Moth numbers on the up

Compared to the last few weeks, last night was almost a moth-fest.
Overcast, humid and a minimum overnight temperature of 8 deg saw 60 moths of 24 species come to the traps.
The night started off on the right note with Tinea pellionella flying around my computer screen for an easy year tick.
My late afternoon check of the interior sides of the shed windows reaped a reward as Mompha epilobiella was found amongst the many Mompha subbistrigella.

240 Tinea pellionella, Case-bearing Clothes Moth

893 Mompha epilobiella

Check list 7th May
0240 Tinea pellionella, 1, year first
0647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 1
0648 Endrosis sarcitrella, 3
0649 Esperia sulphurella, 1
0892 Mompha subbistrigella, 7
0893 Mompha epilobiella, 1, year first
0998 Epiphyas postvittana, 2
1288 Alucita hexadactyla, 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla, 3
1728 Garden Carpet, 3
1837 Grey Pug, 1, year first

1837 Grey Pug

1862 Double-striped Pug, 6
1906 Brimstone Moth, 4
2003 Pebble Prominent, 1, year first  (at high level, just below the house roof)

2003 Pebble Prominent

2078 Least Black Arches, 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart, 12
2188 Clouded Drab, 1
2190 Hebrew Character, 2
2221 Mullein, 1, year first

2221 Mullein

2223 Toadflax Brocade, 2
2243 Early Grey, 1
2279 Sycamore, 1, year first

2279 Sycamore

2306 Angle Shades, 2
2389 Pale Mottled Willow, 1

17th Aug 2014 ... and it looks like the summer is over

A line from an old song that sums up August.
Temperatures are below average, humidity levels are low, cold winds and showers have set in and look like staying with us up to the end of the month at least.
It's a pity really, as it is taking the cream from the top of an otherwise stonking moth year.

17th Aug
1 twin 11 watt PL Skinner trap with 1 x 350 BL and 1 x Synergetic lamps
Trap switched on at 22.30 due to late a return from the capital, and no trap patrols.
A poor catch, the only bright spot being a Pebble Prominent on the brick wall near the trap.
Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2
Epiphyas postvittana, 1
Acleris variegana, 1
Celypha lacunana, 1
Agriphila geniculea, 1
Emmelina monodactyla, 1

Orange Swift, 4
Willow Beauty, 2
Pebble Prominent, 1
Turnip Moth, 1
Shuttle-shaped Dart, 3
Large Yellow Underwing, 5
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 2
Setaceous Hebrew Character, 8
Square-spot Rustic, 2
Cabbage Moth, 1
Straw Underwing, 16
Common Rustic agg. 2
Flounced Rustic, 11
Vine's Rustic, 7
Pale Mottled Willow, 3

Celypha lacunana

Pebble Prominent

17th July 2014 . New county macro moth

Warm and humid conditions of late have seen the traps absolutely crawling with creatures, mostly moths.
An electrical storm with accompanying torrential rain at around 2am put a damper on proceedings but by then I had already racked up a good selection.
The undoubted highlight was a county first macro moth ....
KENT BLACK ARCHES, normally found on the south coast around to the East Anglian coast but appears to be slowly spreading inland.
Two female OAK EGGAR, one captured, one flying around the trap were followed by a stunning male inside the trap on the morning inspection.
Males are rarely seen, females are annual in the garden.
below :-
2076 Kent Black Arches

above:-
Would you care to dance ?  1637 Oak Eggar
below:-
No !

Too late mate, note the egg that rolled out of the capture pot .. top left
moving on ...
More year firsts ...
1978 ... PINE HAWK-MOTH

It was in pristine condition, but took the full force of the deluge as it sat below the gap in the skinner trap.
below ... A site first micro that will require gen det, either way it's a site first
My pick is ... 844 Syncopacma larseniella but it could equally be
847 . Syncopacma taeniolella

below ..
1380 . Phlyctaenia perlucidalis

1645 . Scalloped Hook-tip

2003 . Pebble Prominent

16th July
Year list additions
0873 . Blastobasis adustella
1108 . Lobesia obscisana
1304 . Agriphila straminella
2303 . Straw Underwing
The second generation of Toadflax Brocade is on the wing with singles on 16th and 17th ...
below:-
Toadflax Brocade

1108 . Lobesia obscesana

30th/31st May 2013 ... MOTHS !

