WINE RACE 2016 .. MATTc380 .. TRENT 353 .. BEN 347 ...... Garden species:- Macros 357, Micros 365, Total 722

Tuesday 3 December 2013

2nd Dec 2013 ... Winter is here

After a very lean last 2 weeks of November, 4 moths appeared in the traps ...
Winter Moth
Dark Chestnut
Light Brown Apple Moth
Common Plume
No new addition to the year list as Winter Moth was recorded early in the year.

Winter Moth

Dark Chestnut

Monday 4 November 2013

2nd Nov 2013 ... Garden trap catch

Nothing startling, but a nice variety .....
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana
1041 ... Acleris sparsana
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla
1764 ... Common Marbled Carpet
1795 ... November Moth

2091 ... Dark Sword-grass
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot
2258 ... Chestnut
2259 ... Dark Chestnut
2306 ... Angle Shades
This time of year I get several other visitors around the traps.
It's been a good year for most insects and arachnids.
Harvestman Spiders are everywhere, and many other species of spider,  Ophion sp wasps and Caddis are regulars to the traps.
Rosemary Beetles are now common and a female Great Diving Beetle was found in the trap along with a Common Wasp.

Great Diving Beetle, (female)

Common Wasp

Rosemary Beetle

Wasp, Ophion spp. 


Friday 1 November 2013

31st Oct 2013 ... Trick or treat ...


.... TREAT ... after 3 nights of absolute zero we get a warmer overcast night and moths.
Two traps running plus 1 illuminated pumpkin trap. LED/ 2 candle power
No Halloween moths ... ie Ghost, Deaths Head, (you get the drift).
However, the pumpkin lights attracted a  few Cloaked Minors during the course of the evening, feeding on a variety of confectionery before departing.
.
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 2
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla
1764 ... Common Marbled Carpet
Common Marbled Carpet

2237 ... Grey Shoulder-knot
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot
 Grey and Blair's Shoulder-knot

2306 ... Angle Shades x 4
2441 ... Silver Y
.


Monday 28 October 2013

27th Oct ... Lost cause ? .....

.... Not entirely
Just the one trap (Twin 11w BL / 9w BLB) Under cover due to the impending St. Jude storm, name after the patron saint of lost causes and desperate cases ...

Anyway, it seems that the worst of the winds passed through a little further south of Beds.
40/50 mph gusts were the top end in the early hours.
Just 5 moths in the trap this morning, including a fourth Merveille du Jour and a second Feathered Thorn so far this year.
27th Oct. strong winds, 10 deg C minimum
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana ... Light Brown Apple Moth x 2
1923 ... Feathered Thorn
Feathered Thorn

2247 ... Merveille du Jour
2306 ... Angle Shades

Here's some useless information ........

SAINT JUDE.(Patron Saint of lost causes and desperate cases)
Monday 28th October happens to be the feast day for this particular saint.
So who was St Jude? Here are the 10 things you need to know about the patron saint of lost causes and desperate cases...
1. St Jude was one of Jesus' 12 apostles, chosen to spread the word of the gospel.
2. He was also known as Thaddeus or Thaddaeus - said to be a surname for the name Labbaeus which means "heart" or courageous".
3. He is believed to have written the book of Jude. Religious scholars say it contains some of the finest expressions of praise to God in the Bible's New Testament.
4. Jude became associated with desperate situations because of a letter he wrote to the Churches of the East. In it he says that the faithful must keep going even in harsh or difficult circumstances.
5. He is thought to have been martyred in Beirut in around 65 AD, along with fellow apostle Simon the Zealot. He is often depicted showing a club or axe, symbolising the way he died.
6. He is also sometimes pictured with a flame above his head. This refers to the Pentecost, where he and the other apostles received the Holy Spirit.
7. The personal ads sections of some newspapers occasionally include messages from people calling on St Jude for help in times of need, or thanking him for his support and guidance.
8. Some choose to carry the image of St Jude on a medal or as a pendant on a necklace to provide comfort.
9. The Shrine of St Jude can be found at the parish church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Faversham, Kent. It was set up in the 1950s by the church's friars, who noticed they were getting an increasing number of requests for St Jude prayer cards. Donations to "The Shrine of St Jude" began to come in, but one didn't exist - so Friar Elias Lynch set one up. The shrine is visited all year round, but particularly on St Jude's feast day - October 28.
10. St Jude is not to be confused with Judas Iscariot - another of the 12 apostles, but the one who betrayed Jesus.
Source:  mirror.co.uk
So it must be true

Saint Jude: Patron saint of lost causes and desperate cases
Saint Jude: Patron saint of lost causes and desperate cases
St. Simon the  Zealot
St. Simon the Zealot

Feastday: October 28
Died: 65 or 107


Simon was surnamed the Zealot for his rigid adherence to the Jewish law and to the Canaanite law. He was one of the original followers of Christ. Western tradition is that he preached in Egypt and then went to Persia with St. Jude, where both suffered martyrdom. Eastern tradition says Simon died peacefully at Edessa. His feast day is October 28th the same day as St. Jude.

