28th Sept 2013 ... Garden Catch

3 new moths for the year list were recorded along with 2 Brown-spot Pinion, an uncommon moth in my garden with singles recorded almost annually.
Species list :-
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella
0674 ... Depressaria badiella, YF

674 ... Depressaria badiella

0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana
1048 ... Acleris variegana
1342 ... Eudonia angustea
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla
1728 ... Garden Carpet
1760 ... Red-green Carpet. YF

1760 ... Red-green Carpet

1764 ... Common Marbled Carpet
1906 ... Brimstone Moth
1961 ... Light Emerald
1937 ... Willow Beauty
2087 ... Turnip Moth
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing
2110 ... Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character
2134 ... Square-spot Rustic
2154 ... Cabbage Moth
2232 ... Black Rustic
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot
2252 ... Large Ranunculus
2266 ... Brown-spot Pinion

Brown-spot Pinion and Beaded Chestnut

2267 ... Beaded Chestnut
2270 ... Lunar Underwing
2275 ... Dusky-lemon Sallow, YF

2275 ... Dusky-lemon Sallow

2306 ... Angle Shades
2353 ... Flounced Rustic
2364 ... Frosted Orange

2364 ... Frosted Orange

2384 ... Vine's Rustic
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow
2477 ... Snout

27th Sept 2013 ... Garden Traps

0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella, White-shouldered House-moth
0672 ... Depressaria heraclei, Parsnip Moth ... YF (26th Sept)
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana, Light Brown Apple Moth x 7
1048 ... Acleris variegana, Garden Rose Tortrix x 2
1342 ... Eudonia angustea
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla, Common Plume x 4
1728 ... Garden Carpet x 4
1764 ... Common Marbled Carpet x 2
1937 ... Willow Beauty x 12
1961 ... Light Emerald
2087 ... Turnip Moth x 4
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart x 2
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing x 30+
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing x 10+
2110 ... Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 2
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character x 10+
2232 ... Black Rustic x 6

2232 ... Black Rustic

2267 ... Beaded Chestnut
2273 ... Pink-barred Sallow, YF

2273 ... Pink-barred Sallow

2134 ... Square-spot Rustic x 3
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 7
2252 ... Large Ranunculus x 4
2270 ... Lunar Underwing x 10+

2306 ... Angle Shades x 3
2353 ... Flounced Rustic
2364 ... Frosted Orange

2364 ... Frosted Orange

2384 ... Vine's Rustic x 4
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow x 20+
2477 ... Snout

Sunset over Biggleswade. Red sky at night ... is my house on fire ?

25th Sept 2013 ... Beaded Chestnut et al

Another warm overcast night and a good selection of moths around the traps....
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella
0985 ... Cacoecimrpha pronubana x 2
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 9
1048 ... Acleris variegana
1342 ... Eudonia angustea x 3
1413 ... Hypsopygia costalis
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla x 3
1682 ... Blood-vein

Blood-vein

1707 ... Small Dusty Wave x 3
1728 ... Garden Carpet x 6
1764 ... Common Marbled Carpet x 2

1764 ... Common Marbled Carpet

1769 ... Spruce Carpet

1769 ... Spruce Carpet

1776 ... Green Carpet

1776 ... Green Carpet

1862 ... Double-striped Pug x 2
1937 ... Willow Beauty x 14
1961 ... Light Emerald x 2
2087 ... Turnip Moth x 5
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart x 2
2102 ... Flame Shoulder
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing x 50*
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing x 20*
2110 ... Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 2
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character x 30*
2232 ... Black Rustic x 11
2134 ... Square-spot Rustic x 4
2165 ... Small Ranunculus

LITTLE and LARGE ..... Small and Large Ranunculus

2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot x 12
2248 ... Brindled Green ... YF

2248 ... Brindled Green

2252 ... Large Ranunculus x 5
2266 ... Brown-spot Pinion
2267 ... Beaded Chestnut x 2 ... YF

2267 ... Beaded Chestnut

2270 ... Lunar Underwing x 20*
2272 ... Barred Sallow ... YF

2272 ... Barred Sallow

2274 ... The Sallow ... YF

2274 ... The Sallow

2300 ... Old Lady
2306 ... Angle Shades x 4
2353 ... Flounced Rustic x 3
2384 ... Vine's Rustic x 9
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow x 20*
2477 ... The Snout