The last two nights of May have been excellent for the garden moth traps.with well over 30 species being recorded.
The micros have been very late but are slowly appearing as the year recovers from the freezing March.

.Trap catch 30th May :-

0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella ... White-shouldered House-moth ... 3
1428 ... Aphomia sociella ... Bee Moth ... 2
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla ... Common Plume ... 1
1728 ... Garden Carpet ... Xanthorhoe fluctuata ... 1
1769 ... Spruce Carpet ... Thera britannica ... 1

1769 ... Spruce Carpet ... Thera britannica

1776 ... Green Carpet ... Colostygia pectinataria ... 3 ... YF

1776 ... Green Carpet ... Colostygia pectinataria

1906 ... Brimstone Moth ... Opisthograptis luteolata ... 3
1920 ... Scalloped Hazel ... Odontopera bidentata ... 1
1936 ... Waved Umber ... Menophra abruptaria ... 1
2003 ... Pebble Prominent ... Notodonta ziczac ... 1

2003 ... Pebble Prominent ... Notodonta ziczac

2008 ... Coxcomb Prominent ... Ptilodon capucina ... 2 ... YF

2008 ... Coxcomb Prominent ... Ptilodon capucina

2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart ... Agrotis puta ... 12
2145 ... Nutmeg ... Dicestra trifolii ... 2
2279 ... Sycamore ... Acronicta aceris ... 1
2283/4. Dark/Grey Dagger agg. ... Acronicta tridens/psi ... 5
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow ... Paradrine clavipalpis ... 2
2450 ... Spectacle ... Abrostola tripartita ... 1

 Coxcomb Prominent is a "hit or miss" moth for my garden so it was great to see a brace of them last night ...

31st May ....
Another "best night of the year so far" night ....
Trap Catch :-
Micros
0294 ... Aspilapteryx tringipennella ... Ribwort Slender ... 1 ... YF

294 ... Aspilapteryx tringipennella

0464 ... Plutella xylostella ... Diamond-back Moth ... 2 ... YF

0647 ... Hofmannophila pseudospretella ... Brown House-moth ... 1

0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella ... White-shouldered House-moth ... 3

0808 ... Platyedra subcinerea ... Mallow Groundling ... 1

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

892 ... Mompha subbistrigella

0974 ... Argyrotaenia ljungiana ... Heather Tortrix ... 1

0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana ... Light Brown Apple Moth ... 2

1212 ... Rhyacionia pinivorana ... Spotted Shoot Moth ... 1 ... YF

1212 ... Rhyacionia pinivorana

1361 ... Pyrausta aurata ... Mint Moth ... 1 ... (several during the day)
1428 ... Aphomia sociella ... Bee Moth ... 4
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla ... Common Plume ... 2
1728 ... Garden Carpet ... Xanthorhoe fluctuata ... 6
1834 ... Common Pug ... Eupithecia vulgata ... 7
1837 ... Grey Pug ... Eupithecia subfuscata ... 1 ... YF

1837 ... Grey Pug ... Eupithecia subfuscata

1906 ... Brimstone Moth ... Opisthograptis luteolata ... 3
1920 ... Scalloped Hazel ... Odontopera bidentata ... 1
1931 ... Peppered Moth ... Biston betularia ... 2 ... YF

1931 ... Peppered Moth ... Biston betularia

1936 ... Waved Umber ... Menophra abruptaria ...1
1937 ... Willow Beauty ... Peribatodes rhomboidana ... 1 ... YF

1937 ... Willow Beauty ... Peribatodes rhomboidana

1979 ... Lime Hawk-moth ... Mimas tiliae ...1
2008 ... Coxcomb Prominent ... Ptilodon capucina ... 1
2043 ... Orange Footman ... Eilema sororcula ... 1 ... YF

