23rd Dec 2012 Late Quaker

Wet but much warmer
min temp = 10 deg

A late, very worn, Yellow-line Quaker and a Light Brown Apple Moth were attracted to the lights in the shed windows.
Blacklights, actinic and a normal 36 watt fluorescent were all left blazing until midnight

Epiphyas postvittana, Light Brown Apple Moth

.

This Yellow-line Quaker has seen better days

16th Dec 2012 ... Garden Trap

December has been a no-no on the mothing front, with sub-zero temperatures or wind and rain.
A Dark Chestnut was trapped on the 8th, which was the first time the trap had been on this month.
The last two nights have been relatively mild so I put the trap on. Nothing on the 15th but last night a Winter Moth was found on the 15watt actinic fluorescent fitting that was illuminating the shed window. Nothing in the trap tho.
This was a year first, as I missed out on Winter Moth earlier in the year.

A long wait for a 2012 Winter Moth

25th Nov 2012 ...Migrant micro

It was a nice day in Bedfordshire today, a brief respite between two weather fronts.
So I dragged my knackered knee and daughters dog along the local river Ivel, a feeder for the the Great Ouse.
As I wandered downstream of Jordans Mill (of health food bars fame) I was thrilled by the sight of a Kingfisher whirring past with the sunlight reflecting from its superb plumage, a strong contender for Britains most beautiful bird.

Pathway along the river Ivel

Found this leaf mine on an oak sapling that had retained its browning leaves, maybe a Stigmella spp. ?

Mine on oak leaf

I have switched on the garden traps tonight but had to cover them at 19.30 hrs as the next weather front moved in with its accompanying rain, but I found this Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis on the trap before the covers were hastily put in place a couple of  hours ago.....

1395 Udea ferrugalis

26th Nov  am.... 8deg min with frequent periods of rain
Trap results:-
1 x 0998 Epiphyas postvittana, Light Brown Apple Moth
1 x 1395 Udea ferrugalis, Rusty Dot Pearl
1 x 2256 Eupsilia transversa, Satellite

20th Nov, 2012 ... Garden Trap

A warm night produced a few moths, the first since the 15th Nov, mainly micros
Once again, the rain didn't seem to bother them.
A Pseudargyrotoza conwagana was a surprise as I had missed it in the Summer ? But checking the micro book I see they also fly in Sept and Nov.
9 moths of  7 species was a good result.......

3 x 0998..... Epiphyas postvittana
1 x 1011..... Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, year first
1 x 1044/5...Acleris ferrugana/notana
1 x 1047..... Acleris schalleriana
1 x 1342..... Eudonia angustea
1 x 1524..... Emmelina monodactyla
1 x 2441..... Silver Y

Some poor pics shot in the pots.....

Pseudargyrotoza conwagana

Acleris ferrugana or notana

Eudonia angustea

15th Nov 2012 ... Garden trap

A late Willow Beauty

Just 5 moths recorded.
None actually in the trap (Twin 20w blacklight/15w actinic skinner)

1... 1937 Willow Beauty
1... 2087 Turnip Moth
1... 2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing
1... 2267 Beaded Chestnut
1... 2306 Angle Shades

13th Nov 2012... Garden Traps

A few moths were about last night, enjoying the 10 deg. min temperature.
The previous 4 nights tally was zero !
All of the micros were caught in the early evening and there were no macros to be seen before 01.00 am when I went to bed after checking the traps.

2... 0229 Monopis obviella
2... 0284 Caloptilia rufipennella ... below

1... 0647 Hofmanophila pseudospretella
3... 0998 Epiphyas postvittana
1... 1524 Emmelina monodactyla
1... 1760 Red-green Carpet ... below...probably the best marked example I have seen at The Dells

1... 2256 Satellite ... below

1... 2267 Beaded Chestnut
3... 2306 Angle Shades ... below

6/7/8/9th Nov 2012 .. Slim pickings

Not much to report from The Dells garden traps over the last few nights.
Weather has been OK but moths are thin in the air.

6th Nov
Light Brown Apple Moth
Common Plume
Dark Chestnut
Angle Shades

7th Nov
Black Rustic

8th Nov
1, Lesser Yellow Underwing
3, Blair's Shoulder-knot
2, Light Brown Apple Moth
2, Common Plume

9th Nov
Just two moths........

