17th Dec 2015 ... Black-spotted Chestnut

I had the pleasure of catching Bedfordshire's first record of Black-spotted Chestnut last night.
This may have been blown in on the mild SSW wind from its Kent stronghold or possibly from western Spain, Portugal or France, we'll never know.
The only other records outside of Kent are from Felixstowe, Suffolk in 2014 so this one is the most Northerly record for the UK.

BF 2259a - Black-spotted Chestnut . Conistra rubiginosa.
17/12/2015 - TL14 -VC30 - L. Burgess

Update: 
Another was caught on the 18th December in Upper Caldecote, about 3 miles away by Matt Burgess (son).
He lives approximately 1 mile north of me so his moth (on the left below ) now becomes the most northerly record ...

The two VC30 Black-spotted Chestnut's - photo: Melissa Banthorpe

Both moths were males and were released in suitable habitat in the vicinity of capture by the county recorders, Andy and Melissa Banthorpe.

25th Nov 2015 - December Moth

A common moth but quite rare in my town garden. This December Moth (male) is only my second record since Nov 2009.
This is possibly due to larvae released on a small Hawthorn tree in the garden back in early April this year.

December Moth larvae approx. 1 week old on Hawthorn, April 17th 2015

December Moth ♂ 25th Nov 2015

December Moth (male) 25th Nov. 2015

15th Nov 2015 ... Ni Moth

Just one trap on last night as it was blowing a near gale, but still very mild.
Only 3 moths to show for it, Epiphyas postvittana, Herald and a garden 1st Ni Moth.
Ni Moth is a rare immigrant and this one is only the second record for VC30, since one was caught in 2006...

Herald

Ni Moth

Ni Moth

Garden traps catch up

7th Nov. 2015
After a nine year absence in the VC30 county, a Crocidosema plebejana appeared at the garden traps.
I.D. has been confirmed by county micro moth recorder.

BF1157 Crocidosema plebejana

Grey Shoulder-knot was absent from the garden in Spring but was added to the year list on 6th Nov and was pictured alongside a Blair's Shoulder-knot for comparison ...

Grey (left) and Blair's Shoulder-knot

 Another site first record was this Pearly Underwing, not in the best condition, added on 4th Nov.

Pearly Underwing

Phyllonorycter messaniella is one of the most common of the Phyllies but it took 6.5 years before I recorded it.
It is quite worn and usually looks much browner ... ID was determined by the micro recorder who wasn't happy with my initial ID of P harrisella

30th Oct. 2015 - Phyllonorycter messaniella

More moths from the garden traps

Carpet moths are are a regular feature around the light traps at this time of year and there has been a nice variety of late, usually on the walls near the traps.
Red-green Carpet is a common visitor along with Common Marbled, Spruce and Garden Carpet.
An Autumn Green Carpet was caught just 5 miles away from my garden, a moth thought to be extinct in the Bedfordshire VC30 county having not been seen since 1975.
Another uncommon Carpet moth in my area is the Juniper Carpet which is benefiting from the many juniper cultivars growing in gardens and one that I am keeping an eye out for.
I have recorded 2 or 3 in the past 6 years.

Red-green Carpet - Chloroclysta siterata

Spruce Carpet - Thera britannica

Garden Carpet - Xanthorhoe fluctuata

And a selection of variable Common Marbled Carpet's

A Feathered Thorn was added to the year list ....

Feathered Thorn - Colotois pennaria

.... and a surprise Beautiful Hook-tip was even later than my previous County latest !
My late record has been topped by Matt Burgess who caught one a few days later.

This 2nd generation is noticeably smaller than the July/Aug batch.

The creature from 9th Oct had a forewing length of just 10 mm, while the one below had a 12 mm FW

Beautiful Hook-tip - Laspeyria flexula - 18th Oct. 2015

From the garden moth-trap

Chilly chilly it's evening time.
Ray Davies.
Cold easterlies are affecting us right now and the air has a distinct chilly feel to it.
Some more autumn moths of late:-
First record of Stigmella hybnerella in garden ...

BF99 Stigmella hybnerella, mine on Hawthorn. 7th Oct '15

BF34 Ectoedemia occultella, mine on Birch, 12th Oct. '15

BF2375 - Large Wainscot - 12th Oct. '15

BF2263 - Red-line Quaker - 10th Oct. '15

A year first Brick ...

BF2262 - Brick - 11th Oct. '15

BF2258 - Chestnut - 11th Oct. '15

BF2240 - Blair's Shoulder-knot - 11th Oct. '15

BF263 - Lyonetia clerkella, 10th Oct. '15

BF2473 - Beautiful Hook-tip - 9th Oct '15 ... Latest County record for VC30

BF2245 Green-brindled Crescent f. capucina - 9th Oct. '15

Oct 4th 2015, Garden Traps report

Two more "newbies" for 2015
Brown-spot Pinion and Pink-barred Sallow. These common species are quite rare in my garden and I missed out on both of them last year.

Brown-spot Pinion

Pink-barred Sallow

A Common Wainscot, Common Marbled Carpet,two Large Ranunculus and two Spruce Carpet were also present along with the usual Lunar Underwing's, Black Rustic's, Blair's Shoulder-knot and the late Summer/early Autumn hangers on.

Common Wainscot

A well camouflaged Large Ranunculus

Spruce Carpet

On the lookout for a Merveille du Jour now and a garden first Autumnal Rustic would be a nice find

Garden Moths latest ... 2/10/15

The big super-moon has been a hindrance of late, add clear skies and it's a recipe for low moth counts.
Two moth species were added to the garden year list, Red-green Carpet and Yellow-line Quaker.
Red-green Carpet is normally seen in smaller numbers in the Spring around these parts but this years Spring was very poor compared to recent years.

BF 1760 - Red-green Carpet

BF 2264 - Yellow-line Quaker

Also a White-point amongst the end of Summer stragglers ...

BF 2194 - White-point

More Autumn moths ...

Some more autumnal additions to the garden year list ...

Deep-brown Dart

Black Rustic

Frosted Orange

Mallow

Sallow

Ectoedemia occultella ... Leaf mine on Birch

Garden Moths 19th Sept. . Large Wainscot +

Autumn is really upon us now.
The various yellow underwing numbers are slowly falling, leaving more room in the traps for the more welcome autumn visitors.
Catch for 19th Sept...
Depressatia badiella x 2
Hofmannophila pseudospretella x 2
Acleris variegana x 2
Eudonia angustea
Agonopterix arenella
Emmelina monodactyla x 3
Epiphyas postvittana x 2
Garden Carpet x 2
Common Marbled Carpet
Willow Beauty
Black Rustic ... year first

Black Rustic

Large Yellow Underwing x 37
Lesser Yellow Underwing x 9
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 3
Lunar Underwing x 7
Square-spot Rustic x 14
Setaceous Hebrew Character x 12
Flounced Rustic x 2
Orange Sallow

Orange Sallow

Pale Mottled Willow x 15
Copper Underwing
Marbled Beauty
Turnip Moth x 4
Silver Y x 3 ... (2 x daytime on Centranthus, Red Valerian)
Large Wainscot ... year first

Large Wainscot