2043 ... Orange Footman ... Eilema sororcula

2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart ... Agrotis puta ... 17
2102 ... Flame Shoulder ... Ochropleura plecta ... 1
2145 ... Nutmeg ... Discestra trifolii ... 1
2160 ... Bright-line Brown-eye ... Lacanobia oleracea ... 2
2170 ... Varied Coronet ... Hadena compta ... 1
2334 ... Rustic Shoulder-knot ... Apamea sordens ... 1
2450 ... Spectacle ... Abrostola tripartita ... 2
2480 ... Buttoned Snout ... Hypene rostralis ... 1

15th May 2013 ... Garden Moth Traps

It was much warmer at dusk last night than the previous couple of nights, with temperatures around 9 deg when I switched on the light traps and then settled down to watch the second half of  Chelsea FC struggling to beat an average Benfica in the Europa cup final
As Chelsea were lifting the trophy in Amsterdam, down came the rain in Biggleswade and I had to quickly cover up the two traps.
It soon passed, and just like the English cricket season, off came the covers again and play resumed.
The sky then cleared and the temperature plummeted to 2 deg C. but not before a few moths were trapped.
Pebble Prominent and Rustic Shoulder-knot were new for the year and at last the Orthosia species were absent. (for now).

The Catch :-
0647 ... Hoffmanophila pseudospretella ... Brown House-moth .. 1
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella ... White-shouldered House-moth .. 1
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla ... Common Plume .. 1
1791 ... Small Waved Umber ... Horisme vitalbata .. 1
1862 ... Double-striped Pug ... Gymnoscelis rufifasciata .. 1
1906 ... Brimstone Moth ... Opisthograptis luteolata .. 1
2003 ... Pebble Prominent ... Notodonta ziczac .. 1 .. YF
2063 ... Muslin Moth ... Diaphora mendica .. 1
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart ... Agrotis puta .. 1
2154 ... Cabbage Moth ... Marnestra brassicae .. 1 YF
2243 ... Early Grey ... Xylocampa areola .. 2
2334 ... Rustic Shoulder-knot ... Apamea sordens .. 1 .. YF

2003 ... Pebble Prominent ... Notodonta ziczac

647 ... Brown House-moth ... Hofmannophila pseudospretella

2334 ... Rustic Shoulder-knot ... Apamea sordens

26th April 2012... Night at the Prom

Overnight min. temp. 8 deg. Frequent strong gusts, occasional brief shower
As can be seen by the figures under the blog heading, there is a lot of catching up to do this year as the poor April conditions drag on and on with no sign of a let-up in the coming week.
On a positive note, a year first macro was added last night.
Just 3 moths braved the wind.......
1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta 1
2003 Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac 1,  year first

2003 PEBBLE PROMINENT, Notodonta ziczac

8th April 2011....two new P

The recent hot weather has revved up the moth hatch and the Caddis flies, my trap has been full of them for the past 3 nights. A Pebble Prominent was a welcome garden addition to my garden list and the first Pale Mottled Willow of the year turned up almost 3 weeks earlier than last year. The Common Quakers are still about in numbers but are looking a little worn as their season comes to an end. The weather is looking great for the next couple of days so anything could turn up. .......................................... PEBBLE PROMINENT 2003

PEBBLE PROMINENT... 2003

PALE MOTTLED WILLOW 2389

Many more of these to come !

SATELLITE 2256 Last nights garden tally :-

11 x Common Quaker

8 x Double-striped Pug

6 x Emmelina monodactyla

3 x Hebrew Character

2 x Early Grey

1 x Small Quaker

1 x Clouded Drab

1 x Satellite

1 x Pale Mottled Willow ( First for Year)

1 x Pebble Prominent (garden First)

Totals:-

674 moths of 33/34 species (one ID pending)

531 macro of 22 species

143 micro of 11/12 species (one ID pending)