19th May 2014 ... Moth catch report

13.2 deg min. temp
After the previous nights first Hawk-moth of the year, two more turned up last night, Lime Hawk-moth and Poplar Hawk-moth.
Micro moth numbers are steadily increasing with 5 newcomers for the year list.
A heavy shower during the night meant wet traps this morning but a nice variety of moths were recorded ... year first moths in bold.
Tinea trinotella, 1
Argyresthia trifasciata, 1
Elachista argentella, 1
Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 1
Endrosis sarcitrella, 3
Bryotropha affinis, 1
Platyedra subcinerea, 2
Scrobipalpa costella, 1
Mompha subbistrigella, 17
Epiphyas postvittana, 9
Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, 1
Epiblema cynosbatella, 3
Eurrhypara hortulata, 1
Aphomia sociella, 4
Red Twin-spot Carpet, 1
Garden Carpet, 3
Common Marbled Carpet, 1
Spruce Carpet, 1
Mottled Pug, 3
Common Pug, 2
Yellow-barred Brindle, 1
Brimstone Moth, 2
Waved Umber, 2
Lime Hawk-moth, 1
Poplar Hawk-moth, 1
Buff-tip, 1
Pale Tussock, 1
White Ermine, 1
Least Black Arches, 1
Turnip Moth, 2
Heart n Dart, 4
Shuttle-shaped Dart, 50
Setaceous Hebrew Character, 1
Nutmeg, 1
Bright-line Brown-eye, 4
Lychnis, 1
Large Nutmeg, 1
Rustic Shoulder-knot, 5
Treble Lines, 4
Pale Mottled Willow, 3

From the top ...
Tinea trinotella
Bryotropha affinis
Spruce Carpet
Lime Hawk-moth
Poplar Hawk-moth
Ditto
Pale Tussock
Red Twin-spot Carpet
Scrobipalpa costella
Elachista argentella
Eurrhypara hortulata

26th May 2013 ... Nice mix

Following a cracking day in Bedfordshire, with the first BBQ of the year (which is one more than last year !), I had high hopes for some good moth species last night.
The big full moon didn't appear over the garden until midnight and it remained quite warm up until then.
Temperatures plummeted to a chilly 4 deg soon after the witching hour but still a good mixed bag was recorded ....
The afternoon found grandson Louie head down in the grass and bushes searching for new species at a £ a time before overeating and coming to a halt, but not before he produced a Dichrorampha species which could be "plumbagana" or "plumbana" and therefore cost me a quid ! Confirmation asap.
A new for year micro was added in the evening in the shape of Eudonia angustea and a Pug or two that need a better look.
Confirmation ... 1276 Dichrorampha plumbagana.
D.V.Manning, Beds. micro recorder

1276 ... Dichrorampha plumbagana

(Above) ..Louies' Dichrorampha

The Catch...
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella ... White-shouldered House-moth ... 3
0649 ... Esperia sulphurella ... Sulphur Tubic ... 2
0808 ... Platyedra subcinerea ... Mallow Groundling ... 1
0892 ... Mompha subbistrigella ... Garden Cosmet ... 3
0964 ... Cochylis dubitana ... Little Conch ... 2
0974 ... Argyrotaenia ljungiana ... Heather Tortrix ... 3
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana ... Light Brown Apple Moth ... 1
1279 ... Dichrorampha acuminatana ... Sharp-winged Drill ... 1
1276 ... Dichrorampha plumbagana ... Silver-lined Drill ... 1 ... Garden first
1342 ... Eudonia angustea ... Narrow-winged Grey ... 1 ... YF

1342 ... Eudonia angustea

1361 ... Pyrausta aurata ... Mint Moth ... 3
1428 ... Aphomia sociella ... Bee Moth ... 2
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla ... Common Plume ... 1
1728 ... Garden Carpet ... Xanthorhoe fluctuata ... 5
1834 ... Common Pug ... Eupithecia vulgata ... 2
----- ... Pug spp ... to be identified ... 1
1906 ... Brimstone Moth ... Opisthograptis luteolata ...6
1920 ... Scalloped Hazel ... Odontopera bidentata ... 1
1936 ... Waved Umber ... Menophra abruptaria ... 1
1979 ... Lime Hawk-moth ... Mimas tiliae ... 2
Sorry Stewart if you see this ! ..............