* Conservative estimate

22nd Sept 2013 ... Deep Joy

A Deep-brown Dart was added to the year list.
This is a scarce moth in my garden with only one or two previous records.
The previous evening (21st) a Small Magpie, Eurrhypara hortulata, was a very late record, the flight period normally ends in July.
 22nd Sept. warm 12.3 deg C
0985 ... Cacoecimorpha pronubana, Carnation Tortrix x 4
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana, Light Brown Apple Moth x 5
1048 ... Acleris variegana, Garden Rose Tortrix
1309 ... Agriphila geniculea x 2
1413 ... Hypsopygia costalis, Gold Triangle
1707 ... Small Dusty Wave
1728 ... Garden Carpet x 3
1906 ... Brimstone Moth
1937 ... Willow Beauty x 5
1961 ... Light Emerald x 2
2087 ... Turnip Moth x 6
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing x 38
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing x 11
2110 ... Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 2
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character x 18
2134 ... Square-spot Rustic x 7
2154 ... Cabbage Moth
2231 ... Deep-brown Dart, YF

2231 ... Deep-brown Dart ... female

2232 ... Black Rustic x 5
2252 ... Large Ranunculus
2267 ... Beaded Chestnut, X ... Lunar Underwing ... cheers Andy G.

2270 ... Lunar Underwing

Only had to wait a couple of nights for a real one (above) Beaded Chestnut

2270 ... Lunar Underwing x 20
2289 ... Pale Mottled Willow x 6
2297x . Copper Underwing agg x 3
2306 ... Angle Shades
2353 ... Flounced Rustic x 2
2364 ... Frosted Orange

2364 ... Frosted Orange

2384 ... Vines Rustic x 9
2474 ... Straw Dot

20th Sept. 2013 ... Least said .....

Not much to get the pulse started around the traps.
Lunar Underwing numbers hit an all-time garden high with 32, (20 and 12 in the two traps)
Plenty of Large Yellow Underwing still, looking a little jaded and Pale Mottled Willow numbers are increasing.
A Least Carpet was a surprise catch as I thought they had finished weeks ago.

1699 ... Least Carpet ... Idaea rusticata

0985 ... Cacoecimorpha pronubana

0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana x 2

1048 ... Acleris variegana x 3

1309 ... Agriphila geniculea

1699 ... Least Carpet

1707 ... Small Dusty Wave

1728 ... Garden Carpet x 2

1825 ... Lime-speck Pug

1862 ... Double-striped Pug

1937 ... Willow Beauty x 5

1961 ... Light Emerald

2087 ... Turnip Moth x 3

2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing x 42

2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing x 9

2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character x 12

2134 ... Square-spot Rustic x 3

2199 ... Common Wainscot

2232 ... Black Rustic x 3

2252 ... Large Ranunculus x 2

2270 ... Lunar Underwing x 32

2353 ... Flounced Rustic x 3

2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow x 23

2441 ... Silver Y x 2

2477 ... The Snout

19th Sept 2013 ... Lionels Blair

The traps are struggling to compete with the big bright full moon at the moment.
Warmer weather is on it's way.
..
Blair's Shoulder-knot was a year-first.

2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot

1707 ... Small Dusty Wave x 3
1728 ... Garden Carpet x 4
1825 ... Lime-speck Pug
1906 ... Brimstone Moth x 2
1937 ... Willow Beauty x 7
1961 ... Light Emerald x 2
2087 ... Turnip Moth x 2
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart x 2
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing x 21
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing x 7
2110 ... Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character x 6
2134 ... Square-spot Rustic x 2
2232 ... Black Rustic x 7
2240 ... Blair's Shoulder-knot ... YF
2270 ... Lunar Underwing x 19
2297x . Copper Underwing agg. x 3
2306 ... Angle Shades x 3
2353 ... Flounced Rustic
2384 ... Vine's Rustic x 4
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow x 9
2441 ... Silver Y
2477 ... Snout
...
0464 ... Plutella xylostella
0647 ... Hofmannophila pseudospretella
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella
0873 ... Blastobasis adustella
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana
1048 ... Acleris variegana x 3

1048 ...  Acleris variegana, Garden Rose Tortrix

1342 ... Eudonia angustea x 2

1342 ... Eudonia angustea

1309 ... Agriphila geniculea
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla x 2

14th Sept 2013 ... Forever Autumn

The clear night sky sent temperatures down to 5 deg C  and it looks like being a wet and windy week ahead.
Just a few late summer stragglers in the traps with some real autumn moths ....
0015 ... Orange Swift
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana, Light Brown Apple Moth x 2
1309 ... Agriphila geniculea x 2
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing x 12
2109 ... Lesser Yellow Underwing
2126 ... Setaceous Hebrew Character x 4
2134 ... Square-spot Rustic
2154 ... Cabbage Moth
2232 ... Black Rustic
2252 ... Large Ranunculus ... YF

2270 ... Lunar Underwing ... x 2, YF

2304 ... Vine's Rustic
2306 ... Angle Shades
2353 ... Flounced Rustic
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow x 2

12th Sept 2013 ... Rained off, mostly

Colder wetter weather for a week, it's like someone threw a switch and said, " You've had a good summer but that's yer lot mate". Tonights weather is appalling so no traps.
Still a few Large and Lesser Yellow Underwings, Square-spot, Flounced and Vine's Rustic and Shuttle Darts.
Turnip Moths and Pale Mottled Willow numbers are healthy.
Green Carpet and Small Blood-vein add a bit of colour to the tired looking brown moths.
Last night looked promising until the rain spoiled proceedings but a Red Underwing ignored the conditions and settled on the garden shed above the 15watt blacklight sometime in the early hours ...

Red Underwing

Last nights catch .. 12th Sept
Cacoecimorpha pronubana, Carnation Tortrix ...  Lots seen flying during the day
Emmelina monodactyla
Light Brown Apple Moth x 6
Plutella xylostella, Diamond-back Moth x 2
Yponomeuta malinellus
Agriphila geniculea x 3
Monopis obviella
Small Dusty Wave x 5
Brimstone Moth x 2
Light Emerald
Green Carpet
Small Blood-vein
Willow Beauty x 7
Toadflax Pug
Double-striped Pug x 2
Shuttle-shaped Dart
Large YU x 7
Lesser YU x 6
Set. Heb. Character x 7
Vine's Rustic x 5
Mouse Moth
Copper Underwing agg.
Pale Mottled Willow x 6
Flounced Rustic
Turnip Moth x 2
Square-spot Rustic x 2
Straw Dot
Red Underwing
Snout x 2
11th Sept ... Best of ....
Agonopterix arenella
Tawny Speckled Pug
Garden Carpet
Common Wainscot

5th Sept 2013 ... Garden Traps

Two new macros for the year and a mound of Yellow Underwings !
Two traps
1 dual PL9 watt BLB / PL 11 watt Synergenic*
1 dual 15watt BLB T8 / 15watt Synergenic* T8 fluorescent

Large Yellow Underwing (147) Highest ever garden count
Lesser Yellow Underwing (15)
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (3)
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
Copper Underwing
Straw Underwing
Shuttle-shaped Dart (10)
Setaceous Hebrew Character (44)
Flounced Rustic (7)
Square-spot Rustic (22)
Vine's Rustic (30)
Pale Mottled Willow (8)
Turnip Moth (5)
Treble Bar (2)
Brown-spot Pinion ... year first
Oak Hook-tip ... year first
Small Blood-vein
Brimstone Moth (6)
Double-striped Pug (4)
Straw Dot
Rosy Rustic
Angle Shades
Nutmeg (2)
Burnished Brass
Centre-barred Sallow
Light Emerald
Bordered Pug
Garden Carpet (6)
Small Dusty Wave (3)
Common Wainscot (17)
Orange Swift (8)
Hypsopygia costalis (2)
Pleuroptya ruralis
Cacoecimorpha pronubana (6)
Cochylis type  sp for ID
Coleophora sp for ID
Agriphila geniculea,  3 ounces !
Epiphyas postvittana (8)
Emmelina monodactyla (2)
Hofmannophila pseudospretella (2)
Acleris variegana
Yponomeuta evonymella

Oak Hook-tip

Brown-spot Pinion

Small Blood-vein

Garden latest .... Cochylis molliculana ???