998 Epiphyas postvittana, Light Brown Apple Moth

1760 Red-green Carpet, Chloroclysta siterata

5th Nov 2012 ... Leaf mine adds another micro

I haven't seen a moth for days now, except in Matts wallet, so I checked my Silver Birch and amongst the Lyonetia clerkella mines was this 0034...Ectoedemia occultella.
verification....D V Manning (County micro recorder Beds & Northants)

Normal daylight

Against window

Torchlight

28th Oct 2012 ... 2 moths !

6.3 deg was a lot warmer than the previous 2 or 3 nights when nothing was recorded in the garden traps.
Light showers and wind were the order of the night but two moths were found.

0808 Platyedra subcinerea ...

1795-7 November Moth agg.

24th Oct. 2012 .. Garden Traps

!2+ deg most of the night and the mizzle didn't arrive until the early hours of the morning.
A Grey Pine Carpet was a year first and an Acleris which needs a positive ID

1 .. 0464 .. Plutella xylostella, Diamond-back Moth
1 .. 0647 .. Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Brown House Moth
6 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana, Light Brown Apple Moth
1 .. 10** .. Acleris ........................ schalleriana ? variegana ?  both laterana and comariana have similar forms ...

1 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla, Common Plume
1 .. 1768 .. Grey Pine Carpet ...

1 .. 1769 .. Spruce Carpet
3 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
1 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
8 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
5 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
5 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2259 .. Dark Chestnut
1 .. 2261 .. Yellow-line Quaker
1 .. 2263 .. Red-line Quaker
1 .. 2267 .. Beaded Chestnut
1 .. 2384 .. Vine's Rustic
1 .. 2389 .. Pale Mottled Willow
1 .. 2441 .. Silver Y

24th Oct. 2012 .. Strange fungi in the garden ?????

I have seen a lot of fungi in my time but I've never seen a blue one ....
Can anyone identify this toadstool/mushroom ?
3" across ... 3" high approx
From the garden today ....

1 of 2 blue mushrooms

2 of 2 blue mushrooms

Probably Stropharia aeruginosa.

Thanks Andy W.

22nd Oct .. Trapped in the trap

10.8 deg. Mizzle

This misty drizzle looks to be set in until the weekend when a cold spell is heading down from the Arctic.

No way out for this Lesser Yellow Underwing.... A House Spider entered the trap for an easy meal

Traps :-
2 .. 0229 .. Monopis obviella
4 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana
1 .. 1745 .. Mallow
1 .. 1764 .. Common Marbled Carpet
1 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
3 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
3 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 .. 2264 .. Yellow-line Quaker
1 .. 2267 .. Beaded Chestnut
1 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing
1 .. 2306 .. Angle Shades
1 .. 2441 .. Silver Y
1 .. 2477 .. Snout

21st Oct. 2012 ...Foul night, new garden macro !

Early rain eased to a misty drizzle for the night but still a good variety of moths about, including a year first November Moth (agg) and a garden first Juniper Carpet.
Thanks Captain Trappings (Matt) for spotting it straight away, and Beds county recorder Melissa Banthorpe for the confirmation.
There are a lot of ornamental coniferous trees in the nearby gardens which may explain its presence.......

Juniper Carpet, Thera juniperata a Dells garden first.

Trap results:-
1 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana
2 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
1 .. 1764 .. Common Marbled Carpet

Common Marbled Carpet, Chloroclysta truncata

1 .. 1771 .. Juniper Carpet, garden first
1 .. 1795X November Moth agg. year first (below)

1 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
1 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
1 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
4 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 .. 2237 .. Grey Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2259 .. Dark Chestnut
1 .. 2384 .. Vine's Rustic
1 .. 2389 .. Pale Mottled Willow
1 .. 2434 .. Burnished Brass, (below)

20th Oct

Two Acleris moths, one from my trap and one from a friends house, a mile and a half away, that flew in as I walked in the front door....
.... both Acleris schalleriana I reckon but I will get confirmation....

1) From my trap

2) From my mate Sam's hallway ceiling !