1979 ... Lime Hawk-moth ... Mimas tiliae

2063 ... Muslin Moth ... Diaphora mendica ... 1
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart ... Agrotis puta ... 6
2102 ... Flame Shoulder ... Ochropleura plecta ... 1
2223 ... Toadflax Brocade ... Calophasia lunula ... 1

2223 ... Toadflax Brocade ... Calophasia lunula

2243 ... Early Grey ... Xylocampa areola ... 1
2283/4. Dark/Grey Dagger agg. ... Acronicta tridens/psi ...4
2334 ... Rustic Shoulder-knot ... Apamea sordens ... 1
2450 ... Spectacle ... Abrostola tripartita ... 2
2469 ... Herald ... Scoliopteryx libatrix ... 1

2469 ... The Herald ... Scoliopteryx libatrix

2nd May 2013 ... A dash of Lime

In and around the garden moth traps last night ...

1979 ... Lime Hawk-moth ... Mimas tiliae

Lime Hawk-moth is the most common of the Hawks in The Dells garden, probably because there is a very large Lime tree nearby.

Privet Hawk-moth is almost as common which fits with the many privet hedges in the street, perhaps I should plant Oleander .....

Last nights catch:-

0006 ... Eriocrania subpurpurella ... Common Oak Purple ... 1, YF

0240 ... Tinea pellionella ... Case-bearing Clothes Moth ... 1

0892 ... Mompha subbistrigella ... Garden Cosmet ... 1

1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla ... Common Plume ... 2

1862 ... Gymnoscelis rufifasciata ... Double-striped Pug ... 4

1979 ... Mimas tiliae ... Lime Hawk-moth ... 1, YF

2063 ... Diaphora mendica ... Muslin Moth ... 1

2187 ... Orthosia cerasi ... Common Quaker .. 2

2190 ... Orthosia gothica ... Hebrew Character ... 2

2243 ... Xylocampa areola ... Early Grey ... 2

0006 ... Eriocrania subpurpurella

The next few nights are looking very favourable, according to Mr Fish, we may dump a trap in Home Wood again.

23rd May 2012 ... Crossing the Border

Superb weather, and it's good to read the blogs and see the wide variety of catches for a change.
A Bordered White was new to The Dells garden and probably due to the neighbours large Scots Pine two gardens away.
After sorting through the numerous Pugs of the last two nights, a Mottled Pug was a year first of the identifiable ones, with several Commons and what could be a couple of Brindled or Oak-tree...
Catch Report :-
1728 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata 1
1819 Mottled Pug Eupithecia exiguata 1, year first (Below)

1834 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata 4
1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 2
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 4
1920 Scalloped Hazel Odontopera bidentata 1
1936 Waved Umber Menophra abruptaria 2
1954 Bordered White Bupalus piniaria 1, garden first, (Below)

1979 Lime Hawk-moth Mimas tiliae 1, year first (Below)

2028 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda 1
2087 Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta 12
2145 The Nutmeg Discestra trifolii 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea 1
2243 Early Grey Xylocampa areola 2
2283/4 Dark/Grey Dagger Acronicta tridens/psi
2306 Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa 2
2380 Treble Lines Charanyca trigrammica 1, year first (Below)

2389 Pale Mottled Willow Paradrina clavipalpis 3

2450 The Spectacle Abrostola tripartita 1

227 Skin Moth Monopis laevigella 1, year first (Below)

I suspect this could be M.weaverella

Gen det. pending

229 Monopis obviella 1
409a Argyresthia trifasciata 3
647 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella 6
648 White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella 4
672 Parsnip Moth Depressaria heraclei 3
779 Bryotropha affinis 1
808 Platyedra subcinerea 5
974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 5
986 Syndemis musculana 1
998 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana 3
1261 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella 1, year first (Below)

1342 Eudonia angustea 2
1356 Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis 1
1428 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella 4
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 4

1st May 2011....Lime Dancing

Two members of the LIME HAWKMOTH formation dance team.

The garden species list hit the "ton" last night with this superb GREEN SILVER-LINES 2422

The Dells garden was firing on all two cylinders last night as WHITE ERMINE 2060 was added to the 2011 list

Apart from Esperia sulphurella seen flying during the day, the micros have been in short supply, Maybe they dislike the strong easterly breeze that's been blowing through the garden for the last 4 days. I am still finding the little White Shouldered House-moths in the garden shed and the once frequent Agonopterix heracliana have all disappeared to be replaced by......

AGONOPTERIX ARENELLA 697

1st May :-

18 x Shuttle-shaped Dart

2 x Turnip Moth

2 x Lime Hawkmoth

2 x Hebrew Character (soon to be replaced by Setaceous H C )

2 x Endrosis sarcitrella...White Shouldered House-moth

2 x Very worn Pugs... U.F.O's

Esperia sulphurella (daytime)

Brimstone Moth

Knot Grass

Garden Carpet

Flame Shoulder

Waved Umber

Muslin Moth

Green Silver-lines *year first

White Ermine *year first

101 species....66 macro, 35 micro

30th April 2011...So close !

