28th Aug 2011....Garden update

For the last week I could have put a ditto under the catch list and overnight temperatures with little variation on the catch and, "also wet", next to the 9/10 degree overnight lows.
So after a couple of nights of non trapping, I fired up the lights and traps last night and a Red Underwing duly obliged.
My third Old Lady made a brief visit along with two Silver Y.
Vine's Rustic, Large Yellow Underwing,Turnip Moth and Willow Beauty  made up the bulk of the macro catch.
Micro numbers are plummeting but Agriphila geniculea are still around in numbers.
18 x Large Yellow Underwing
12 x Vine's Rustic
12 x Turnip Moth
10 x Willow Beauty
3 x Brimstone Moth
5 x Square-spot Rustic
3 x Common Wainscot
4 x Yellow Shell
1 x Flame Shoulder
1 x Red Underwing year first

RED UNDERWING

1 x Old Lady
3 x Garden Carpet
1 x Green Carpet
6 x Setaceous Hebrew Character
5 x Pale Mottled Willow
2 x Double-striped Pug

DOUBLE-STRIPED PUG

4 x Flounced Rustic
4 x Straw Underwing
1 x Lesser Yellow Underwing
2 x Silver Y
2 x Orange Swift
1 x Spectacle
1 x Light Emerald
1 x Marbled Beauty

14 x Agriphila geniculea
1 x Agriphila tristella
1 x Carcina quercana
1 x Amblyptilia acanthadactyla
1 x Hofmannophila pseudospretella
1 x Emmelina monodactyla
2 x Endrosis sarcitrella
1 x Phlyctaenia ruralis
2 x Epiphyas postvittana
1 x Galleria mellonella
1 x Pyrausta aurata
1 x Tinea trinotella

Garden 2011
388 species
217 macro
171 micro

22nd Aug 2011...At last !

Yes, at last a new for year macro, albeit a banker bet.
Three Square-spot Rustic turned up, which is a little sad really as it heralds the end of Summer, as if anyone will notice !

SQUARE-SPOT RUSTIC

2011 Garden total now stands at:-
387 species....216 macro, 171 micro

21st Aug 2011....Static

Overnight min temp...9.3 deg, calm, clear sky.
A bit cooler than the forecasted minimum, 13 deg.
Very little to report as the summer species are starting to look rather tired now and the autumn species haven't got going yet.
There has been a noticeable drop in Shuttle-shaped Dart numbers and an increase in Vine's Rustic lately.
I was clearing an overgrown Dog Rose from the front garden yesterday and came across a very large gall

Dog Rose gall

As a kid growing up in Kent, we used to call these "Robins pincushions". I'm sure there are several local names for these galls from county to county.

Another caterpillar that I can't ID was found near the trap last night, about 2inches long max....if anyone recognises it, feel free......

Unidentified larva

Two macros from last night .......

LIME-SPECK PUG



ROSY RUSTIC



20th Aug 2011...Trap results

Overnight min temp...12.1 deg, calm, patchy cloud.
60 x Turnip Moth
21 x Shuttle-shaped Dart
23 x Vine's Rustic
16 x Orange Swift



ORANGE SWIFT

 12 x Setaceous Hebrew Character
13 x Straw Underwing
15 x Large Yellow Underwing
8 x Pale Mottled Willow
3 x Brimstone Moth
2 x Lime-speck Pug
3 x Garden Carpet
2 x Mouse Moth
4 x Copper Underwing agg
3 x Cloaked Minor
6 x Common Wainscot
8 x Willow Beauty
2 x Flounced Rustic
1 x Buff Ermine
2 x Cabbage Moth
1 x Bordered Pug
6 x Double-striped Pug
2 x Lime-speck Pug
1 x Tawny-speckled Pug
1 x Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
1 x Yellow Shell
4 x Riband Wave
1 x Iron Prominent
1 x Light Emerald
1 x Spectacle
1 x Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
1 x Dark Arches
2 x Common Rustic agg
1 x Chrysuteuchia culmella
3 x Agriphila tristella
9 x Agriphila geniculea
2 x Emmelina monodactyla
2 x Endrosis sarcitrella
5 x Hofmannophila pseudospretella
2 x Cydia pomonella
3 x Acentria ephemerella
1 x Alucita hexadactyla
1 x Galleria mellonella
1 x Epiphyas postvittana
2 x Scoparia ambigualis
1 x Endotricha flammealis
3 x Blastobasis adustella
1 x Pyrausta aurata
1 x Ypsolopha scabrella
1 x Monopis laevigella