18th Oct 2012 ... Garden Traps + Great Diving Beetle

Some interesting finds in the garden traps last night.
A Great Diving Beetle, Dytiscus marginalis was taken from the trap and put into the small fish pond, the fish being too big to be prey for this fearsome creature.
Pictured below, this is a female which lacks the large suction pads on the front legs found on the male.

It soon made itself at home, the above photo shows it coming up for some fresh air.
Whether it stays in the pond or not is another question as the food supply may not be sufficient, apart from it being a little lonely.

There were quite a lot of moths about, enjoying the 10+ deg. night. A late Pyrausta aurata was found on the wall near the trap and the first Satellite of the autumn arrived at The Dells.

The Moths :-
2 .. 0229 .. Monopis obviella
3 .. 0648 .. Endrosis sarcitrella
4 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana
1 .. 1361 .. Pyrausta aurata
4 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
1 .. 1728 .. Garden Carpet
5 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
1 .. 1961 .. Light Emerald
6 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing ( why not ?)

6 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
9 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
2 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2245 .. Green-brindled Crescent

1 .. 2256 .. Satellite

2 .. 2267 .. Beaded Chestnut ... enigma variations, 
(A & M , .... hindwings checked, cheers)

1 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing
4 .. 2306 .. Angle Shades
1 .. 2384 .. Vine's Rustic

16th/17th Oct. .. Garden Traps

Plenty of rain about in the evenings of late, but still a nice Autumn selection of moths in and around the traps.

16th Oct .. 6.4 deg. clear and calm early evening giving way to a stiff breeze and rain.
1 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana
1 .. 1342 .. Eudonia angustea
3 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
1 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
3 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
1 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
2 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
2 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2264 .. Yellow-line Quaker
1 .. 2267 .. Beaded Chestnut
1 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing

17th Oct .. 10.4 deg. warm, calm. persistent rain showers
3 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana
1 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
2 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
5 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
7 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
3 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
1 .. 2237 .. Grey Shoulder-knot

Grey Shoulder-knot

3 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2248 .. Brindled Green, year first

Brindled Green

1 .. 2274 .. Sallow

The Sallow

3 .. 2306 .. Angle Shades
1 .. 2441 .. Silver Y

15th Oct. 2012 .. Garden Traps

It was a much warmer night than of late, but the price to pay was rain.
Both traps were restricted by their rain covers and 29 moths of 10 species were recorded, including a year first Green-brindled Crescent.
A Brown-brindled Crescent would be a more apt name as there was not a hint of green in any sort of light......

Green-brindled Crescent, Allophyes oxyacanthae ab. capucina

1 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana,
4 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
1 .. 1764 .. Common Marbled Carpet
1 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
9 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
6 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
2 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
3 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2245 .. Green-brindled Crescent, year first
1 .. 2389 .. Pale Mottled Willow

13th/14th Oct ... I could Hardly believe my EYES !

Garden Traps, 14th October... similar to last night, 2.7 min. temp... calm, clear, chilly.
A late Eyed Hawk-moth clinging to the brick wall next to the trap was a surprise find on a chilly mid-October night.
It must have flown in at around midnight when the temperature was sitting on 4 deg and falling, I was actually checking the walls with the first November Moth in mind !
Having spoken to County Recorders Andy and Melissa Banthorpe, a check of the records found that the previous latest Eyed H-m in Bedfordshire was recorded on August 5th, not sure of the year, so this one is incredibly late in these parts. There is a partial 2nd generation Aug/Sept in the south.
I wonder what the latest record is nationally ?

17 moths of 14 species last night :-
1 .. 0998 .. Light Brown Apple Moth
1 .. 1524 .. Common Plume
1 .. 1760 .. Red-green Carpet

1 .. 1980 .. Eyed Hawk-moth, year first (and year last probably !)

1 .. 2087 .. Turnip Moth

1 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
1 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
1 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
2 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
3 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2252 .. Large Ranunculus
1 .. 2258 .. Chestnut

1 .. 2267 .. Beaded Chestnut
1 .. 2306 .. Angle Shades




13th Oct , 2.3 deg. min. temp... calm, clear, chilly

4 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
2 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
1 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
1 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
2 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
1 .. 2252 .. Large Ranunculus
1 .. 2259 .. Dark Chestnut

1 .. 2264 .. Yellow-line Quaker
1 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing