3rd April 2014 ... Warm start to Spring brings early arrivals

Min overnight temperature, 11 deg C, cloudy. Wind change from East to Sou'west.
Many early arrivals, including Yellow-barred Brindle, V-pug and Varied Coronet which is exceptionally early.
28 species were recorded

0284 ... Caloptilia rufipennella, x 1
0483 ... Epermenia chaerophyllella, x 2
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella, x 1, ... year first

Endrosis sarcitrella, White-shouldered House-moth

0688 ... Agonopterix heracliana, x 1
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana, x 2
1047 ... Acleris schalleriana, x 1
1288 ... Alucita hexadactyla, x 2
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla, x 8
1862 ... Double-striped Pug, x 17
1858 ... V-pug, x 1, ... year first

Chloroclystis v-ata, V-pug

1883 ... Yellow-barred Brindle, x 1, ... year first

Acasis viretata, Yellow-barred Brindle

1917 ... Early Thorn, x 1
2063 ... Muslin Moth, x 1
2064 ... Ruby Tiger, x 1, ... year first

2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart, x 1, ... year first

Agrotis puta, Shuttle-shaped Dart

2139 ... Red Chestnut, x 1
2170 ... Varied Coronet, x 1, ... year first

Hadena compta, Varied Coronet

2182 ... Small Quaker, x 5
2185 ... Lead-coloured Drab, x 1, ... year first

Eupithecia plumbeolata, Lead-coloured Drab (male)

2186 ... Powdered Quaker, x 1, ... year first

Orthosia gracilis, Powdered Quaker

2187 ... Common Quaker, x 25
2188 ... Clouded Drab, x 2
2189 ... Twin-spotted Quaker, x 1
2190 ... Hebrew Character, x 6
2243 ... Early Grey, x 6
2256 ... Satellite, x 1
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow, x 2

2nd April 2012 ... Garden traps

2nd April... Overnight min. temp. 7.1 deg. calm, cloudy, warm.
Disappointing, considering the perfect conditions.
A 2nd Lead-coloured Drab was the highlight, but no Cloudeds.
Trap tally :-
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 8
2182 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda 1
2185 Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti 1
2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi 6
2190 Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica 1
2243 Early Grey Xylocampa areola 5



Lead-coloured Drab, Orthosia populeti


1st April... Overnight min. temp. 2.1 deg. Calm, clear, cold.
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2
1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 1
1917 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria 1
2182 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda 1
2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi 3
2188 Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta 3
2190 Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica 1
2243 Early Grey Xylocampa areola 3

Tonight and tomorrow night may well see the traps under wraps looking at the weather forecast ! Parts of Scotland had over 6" of snow and it's heading our way.

29th March 2012...Triumph Herald, not unleaded

Overnight min. temp. 4.6 deg. calm, clear.

It's been a superb week weather-wise in Bedfordshire, but the huge drops in temperature at night have not been ideal for the moth traps.
Having said that, it was a little warmer last night.                                               A year first Herald turn up, and after checking (and doubting) a number of Clouded Drabs, a Lead-coloured has finally appeared, along with a small Agonopterix which will need ID.
Traps :-
1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 11
1917 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria 3 
2182 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda 6
2185 Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti 1, year first
2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi 2 
2188 Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta 1 
2190 Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica 1
2243 Early Grey Xylocampa areola 4 
2469 The Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix 1, year first
  998 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana 2
1288 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 8
**** Agonopterix spp for ID



The Herald, Scoliopteryx libatrix



Lead-coloured Drab, Orthosia populeti



Early Thorn, Selenia dentaria