19th Aug 2011...Quiet spell

Overnight min temp....11.3 deg, Breezy
45 species caught, very much the same as the previous week.
Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella) was my second record this year and the same goes for Bulrush Wainscot.



GALLERIA MELLONELLA, Wax Moth




BULRUSH WAINSCOT



18th Aug 2011...Wet, then cold

Overnight min temp:- 8.1 deg. One trap only
Light rain, clearing to clear skies, bright 3/4 moon, bloody cold !
73 moths of 17 species.
21 x Turnip Moth
10 x Shuttle-shaped Dart
10 x Setaceous Hebrew Character
  8 x Vine's Rustic
  7 x Straw Underwing
  5 x Pale Mottled Willow
  3 x Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
  2 x Orange Swift
  1 x Brimstone Moth
  1 x Yellow Shell
  1 x Double-striped Pug
  1 x Garden Carpet
  1 x Lesser Yellow Underwing
  1 x Willow Beauty
  1 x Mouse Moth
  1 x Cabbage Moth
  1 x Agriphila straminella



TURNIP MOTH

  

17th Aug 2011....Rubbish weather

Overnight min temp:- 9.3 deg
It was a bit of a joke when people were saying that we had our summer in April, more said in hope, but now it's looking like it may be the case.
It makes you wonder why migrant moths come here every year.... and why package holiday companies are going broke.
The weather bureau says it's because of a shift in the jet stream...ok, so who is enjoying better weather then because of the shift ? Where has it shifted to ? Shrug.
Ran two traps and the shed wall lights, maybe a couple of new species would have stopped me moaning about the weather, but alas no,
c190 moths of 38 species:-
47, Turnip Moth
24, Shuttle-shaped Dart
18, Setaceous Hebrew Character
16, Straw Underwing
12, Orange Swift
9, Willow Beauty
9, Vine's Rustic
7, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
4, Double-striped Pug
4, Flounced Rustic
3, Large Yellow Underwing
2, Garden Carpet
2, Yellow Shell
2, Brinstone Moth
2, Lime-speck Pug
2, Uncertain
2, Common Wainscot
2, Nutmeg
2, Pale Mottled Willow
1, Riband Wave
1, Treble-bar
1, Small Dusty Wave
1, Flame Shoulder
1, Cloaked Minor
1, Lesser Swallow Prominent
1, Marbled Beauty
1, Mouse Moth
1, Green Carpet
1, Common Rustic agg
2, Emmelina monodactyla
2, Agriphila tristella
1, Trachycera advenella
1, Agapeta hamana
1, Argyresthia ljungiana
1, Cochylis dubitana
1, Endotricha flammealis
1, Platyedra subcinerea
1, Dichrorampha species

Also a pink larva on the brick wall...25 mm +
Anyone know it ?

16th Aug 2011....Daily trap latest plus some leaf mines

Overnight min temp:- 12.9 deg, calm, clear, bright waning moon.                            Half-way through August and very few hot steamy nights so far...never mind, back to the mothing !
The bright moon directly overhead for most of the evening meant the traps were relatively quiet.
Did a bit of leaf mining for the first time in my Lord Lambourne cooking apple tree and found 5 species, thanks to our micro recorder David Manning for the ID.



PHYLLONORYCTER BLANCARDELLA 0326

The pics above are Phyllonorycter blancardella 326, One of the blotch mines has been scratched away to reveal the larva and frass.





CALLISTO DENTICULELLA 0310



STIGMELLA INCOGNITELLA 0075



PHYLLONORYCTER LEUCOGRAPHELLA 0332a

Firethorn Leaf Miner on apple.

