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

10th/11th/12th Oct 2012 .. Garden Traps

12th October .. 4.3 deg. min. Clear, calm, cold
A great night for stargazers.
9 moths of 6 species from 2 traps was the lowest count for quite a while.
No micro moths recorded apart from a Brown House Mouse which was in the house.
1 .. 0647 .. Hofmannophila pseudospretella, in house
1 .. 1764 .. Common Marbled Carpet
3 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
2 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
1 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2252 .. Large Ranunculus

1 .. 2264 .. Yellow-line Quaker, year first

11th October, .. 9.6 deg. min. light rain all night. Breezy
1 .. 0464 .. Plutella xylostella
1 .. 0647 .. Hofmannophila pseudospretella
1 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana
2 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
2 .. 1728 .. Garden Carpet
2 .. 1745 .. Mallow

3 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
2 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
2 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
1 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2306 .. Angle Shades
1 .. 2389 .. Pale Mottled Willow
1 .. 2441 .. Silver Y

10th October 6.5 deg. min. Calm, partly cloudy
  2 .. 0647 .. Hofmannophila pseudospretella
  1 .. 0648 .. Endrosis sarcitrella
  3 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana
  2 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
  1 .. 1745 .. Mallow
  1 .. 1916 .. Light Emerald
  3 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
11 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
  5 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
  1 .. 2252 .. Large Ranunculus
  1 .. 2267 .. Beaded Chestnut
  3 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing
  2 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
  1 .. 2306 .. Angle Shades
  1 .. ****    micro, a very plain Blastobasis lacticolella probably

9th Oct. 2012 ... Garden Traps

6.4 deg. min. temp, cloudy and not a breath of wind.
Numbers of moths were unexpectedly low given the weather conditions.
Setaceous Hebrew Character made up the bulk of the catch.
Micros were down to 2 common species.

Garden birds: Today (9th)  included Great, Blue, Long-tailed and, for my garden, a scarce Coal Tit all feeding together in the trees and shrubs.
Add to that a calling Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest which are both excellent birds for my town garden.
A pair of Mistle Thrush 3 days ago were the first seen in the garden for about 5 years when they regularly came in to finish off my Golden Hornet crab apples.

Moth Traps:
  5 .. 0648 .. White-shouldered House Moth
  4 .. 1524 .. Common Plume
  2 .. 1728 .. Garden Carpet
  1 .. 1764 .. Common Marbled Carpet
  1 .. 1906 .. Brimstone Moth
  3 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
  5 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
  7 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
12 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
  1 .. 2134 .. Square-spot Rustic

  2 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
  3 .. 2252 .. Large Ranunculus

  1 .. 2267 .. Beaded Chestnut
  3 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing
  1 .. 2306 .. Angle Shades
  1 .. 2384 .. Vine's Rustic
  2 .. 2389 .. Pale Mottled Willow

5th/6th/7th/8th Oct. 2012 .. TREBLE-isoBAR

5th Oct.
6.9 deg. min. temp. Heavy rain from dusk till dawn.
Here are the trap results from possibly the only active traps in Bedfordshire last night !
26 moths of 14 species, Treble-bar was unexpected

1 .. 0648 .. Endrosis sarcitrella
1 .. 0688 .. Agonopterix heracliana

1 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana
2 .. 1342 .. Eudonia angustea

2 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
1 .. 1728 .. Garden Carpet
1 .. 1867 .. Treble-bar

2 .. 1927 .. Willow Beauty
1 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
2 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
3 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
4 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
4 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing
1 .. 2384 .. Vine's Rustic

6th Oct....................................................................................
A different night altogether from the last two. No rain.
Clear skies, bright half moon and not a hint of breeze.
Temperatures fell to 3.3 deg which slowed down any activity, the highlight being a year first Beaded Chestnut in the trap....

2 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana
2 .. 1728 .. Garden Carpet
2 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
1 .. 2092 .. Shuttle-shaped Dart
2 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
3 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
2 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2267 .. Beaded Chestnut, year first

6 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing
2 .. 2274 .. Sallow
1 .. 2441 .. Silver Y

7th Oct... 5.6 deg. min. calm with low level cloud.................................
1 .. 0648 .. Endrosis sarcitrella
1 .. 1288 .. Alucita hexadactyla
2 .. 1342 .. Eudonia angustea
3 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
1 .. 1728 .. Garden Carpet
2 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
1 .. 2092 .. Shuttle-shaped Dart
5 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
5 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
2 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
3 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
4 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2263 .. Red-line Quaker, year first

5 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing
1 .. 2389 .. Pale Mottled Willow


8th Oct...........................................................................................
Warm until skies cleared after midnight.
A good variety of moths were trapped including a garden first Rhomboid Tortrix, which was almost overlooked among the L.B.Apple Moths, and two Barred Sallow to add another tick to the struggling year list.
2 x Brimstone Moths were unexpected this late in the year.

1 .. 0464 .. Plutella xylostella .. Diamond-back Moth

1 .. 0648 .. Endrosis sarcitrella .. White-shouldered House Moth
4 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana .. Light Brown Apple Moth
1 .. 1042 .. Acleris rhombana .. Rhomboid Tortrix, garden first

2 .. 1342 .. Eudonia angustea
3 .. 1728 .. Garden Carpet
1 .. 1745 .. Mallow
1 .. 1764 .. Common Marbled Carpet
2 .. 1906 .. Brimstone Moth
4 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
1 .. 2092 .. Shuttle-shaped Dart
4 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
9 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
7 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
2 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing
2 .. 2272 .. Barred Sallow, year first

1 .. 2274 .. Sallow
1 .. 2306 .. Angle Shades
1 .. 2389 .. Pale Mottled Willow

NB: First Redwings for the year heard overhead

4th Oct 2012 .. Garden Traps

9.2 deg. min. temp.
Steady rain all night.
Traps under cover.

Almost an inch of rain fell last night but I've learned from the past that the moths around here just seem to carry on.
The warm night prompted me to fire up both traps and it never ceases to amaze me how so many end up in the covered traps (with limited light output) in heavy rain.
Last year I chopped down my leylandii trees (good riddance) and wondered how the Blair's Shoulder-knot would fare.
No problem.... 7 in the traps last night !

2 .. 0229 .. Monopis obviella
1 .. 0647 .. Hofmannophila pseudospretella
1 .. 0998 .. Epiphyas postvittana
1 .. 1342 .. Eudonia angustea
2 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
1 .. 1728 .. Garden Carpet
2 .. 1764 .. Common Marbled Carpet
1 .. 1916 .. Light Emerald
4 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
2 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
4 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
5 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 .. 2134 .. Square-spot Rustic
7 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot

Blair's Shoulder-knot in the release pot

2 .. 2252 .. Large Ranunculus
1 .. 2306 .. Angle Shades
1 .. 2389 .. Pale Mottled Willow

3rd Oct 2012 .. Blair's joined the party

A chilly 4 deg and a bright moon kept moth numbers down, the highlight being a year first Blair's Shoulder-knot.

3rd Oct
1 .. 1342 .. Eudonia angustea
1 .. 1524 .. Emmelina monodactyla
3 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
2 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
2 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 .. 2240 .. Blair's Shoulder-knot

9 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing

2nd Oct... 7 deg. Windy and wet
2 .. 0648 .. Endrosis sarcitrella
1 .. 1728 .. Garden Carpet
1 .. 1745 .. Mallow
1 .. 1937 .. Willow Beauty
2 .. 2107 .. Large Yellow Underwing
2 .. 2109 .. Lesser Yellow Underwing
1 .. 2126 .. Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 .. 2232 .. Black Rustic
1 .. 2252 .. Large Ranunculus
2 .. 2270 .. Lunar Underwing