Sunday 27 October 2013

24th/25th/26th Oct 2013

Still some migrants about, Dark Sword-grass (24th and 25th) and Silver Y (24th and 26th) were both present in the traps.
The 3rd Merveille du Jour this year was found in the trap (26th)
A new mine for the garden was present (25th). 0093 Stigmella centifoliella.
An adult was identified by gen. det on 13th July this year
Found on rambling rose "Albertine" and on a miniature pink rose.
#93 ... Stigmella centifoliella
The larva is yellowy-green with a brown head but cannot be seen in the photo.
Both S. centifoliella and S. anomalella mine the Albertine although the latter vacated the mines a while back.
Tonight (27th), the traps will stay under covers with bricks on top as the forecast has warned of winds possibly gusting to 80 mph.
.
24th Oct, Mild ... 11 deg C minimum temp.
0994 ... Clepsis consimilana
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 4
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla x 2
1795x . November Moth agg.
2091 ... Dark Sword-grass
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character x 2
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing x 2
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing
2258 ... The Chestnut
The Chestnut
2259 ... Dark Chestnut
2306 ... Angle Shades x 2
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow
2441 ... Silver Y
.
25th Oct ......Mild, windy. 11 deg C minimum temp.
0093 ... Stigmella centifoliella ... Leaf mine
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 4
1795x . November Moth agg. x 2
2091 ... Dark Sword-grass
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing x 2
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot
2259 ... Dark Chestnut
2263 ... Red-line Quaker
2267 ... Beaded Chestnut
2306 ... Angle Shades x 2
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow x 2
.
26th Oct ... Windy, occ. rain, 8 deg C minimum temp.
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana
1795x . November Moth
2247 ... Merveille du Jour
Merveille du Jour on an apple leaf, with the added bonus of a Lyonetia clerkella leaf mine.

2272 ... Barred Sallow
2306 ... Angle Shades
2441 ... Silver Y




Thursday 24 October 2013

22/23rd Oct, 2013 ... Another Merv but little else.

Not a lot in the traps but always nice to see a Merveille du Jour, a species missed last year.
This one was my second for 2013
23rd Oct
Calm, clear, much cooler (4.9 deg C )  75% moon, waning
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 4
1795x . November Moth agg.
1937 ... Willow Beauty
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 2
2267 ... Beaded Chestnut
2272 ... Barred Sallow
2306 ... Angle Shades x 2

22nd Oct,
Warm, strong south wind, heavy rain showers then clearing.
0229 ... Monopis obviella
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 6
1937 ... Willow Beauty
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 2
2247 ... Merveille du Jour ... 2nd record this year
Merveille du Jour

2267 ... Beaded Chestnut
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow


Tuesday 22 October 2013

21st Oct 2013 ... Warm Southerly blow disapponts

Both traps were fired up on the strength of a stiff southerly wind and very mild temperatures.
Hoping the wind would blow a nice migrant up to Bedfordshire.
No such luck, but a large Turnip Moth had me going for a moment as Pearly Underwing is still missing from my garden list. A third record of Scarce Bordered Straw is also on the cards, with several being reported from the home counties.

0229 ... Monopis obviella
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 5
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla x 2
1937 ... Willow Beauty
2087 ... Turnip Moth

Turnip Moth

2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing x 4
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 2
2273 ... Pink-barred Sallow
2306 ... Angle Shades x 3
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow
2477 ... Snout

Monday 21 October 2013

20th Oct 2013 ... Two belated garden first micros confirmed

The results came through from a batch of early September micro moths from our county recorder.
This is 964a Cochylis molliculana caught on 3rd Sept.
I now have confirmation from David Manning, county recorder, for this garden first record. This species is moving north
964a ... Cochylis molliculana.
Another garden first turned up from the same batch ...
364 Phyllonerycter geniculella 2nd Sept 2013
The moth was a bit too battered for a worthwhile photo so I have taken the liberty of ripping off a pic from the German site Lepiforum ....
364 ... Phyllonerycter geniculella ... Photo Lepiforum
--- an excellent site and highly recommended. http://www.lepiforum.de 
.
Traps 20th Oct. 
Traps under rain covers.
0229 ... Monopis obviella
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 3
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla
2091 ... Dark Sword-grass
2267 ... Beaded Chestnut
2375 ... Large Wainscot
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow

Saturday 19 October 2013

18th Oct 2013 ... Juniper Carpet

A second Juniper Carpet was a good record, this one in better condition.
There are quite a few cultivated conifers in the surrounding gardens which could explain why I get this uncommon moth quite regularly.
A year first Feathered Thorn was also found on the patio door near one of the traps.
.
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 3
1760 ... Red-green Carpet
Red-green Carpet