Some of last nights macros :-



SMALL BLOOD-VEIN



GREEN CARPET



ANGLE SHADES

Total for garden 2011:-
386 species...215 macros, 171 micro

Wine bet......
I'm trailing by around 16 species (:0((
Bothered ?........yes
Undaunted ?.....NO (:0))
It needs an old dog for a hard road ! And no 3 year old has ever won a Grand National.
Congrats to The Captain on passing the 500 species mark since July 2009....Awesome. With any luck I may just reach that milestone myself this year. Tough call
 

15th Aug 2011... Dells trap update

Overnight min temp :- 12.1 deg
Breezy, light rain occasionally.

Only 1 trap operating due to the rain. Another Small Ranunculus appeared last night just as I thought they were finished, and an unidentified "Dart-like" moth ...pics at bottom of this blog.
The haul :-
29 x Turnip Moth
18 x Sh-sh Dart
10 x Straw Underwing
11 x Vine's Rustic
5 x Brimstone Moth
3 x Cloaked Minor
8 x Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 x Small Ranunculus

SMALL RANUNCULUS

6 x Double-striped Pug
4 x Orange Swift
3 x Uncertain/Rustic
3 x Pale Mottled Willow
4 x Willow Beauty
1 x Marbled Beauty
2 x Riband Wave
7 x Garden Carpet
1 x Common Carpet
1 x Broad-barred White

BROAD-BARRED WHITE

2 x Grey Dagger agg
6 x Common Rustic agg
1 x Cabbage Moth
1 x Toadflax Pug
2 x Mouse Moth
1 x Light Emerald
2 x Copper Underwing agg
2 x Yellow Shell
3 x Large Yellow Underwing
1 x Tawny Speckled Pug

TAWNY SPECKLED PUG

1 x Spectacle
2 x Common Wainscot
1 x Silver Y
7 x Flounced Rustic
1 x Yponomeuta evonymella ...Bird Cherry Ermine
10+ Acentria ephemerella ...Water Veneer
2 x Endotricha Flammealis
2 x Alucita hexadactyla ...Twenty-plume Moth
1 x Emmelina monodactyla
1 x Parapoynx stratiotata ...Ringed China-mark
3 x Epiphyas postvittana ...Light-brown Apple Moth
1 x Cochylis dealbana
1 x Chrysoteuchia culmella
1 x Carcina quercana
1 x Dichrorampha  ...probably acuminatana

DICHRORAMPHA ACUMINATANA (not verified)

1 x Pleuroptya ruralis ...Mother of Pearl
1 x Hofmannophila pseudospretella ...Brown House-moth
1 x Agriphila geniculea
1 x Agriphila straminella
1 x Blastobasis adustella
1 x Oegoconia agg
1 x Acleris variegana ...Garden Rose Tortrix

ACLERIS VARIEGANA

UNIDENTIFIED MACRO
It's main feature is the lack of markings despite being fresh. Wingspan 28/30mm

It's shape and behaviour in the pot suggest Turnip Moth but I've never seen one like this and I've had around 300 of them this week.

14th Aug 2011...Garden Traps

overnight min temp:- 8.8 deg
A new micro was added to the garden list last night with a good selection of macros.
Euzophera pinguis is reasonably common in the area and has probably been overlooked in the past as micros were not seriously recorded.

EUZOPHERA PINGUIS 1470

60+ x Turnip Moth
34 x Shuttle-shaped Dart
12 x Straw Underwing
6 x Brimstone Moth
8 x Flounced Rustic
8 x Vine's Rustic
9 x Uncertain/Rustic
7 x Common Wainscot
2 x Cloaked Minor
9 x Setaceous Hebrew Character
5 x Copper Underwing agg
5 x Yellow Shell
2 x Garden Carpet
3 x Buff Ermine
2 x Common Rustic agg
2 x Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
2 x Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
5 x Large Yellow Underwing
1 x Lesser Yellow Underwing
5 x Riband Wave
3 x Orange Swift
1 x Oak Nycteoline