My target of 100 species before the months end just fell short last night, but it was close.
The fact that I was gorging myself, and putting up with the only ale they had on offer (Unworthingtons super chilled bitter beer, commercially produced for those who know not what they do) at a Wedding reception, meant that I was unable to carry out my half hourly patrols of the lights and traps.
This has been very productive over the weeks, but I was thrilled to return and find a STREAMER 1747 on the shed window above the 36 watt Blacklight.

Species number 99 appeared around Skinner trap #1 in the shape of this cracking LIGHT BROCADE 2157

MUSLIN MOTH 2063 minus half an antenna

One of four LIME HAWKMOTH 1979 trapped so far this year, from the previous evening

A posse of SHUTTLE-SHAPED DART 2092 ready for the release point 30th April :-

18 x Shuttle-shaped Dart

2 x Turnip Moth

Pale Mottled Willow

Pale Tussock

Brimstone Moth

Muslin Moth

Grey Dagger agg

Scalloped Hazel

Streamer *year first

Light Brocade *year first

Epiphyas postvittana

Argyrotaenia ljungiana

Pyrausta aurata

Patyedra subcinerea

99 species to date, 64 macro, 35 micro

21st April 2011 ...2 new micros

Two small micros caught last night were new to The Dells garden. Both about 4mm long ... The top pic shows the HORSE CHESTNUT LEAF-MINER, Cameraria ohridella 366a

ARGYRESTHIA TRIFASCIATA 409a.....both of these moths have colonised in recent years My second SALLOW KITTEN 1997 GREY/DARK DAGGER 2284/2283

MUSLIN MOTH 2063....3rd record to date

WORMWOOD PUG 1830 ......First record this year

FEMALE MUSLIN MOTH

My second stunning LIME HAWKMOTH 1979 for the year, with many more to come.

Another year first...COXCOMB PROMINENT 2008

The 4th SWALLOW PROMINENT 2007 of the year That's 73 species for the year so far, it wasn't until the first week in June that 73 were recorded in 2010.

What a difference the sun makes....last year was very cold in April.

.....................................................................

48 macros and 25 micros for 73 species to date

17th April 2011...Bad moon rising

Numbers were well down on previous nights, due to a big, bright, full moon in the clear night sky. Just 19 moths recorded of 14 species, mostly singles and for the first time in an age...no Common Quaker ! There were 4 more species to add to the year garden total and the weather looks like hitting high temps this week...could be a bonanza week if the clouds cover the big moon. ........ LIME HAWKMOTH 1979...first appearance this year, common in my garden

MUSLIN MOTH 2063.... another first for the year, also reasonably common.

MUSLIN MOTH...side view

COCHYLIS DUBITANA 964....First visit from this common micro

SCOPARIA AMBIGUALIS 1334 first for year Last nights results:-

3 x Emmelina monodactyla

2 x Garden Carpet

2 x Ruby Tiger

2 x Early Grey

1 x Double-striped Pug

1 x Least Black Arches

1 x Clouded Drab

1 x Pale Mottled Willow

1 x Powdered Quaker

1 x Muslin Moth * year first

1 x Lime Hawkmoth *year first

1 x Agonopterix heracliana

1 x Cochylis dubitana *year first

1 x Scoparia ambigualis *year first

Totals :-

835 moths caught (667 macro, 168 micro)

56/57 species (40 macro, 16/17 micro) one ID pending

29th May.....Minor Delay

MARBLED MINOR is my guess but will ask Andy to peer up its kilt and check out its claspers, hope it's a male ! So in the meantime...........
MARBLED MINOR agg. Thanks Andy,.......... MARBLED MINOR

One of two SMALL WAVED UMBER from last night

OK, I'll go for...errrm....COMMON PUG

GREEN CARPET, common but stunning

OK (again), I'll go for...errrrrrrrrrrm........I would like it to be an OAK-TREE PUG but.........

My 6th LIME HAWKMOTH and YES they are different moths.

First two of these for the year with many more to come.....

SETACEOUS HEBREW CHARACTER

one of 3 LARGE NUTMEG

COMMON SWIFT pale form

COMMON SWIFT dark form Results:-

18 x S.S.Dart

5 x Turnip Moth

4 x Heart & Dart

3 x Common Swift

3 x Large Nutmeg

2 x Setaceous Hebrew Character (first for year)

2 x Treble Lines

2 x Treble Bar

2 x Bright-line Brown-eye

1 x Lime Hawkmoth

1 x Brimstone Moth

1 x Common Marbled Carpet (same one as the previous night)

1 x Pale Mottled Willow

1 x Vine's Rustic

1 x Marbled Minor agg. for now ! After dissection it has been confirmed as MARBLED MINOR, thanks Andy