  7

1955  Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria)  1

1958  Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata)  1

1991  Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)  1

1994  Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)  2

2000  Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)  1

2014  Marbled Brown (Drymonia dodonaea)  1 NFG

2050  Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)  2

2061  Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)  4

2088  Heart and Club (Agrotis clavis)  23

2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  20

2098  Flame (Axylia putris)  18

2107  Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  3

2109  Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)  1 NFY

2128  Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)  7 

2154  Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)  1

2155  Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae)  2

2160  Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)  1

2198  Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura)  1

2279  Sycamore (Acronicta aceris)  3

2280  Miller (Acronicta leporina)  1

2284x  Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi)  4

2302  Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)  3

2321  Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)  28

2322  Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea)  1

2327  Clouded Brindle (Apamea epomidion)  1

2330  Dusky Brocade (Apamea remissa)  1 NFY

2337x  Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.)  11

2381  Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines)  20

2387  Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus)  1

2422  Green Silver-lines (Pseudoips prasinana)  3

2489  Fan-foot (Zanclognatha tarsipennalis)  1

....and still they come 05-07

........Another warm, still night and another bumper crop. The latest new macro for the garden turned up in the form of this diminutive species- full list at the bottom of this post.

Dingy Shell

NFG- this tiny moth is very recognisable due to its 'wings closed' resting position.

Shoulder-striped Wainscot

2nd ever garden record.

 Clay

3rd of the year.

 Clouded Brindle

Very worn- but welcome anyway.

 Barred Straw

 Barred Yellow

 765 Teleiodes vulgella

 1261 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella

 1392 Udea olivalis

Upper Caldecote garden- 3 traps- 189 of 60 species-

0765  Teleiodes vulgella  1 NFY
0874  Blastobasis lacticolella  1
1076  Celypha lacunana  2
1159  Holly Tortrix (Rhopobota naevana)  1 NFY
1261  Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella)  1
1293  Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)  6
1294  Crambus pascuella  12
1302  Crambus perlella  2
1334  Scoparia ambigualis  1
1344  Eudonia mercurella  1
1392  Udea olivalis  2
1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  3
1513  White Plume Moth (Pterophorus pentadactyla)  1
1524  Emmelina monodactyla  2
1669  Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria)  1
1708  Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata)  1
1711  Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata)  3
1713  Riband Wave (Idaea aversata)  4
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1
1742  Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata)  1
1758  Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata)  1
1765  Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata)  2
1830  Wormwood Pug (Eupithecia absinthiata)  1
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  4
1837  Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata)  4
1860  Green Pug (Pasiphila rectangulata)  2
1874  Dingy Shell (Euchoeca nebulata)  1 NFG
1887  Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)  1
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  2
1931  Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)  2
1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1
1958  Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata)  2
1994  Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)  2
2050  Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)  1
2061  Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)  5
2088  Heart and Club (Agrotis clavis)  8
2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  17
2098  Flame (Axylia putris)  11
2107  Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  1
2128  Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)  4
2154  Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)  1
2160  Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)  2
2193  Clay (Mythimna ferrago)  1
2205  Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma)  1 NFY
2278  Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)  1
2279  Sycamore (Acronicta aceris)  1
2280  Miller (Acronicta leporina)  1
2284x  Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi)  2
2302  Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)  4
2321  Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)  19
2322  Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea)  4
2327  Clouded Brindle (Apamea epomidion)  1 NFY
2331  Small Clouded Brindle (Apamea unanimis)  1
2337x  Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.)  6
2343x  Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.)  1
2381  Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines)  9
2382  Rustic (Hoplodrina blanda)  1
2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  1
2387  Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus)  2
2389  Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)  1

A few goodies......03-07

A couple of pics from 3rd July.The mothing weather is set to be perfect for the whole weekend and into next week. So plenty more to come.

Reddish Light Arches

NFG.

 Beautiful Hook-tip

NFY

 Bird's Wing

NFY- Not seen in 2012.

 Buff Arches

NFY.

At last.............

Grass Rivulet

NFG- 29th June.

Ingrailed Clay

NFG- 23rd June.

More NFG......

.............another 3 newbies.

Small Clouded Brindle

NFG, 16th June.

Small Elephant Hawk-moth

NFG, 18th June.

Clouded-bordered Brindle

NFG 19th June.

17 June

Best night of the year so far-

Upper Caldecote Garden- 3 traps- 88 of 45 species-

0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)  2
0385  Anthophila fabriciana  1
0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  2
0697  Agonopterix arenella  1
0985  Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana)  1
0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  1
1133  Epinotia bilunana  1
1301  Crambus lathoniellus  1
1334  Scoparia ambigualis  1
1361  Pyrausta aurata  1
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  1
1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  5
1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  2
1827  Freyer's Pug (Eupithecia intricata)  1 NFY
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  9
1904  Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria)  1 NFY
1931  Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)  2
1931  Peppered Moth [melanic form] (Biston betularia f. insularia)  1
1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1
1955  Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria)  2 NFY
1958  Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata)  1
1979  Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae)  1 NFY
1991  Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)  2
2028  Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda)  1
2060  White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)  2
2087  Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)  2
2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  7
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  4
2102  Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)  4
2107  Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  2
2154  Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)  1
2164  Broad-barred White (Hecatera bicolorata)  1 NFY
2199  Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)  1
2216  Shark (Cucullia umbratica)  1
2279  Sycamore (Acronicta aceris)  1 NFY
2284x  Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi)  2
2333  Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps)  4
2334  Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)  1
2337x  Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.)  4
2380  Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica)  3
2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  2
2387  Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus)  1 NFY
2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  1
2489  Fan-foot (Zanclognatha tarsipennalis)  1 NFY

11-12 June....