OAK NYCTEOLINE

 1 x Light Emerald
5 x Double-striped Pug
2 x Toadflax Pug
1 x Tawny-speckled Pug
1 x Sallow Kitten
1 x Treble-bar

TREBLE-BAR

1 x Flame Shoulder
1 x Spectacle
1 x Poplar Grey
1 x Grey Dagger agg
4 x Pale Mottled Willow
5 x Willow Beauty
30 + Acentria ephemerella
2 x Emmelina monodactyla
1 x Epiphyas postvittana
1 x Acleris variegana
2 x Endrosis sarcitrella
1 x Hofmannophila pseudospretella
1 x Carcina quercana
1 x Yponomeuta cagnagella
1 x Chrysoteuchia culmella
1 x Crambus pascuella
1 x Monopis obviella
1 x Eudonia mercurella
1 x Limnaecia phragmitella
1 x Bryotropha terrella
1 x Aphomia sociella
1 x Pyralis farinalis
1 x Trachycera advenella
1 x Agriphila straminella
1 x Euzophera pinguis
2 x Cacoecimorpha pronubana
382 species...215 macro, 167 micro

13th Aug 2011...Garden update.

Overnight min temp:- 12.6 deg
The last two nights have started full of promise, but the clouds have disappeared to reveal a bright full moon and the mothing comes to a sudden halt.
After trapping 8 Swallow Prominents this year to date it was nice to finally catch up with Lesser Swallow Prominent.

LESSER SWALLOW PROMINENT

BILL D
           Thanks for suggesting Pearly Underwing for my weird Turnip Moth.
I checked out quite a few images and thought that was a good call.
I sent pics to recorder but without seeing the underwing he could not accept it.
In the interest of accurate records, this is perfectly understandable.
The underwings are in the cat litter tray in a slightly different format so this time it's "One that got away". Pearly Underwing is now my priority target so every Turnip Moth is getting doubly checked.
I mentioned the smooth antennae on the weird one compared to the feathered of Turnip. Captain Trappings made a good point....is there a difference between male and female as is the case of Lead-coloured Drab ???? Anyone ???

381 species...215 macro, 166 micro
             

12th Aug...Wine bet taken to new (low) level !

overnight min temp:- 14.4 deg
calm...humid...early morning rain...soaking traps
Captain Trappings has resorted to sneaky tactics.....after falling behind in the Great Wine Bet for the most garden species in a year, he has managed to entice/kidnap/lure/sweet-talk County Micro Recorder David Manning to check every leaf on every plant/shrub/tree in his garden and took great delight in telling me that another 20 or so micro moths will be added to his list as a result of the leaf mines found.
This bar-raising dastardly tactic will put me in third place, with Daylight second, so a stepping up of night patrols will be the order of the day, at least until my begging letter arrives on Mr M's doormat !
60 species recorded last night with only one year first entry, Cacoecimorpha pronubana, Carnation Tortrix, a common micro at The Dells.
My garden list for the year has now reached 380 and my early season target of 400 now looks very modest.

CARCINA QUERCANA

87 x Turnip Moth
52 x Shuttle-shaped Dart
12 x Large Yellow U'wing
2 x Lesser Yellow U'wing
1 x Tawny-speckled Pug
1 x Ruby Tiger
5 x Copper Underwing agg
2 x Brimstone Moth
4 x Yellow Shell

ORANGE SWIFT Female, 42mm wingspan

5 x Orange Swift
3 x Riband Wave
3 x Cloaked Minor
3 x Uncertain
6 x Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 x Flame Shoulder
1 x Marbled Beauty
5 x Common Wainscot
2 x Least Carpet
3 x Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow U'wing
2 x Garden Carpet
2 x Toadflax Pug
6 x Double-striped Pug