1771 ... Juniper Carpet
Juniper Carpet

1795x . November Moth agg.
1923 ... Feathered Thorn ... YF
Feathered Thorn ( male )

2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing x 2
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character x 2
2199 ... Common Wainscot
2232 ... Black Rustic x 2
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 4
2256 ... Satellite
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow
.
It's been a record breaking year for garden moths so far and if you add the 16 Butterfly species, I have passed the 500 mark for lepidoptera, which is amazing for a town garden measuring 16 x 13 metres
On the waterfront, there are still Pond Skaters on my little garden pool ...




Friday 18 October 2013

17th Oct 2013 ... Marvellous !

Merveille du Jour was a nice addition to the garden year list after missing out last year.
Two Lesser Yellow Underwings, still looking quite fresh, reminded me that the first appearance of this species in the garden this year was a very unseasonal January 8th.
Last nights haul :-
0695 ... Agonopterix alstromeriana
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana
1342 ... Eudonia angustea
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla x 3
1745 ... Mallow
1764 ... Common Marbled Carpet x 2

Two Common Marbled Carpets showing some of the many variations in wing patterns

1937 ... Willow Beauty x 2
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing x 3
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing x 2
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character x 2
2199 ... Common Wainscot
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 3
2247 ... Merveille du Jour ... YF

Merveille du Jour

2256 ... Satellite x 2
Satellite ...  Orange and white spotted varieties

2259 ... Dark Chestnut
2263 ... Red-line Quaker x 2
2267 ... Beaded Chestnut
2272 ... Barred Sallow
2306 ... Angle Shades
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow x 2




Thursday 17 October 2013

Garden Moths ... 14/15/16th Oct 2013

The last 3 nights have produced a nice variety with a few newbies for the garden year list...
14th Oct... Early evening rain - clearing
1041 ... Acleris sparsana ... YF
1041 ... Acleris sparsana

1342 ... Eudonia angustea
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla
1937 ... Willow Beauty
2091 ... Dark Sword-grass
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 2
2267 ... Beaded Chestnut
.
15th Oct ... Cold, clear, calm. 4.8 deg C
A Brimstone Moth was a late record
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 2
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla x 3
1771 ... Juniper Carpet ... YF
1771 ... Juniper Carpet

1795x . November Moth agg. ... YF
1795X ... November Moth agg.

1906 ... Brimstone Moth
1937 ... Willow Beauty x 2
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character x 2
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 2
2263 ... Red-line Quaker ... YF
2263 ... Red-line Quaker

2264 ... Yellow-line Quaker
2267 ... Beaded Chestnut x 2
.
16th Oct ... warmer, gusty winds
0464 ... Plutella xylostella
464 ... Plutella xylostella ... Diamond-back Moth

0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla x 3
1764 ... Common Marbled Carpet
1728 ... Garden Carpet
1937 ... Willow Beauty
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 2
2267 ... Beaded Chestnut x 2
2375 ... Large Wainscot
2375 ... Large Wainscot

2441 ... Silver Y
2441 ... Silver Y

Some larvae from this morning 17th Oct, if anyone wants to hazard an ID




Monday 14 October 2013

13th Oct 2013 ... Autumn Pick 'n' Mix

The makeshift rain covers came in handy last night as the rain didn't stop until first light.
A mixed bag of Autumn was in the traps with 15 moths of 13 species.....
1342 ... Eudonia angustea
1937 ... Willow Beauty x 2
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing x 2
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot
2245 ... Green-brindled Crescent
2248 ... Brindled Green
2258 ... Chestnut
2259 ... Dark Chestnut
2266 ... Brown-spot Pinion
2267 ... Beaded Chestnut
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow
....
Below ... The traps with temporary rain covers in place



Dark Chestnut
Chestnut
Brindled Green
Beaded Chestnut
Brown-spot Pinion

Green-brindled Crescent

Friday 11 October 2013

10th Oct 2013 ... Foul weather good for the Carpets

Rain, cold, blowing a gale.
Perfect night for one of the traps. Yeah right.
I thought I'd better put one on in case of a blow-in.
It's a surprise anything was on the wing at all but Red-green, Common Marbled and Garden Carpet somehow made it to the lights.
15 moths of 10 species was a good tally given the conditions.

1728 ... Garden Carpet
1760 ... Red-green Carpet
1760 ... Red-green Carpet

1764 ... Common Marbled Carpet
1764 ... Common Marbled Carpet

2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing x 3
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character
2232 ... Black Rustic x 2
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 3
2270 ... Lunar Underwing
2273 ... Pink-barred Sallow
2273 ... Pink-barred Sallow

2306 ... Angle Shades