.....and after almost four years of regular trapping, I finally managed to trap a Scalloped Hazel. This moth has proved to be very elusive over the years, despite it regularly appearing on moth lists all over VC30.

The 11th proved to be a quite warm and slightly humid evening, though the lists are nowhere near the seasonal norm.

Scalloped Hazel

Although a bit worse for wear, a long awaited tick. New for the garden on 11th June.

Varied Coronet

NFY

Upper Caldecote Garden, 11/06/13- 3 traps- 60 of 33 species-

0227  Skin Moth (Monopis laevigella)  1 NFY
0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  2
0893  Mompha epilobiella  1 NFY
0925  Phtheochroa rugosana  1
0985  Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana)  1
1279  Dichrorampha acuminatana  1 NFY
1301  Crambus lathoniellus  2
1376  Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata)  1 NFY
1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  3
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  1
1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  1
1825  Lime-speck Pug (Eupithecia centaureata)  1
1830  Wormwood Pug (Eupithecia absinthiata)  1 NFY
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  3
1837  Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata)  1
1920  Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata)  1 NFG
1961  Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)  1 NFY
2000  Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)  1
2028  Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda)  1
2087  Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)  4
2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  4
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  4
2102  Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)  2
2126  Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)  1
2147  Shears (Hada plebeja)  2
2157  Light Brocade (Lacanobia w-latinum)  1
2170  Varied Coronet (Hadena compta)  1 NFY
2333  Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps)  4
2334  Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)  3
2380  Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica)  5
2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  2
2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  1


A much windier night on 12th meant the catch was diminished. But a few goodies all the same.

Green Silver-lines

NFY

 Elephant Hawk-moth

NFY

 Flame

NFY

 Shark

Quite scarce in the garden; only the 3rd record- NFY

Upper Caldecote Garden, 12/06/13- 2 traps- 51 of 26 species-

0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)  1

0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  2

0697  Agonopterix arenella  1

1174  Epiblema cynosbatella  1

1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  1

1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  1

1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  1

1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  4

1991  Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)  1 NFY

2028  Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda)  1

2060  White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)  1

2087  Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)  1

2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  8

2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  5

2098  Flame (Axylia putris)  2 NFY

2102  Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)  6

2126  Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)  1

2147  Shears (Hada plebeja)  1

2216  Shark (Cucullia umbratica)  1 NFY

2284x  Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi)  1

2333  Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps)  3

2337x  Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.)  1 NFY

2380  Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica)  1

2389  Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)  1

2422  Green Silver-lines (Pseudoips prasinana)  1 NFY

2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  3

NFG!...........

...............the 8th June was certainly a much better night than of late, in spite of the continuous northerly winds and cold nights. New macros in the garden are now becoming few and far between, so to get two in one night is a bit of a rare treat. These are macro numbers 311 and 312 for the garden after Scarce Tissue and what must almost certainly be a Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet earlier this year.

Flame Carpet

I can only assume both of these species reside in an area of woodland in close proximity to the north of my position. At this time of year it is very unusual to have a prolonged spell of northerly winds- this could explain these occurrences.

Pale Oak Beauty 

Shears

A good haul of four, 8th June.

 Spruce Carpet

 Light Brocade

 Tawny Marbled Minor

1st for year, unfortunately chewed by a spider.

 1356 Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis

 Scoparia sp.

Quite large for a Scoparia. Also fairly pale for S. ambigualis. Could possibly be S. basistrigalis. Kept for further analysis.

Upper Caldecote Garden, 8th June 2013- 3 traps- 45 of 28 species-

0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  2

0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  1

1356  Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis)  1 NFY

1722  Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata)  1 NFG

1724  Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia)  1

1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1

1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  2

1769  Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica)  1 NFY

1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  1

1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  1

1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  1

1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1

1944  Pale Oak Beauty (Hypomecis punctinalis)  1 NFG

1994  Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)  1

2028  Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda)  1

2060  White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)  1

2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  4

2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  7

2147  Shears (Hada plebeja)  4

2157  Light Brocade (Lacanobia w-latinum)  1

2278  Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)  1

2284x  Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi)  2

2334  Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)  1

2339  Tawny Marbled Minor (Oligia latruncula)  1 NFY

2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  3

2389  Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)  2

2480  Buttoned Snout (Hypena rostralis)  1