1 x Currant Pug (above)
3 x Common Rustic agg
2 x Small Dusty Wave
3 x Buff Ermine
1 x Common Carpet
1 x Poplar Hawkmoth
3 x Vine's Rustic
4 x Willow Beauty
1 x Flounced Rustic
1 x Small Waved Umber
2 x Pale Mottled Willow
1 x Mouse Moth
2 x Limnaecia Phragmitella
3 x Blastobasis adustella
3 x Argyrotaenia ljungiana
1 x Acentria ephemerella
1 x Pyrausta aurata
1 x Trachycera advenella
4 x Epiphyas postvittana
1 x Emmelina monodactyla
1 x Hofmannophila pseudospretella
2 x Endotricha flammealis
1 x Alucita hexadactyla, (Twenty-plume Moth)
2 x Crambus pascuella
1 x Monopis obviella
1 x Lyonetia clerkella
1 x Cydia pomonella
2 x Dichrorampha sp
1 x Cacoecimorpha pronubana, year first
1 x Mompha sp
2 x Cochylis dubitana
1 x Ypsolopha scabrella
1 x Agriphila straminella
1 x Agriphila tristella
1 x Chrysoteuchia culmella
2 x Yponomeuta cagnagella
1 x Acleris variegana
1 x Agonopterix alstromeriana


 

11th Aug 2011....Lull

Overnight min temp:- 14.3 deg
Overcast, calm.
Fen Wainscot was among the 52 species last night, along with a new micro, Limnaecia phragmitella, and one that looks like a worn Turnip Moth, but the antenna isn't feathered ?

I intended to retain it for the recorders but it escaped during the photo shoot and before I could rescue it, the cat ate it ! (No, it wasn't a Puss Moth or Catoptria) )
78 x Shuttle-shaped Dart
52 x Turnip Moth
11 x Straw Underwing
11 x Common Wainscot
4 x Lesser Yellow Underwing
9 x Large Yellow Underwing
2 x Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
1 x Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
3 x Orange Swift
7 x Common Rustic agg
5 x Riband Wave
5 x Cloaked Minor
3 x Yellow Shell
3 x Willow Beauty
6 x Pale Mottled Willow
8 x Uncertain/Rustic
7 x Setaceous Hebrew Character
2 x Brimstone Moth
2 x Marbled Beauty
4 x Copper Underwing agg
1 x Sallow Kitten
1 x Small Dusty Wave
2 x Grey Dagger agg
1 x Toadflax Pug
1 x Heart & Dart
2 x Iron Prominent
3 x Buff Ermine
4 x Vine's Rustic
1 x Dingy Footman
6 x Double-striped Pug
1 x Fen Wainscot
1 x Flame Shoulder
2 x Common Carpet
6 x Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer)
1 x Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth)
2 x Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Brown House-moth)
2 x Argyresthia ljungiana
4 x Pyrausta aurata
2 x Epiphyas postvittana (Light-brown Apple Moth)
1 x Endotricha flammealis
3 x Yponomeuta cagnagella (Spindle Ermine)
2 x Monopis obviella
2 x Batia unitella
3 x Blastobasis adustella
2 x Clepsis consimilana
1 x Pleuroptya ruralis (Mother of Pearl)
1 x Limnaecia phragmitella
1 x Monopis laevigella (Skin Moth)
2 x Amblyptilia acanthadactyla
1 x Cochylis dubitana
1 x Rhyacionia pinicolana
1 x Catoptria pinella

379 species.....214 macro & 165 micro
I think I am slightly ahead for the wine bet...Captain Trappings is away for two nights to see relatives up in Smoggy-land so I will be at it with all lights blazing.
Weather looks ok if the rain holds off....4 or 5 new species would be a nice little Brucie !



LIMNAECIA PHRAGMITELLA



AMBLYPTILIA ACANTHADACTYLA



10th Aug 2011...Improving

Overnight min temp :- 13.3 deg.....windy
Nothing exciting in the traps but at least it was 5 deg warmer and looks to be even warmer tonight with the wind dropping.

COLEOPHORA HEMEROBIELLA

BLASTOBASIS ADUSTELLA

TOADFLAX PUG

GELECHIA SENTICETELLA

PHYCITA ROBORELLA

The wind didn't blow anything exotic into my garden but numbers were up and 41 species were recorded.