Lots of "end of season" brown stuff in the traps of late.
A record count of 109 Large Yellow Underwings from two traps. 3rd Sept
Also a record number of Common Wainscot (23) on the 4th Sept.

3rd Sept.
109 Large Yellow Underwing
57   Setaceous Hebrew Character
18   Flounced Rustic
16   Vine's Rustic
15   Orange Swift
12   Lesser Yellow Underwing
12   Double-striped Pug
11   Pale Mottled Willow
9     Square-spot Rustic
8     Common Wainscot
6     Garden Carpet
5     Willow Beauty
4     Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
4     Shuttle-shaped Dart
4     Turnip Moth
4     Small Dusty Wave
3     Copper Underwing agg.
3     Brimstone Moth
3     Nutmeg
2     Snout
2     Old Lady
2     Flame Shoulder
2     Spectacle
2     Silver Y
2     Rosy Rustic
2     Centre-barred Sallow
2     Angle Shades
Singles
Black Rustic ... year first

Black Rustic

Straw Underwing
Yellow Shell
Buff Ermine

A late season Buff Ermine

Light Emerald
Small Square-spot
Common Rustic agg.
Dusky Thorn
Lime-speck Pug
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
Mouse Moth
Treble-bar

Treble-bar

Green Carpet
MICRO MOTHS
28 Agriphila geniculea
15 Epiphyas postvittana
4   Emmelina monodactyla
3   Cacoecimorpha pronubana
3   Pyrausta aurata
2   Eudonia angustella
Endrosis sarcitrella
Cydia pomonella
Calamotropha paludella
Plutella xylostella
Monopis laevigella
A couple of micros that I am not 100% sure of .....
Fairly confident this is Cochylis Hybridella ....

The moth below is possibly Cochylis molliculana, which if confirmed would be a first garden record ...
I know a man who will know. Confirmed ... D. Manning, County recorder

The 4th Sept produced pretty much the same except for ....
Green Carpet
Yellow-barred Brindle
Common Carpet
Burnished Brass
Frosted Orange ... year first

Frosted Orange

1st Sep 2013 ... Gen dets return 24 new garden species.. 600 mark passed.

Back from a week in Sorrento and it seems that the shortage of Large Yellow Underwing was simply due to a late hatch.
A trap record was set for LYU, (30th Aug) with a count of 83, not the highest total (99), but that was with two traps operating.
Common Wainscot numbers also increased (9 on 30th Aug) with a host of Setaceous Hebrew Character's.
Small Wainscot (31st Aug) was a year first.
It died in the pot so only a corpse pic available, and Small Square-spot made a rare appearance last night (1st Sep) only the second record of this locally common moth..

2123 ... Small Square-spot ... Diarsia rubi

Out of interest, here's a male Wall Brown butterfly.
Getting very scarce around here, I haven't seen one in an age, this one was at the top of  Mt. Vesuvius !

Wall Brown, Mt Vesuvius, Italy

GEN DETS ...
Many Thanks to David Manning, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire counties micro recorder.
This man, despite being 113 years of age, laboriously sifts through literally hundreds of little pots that I drop on his lap.
Some are common micros that may be a little worn, some are creatures that I have identified but always get confirmation or contradiction, and a lot of moths that require gen det or I simply haven't a clue what they are.
He never takes more than a week to identify them and e-mail the results back, no matter how many you send.
My last lot was around 300 moths that included my own back yard, Matts', The Lodge and often Home Wood also, so well done that man.
I'm going to send him 500 next time... (hope he reads this :)
Among the batch from my garden, a county first for VC30 on 2nd Aug, plus another on 11th Aug ...
1114 ... Eudemis porphyrella ....

I recorded it as E. profundana but the gen det proved otherwise .. one to look out for as they can vary in ground colour to look very much like profundana.

Thanks to our intrepid recorder I have now passed the 600 species mark for my garden which now stands at 606.
New garden and year moths list can be seen on 2013 page.