9th AUGUST 2011...Memorable

Overnight min temp:- 8.6 deg
Nothing memorable in the traps as the mini slump continues. It looks like warming up a little over the next few days but the wind, along with a full moon won't improve the catches. I'm setting the traps though, hoping for an odd blow-in.
The memorable news was the birth of my 7th grandchild, a boy named Dexter, to my daughter Nikki and husband Rupert. Congrats to both.

7th & 8th AUGUST 2011...Quiet

Overnight min temps....7th: 9.6 deg, 8th: 10.1 deg.                                               It's been slim pickings for the last couple of nights due to the cool breezy conditions and it was nice to be able to draw breath.
Nothing new in traps, just the usual, but less of them.
So I thought I would post a moth that would set your pulses racing if one ended up in your traps ! Highly unlikely as they are day flyers but who knows ?

UTETHEISA BELLA

There is one record  of doubtful origin from 1948. On Skokholm Island, Pembrokeshire, which is believed to be ship assisted from the U.S.of A.
The other startling record from 1948 was the arrival of (then) little me.
This is common down the eastern half of North America, through the Caribbean and into South America, and is known locally as The Rattlebox Moth.
I snapped this one on Grand Cayman. In flight it looks completely pink and when it lands the markings can be seen...a little beauty !

6th Aug 2011....Another reed species

Overnight min temp. 10.2 deg, windy
Much cooler than of late with a niggling wind so numbers were down.
A mere 34 Shuttle-shaped Darts cluttered up the traps with a dozen Turnip Moths.
A Broad-barred White was a nice find as was my second Tawny Speckled Pug of the sub species fulvata  with the red wing patches for easy I.D.
Two more pugs rolled up which I will illustrate below....

 The one above is definitely DOUBLE-STRIPED PUG but the one below, which is about the same size looks to have a different wing shape, although the markings suggest it is another D.S. Pug

Only 6 micros were found in the traps and the walls went patrol-less last night due to company and wine,
However, a year first garden micro was discovered during the morning trap inspection through bleary eyes. 1329 Donacaula forficella
 Yet another reed feeding species and I can only think they are coming from the fairly nearby River Ivel which is lined with reeds along its route through Biggleswade.



DONACAULA FORFICELLA 1329

378 species.....214 macro, 164 micro
I am ahead in the all important wine bet. But that crafty bugger has a few micros stashed away in his fridge ready for the recorder !

CLICK ME

5th Aug 2011...Garden latest

Overnight temp: 13 deg. calm
43 macro and 25 micro species were recorded last night.
Shuttle-shaped Dart numbers have hopefully peaked as only 80 were in the 2 traps !
A Bulrush Wainscot and a Flounced Rustic were new for the year.
A very worn Toadflax Brocade was number 11 this season and another Least Yellow Underwing along with Spectacle, Straw Dot, Nutmeg, Bordered Pug, Swallow Prominent and Pebble Hook-tip the best of the rest.
A flying visit (excuse the pun) from joint County macro recorder, Andy Banthorpe, produced a new micro species for the garden.
Head down and bum up in a small patch of Yarrow he unearthed a mine and cocoon of Bucculactrix cristatella thanks Andy !



BUCCULACTRIX CRISTATELLA cocoon on Yarrow.....Photo: Melissa Banthorpe, joint county macro recorder

 I did contact Captain Trappings to inform him of the new species (and to gloat a little) but he checked out a patch of Yarrow growing in his garden and found Jack queen king, mine, larva and cocoon all on one plant.
After finding leaf mines of Lyonetia clerkella on my Apple, Birch, Crab Apple, Bird Cherry and Plum trees, I eventually found the adult on the patio window and Cochylis Hybridella was also a new find.

BULRUSH WAINSCOT f. fraterna 

FLOUNCED RUSTIC



LYONETIA CLERKELLA




COCHYLIS HYBRIDELLA

2011 garden species:-
376,.......214 macro, 162 micro
STOP PRESS......
Another micro to add after ID from David Manning...county micro recorder.
It's one I should have tracked down myself as it is quite distinctive.

ORTHOTELLA SPARGANELLA 470

377 species.......214 macro, 163 micro