14th April 2015 ... Garden Moth traps latest

22 deg at dusk dropping to 9 deg at dawn.
Light breeze, clear with a fresh feel.
Much better night temperatures at last but not for long unfortunately.
An early Bee Moth couldn't match last years record of March 16th, the earliest ever in VC30.

Aphomia sociella

Agonopterix arenella and Endrosis sarcitrella were year first micro's.

Agonopterix arenella

Endrosis sarcitrella

Double-striped Pug numbers have reached plague proportions with 35 potted up and released on the Biggleswade to Kings Cross line.
Another Red Chestnut turned up and a Powdered Quaker made its 2015 debut as did Chestnut.

Powdered Quaker

Chestnut

14th April :-
0483 Epermenia chaerophyllella, (Golden Lance-wing) 1
0648 Endrosis sarcitrella, (White-shouldered House Moth) 1, year first
0697 Agonopterix arenella, (Brindled Flat-body) 1, year first
0998 Epiphyas postvittana, (Light Brown Apple Moth) 3
1428 Aphomia sociella . (Bee Moth), 1, year first
1524 Emmelina monodactyla, (Common Plume) 6
1862 Double-striped Pug, 35
1917 Early Thorn, 1
2063 Muslin Moth, 3
2139 Red Chestnut, 1
2186 Powdered Quaker, 1, year first
2187 Common Quaker, 2
2188 Clouded Drab, 3
2256 Satellite, 1
2258 Chestnut, 1, year first

26th May 2014 .. Latest year list additrions ...

The wet and cooler conditions continue and look like staying until the weekend.
Just one trap runnung at the moment but with a rain cover which restricts its range.
A trickle of year firsts are still turning up with a Peppered Moth on 25th and Common Wainscot 26th.
Peppered Moth ...

Common Wainscot ...

Not much else apart from the usual Shuttle-shaped Darts, Pale Mottled Willows, Heart and Dart, and a large Turnip Moth
Light Brocade, Common Marbled Carpet added a splash of colour and Silver Y is now appearing nightly.
Very few micros, Carnation Tortrix and Pyrausta aurata by day and one Light Brown Apple Moth and Agonopterix arenella during the night.
Agonopterix arenella below.

16th April 2014 ... Garden traps and garden taps

A bit of late afternoon netting in the garden produced a few micros
Anthophila fabriciana, the common Nettle-tap was found for the first time in 2013, with one individual turning up whilst sweep netting Ox-eye Daisies in the front garden for Dichrorampha species, so to net 3 of them flying around the back garden was pleasing.
In the same session, 2 x Argyrotaenia ljungiana, 3 x Esperia sulphurella, 1 rather worn Epermenia chaerophyllella, and a Light Brown Apple Moth were also caught along with 4 x Mompha subbistrigella on the inside of the garden shed window.

Below ... One of three Nettle-taps caught.and  Argyrotaenia ljungiana

Anthophila fabriciana, ... Nettle-tap

Argyrotaenia ljungiana

The evening and night saw temperatures up a little at 4.9deg C but with a bright 95% waning moon.
As well as 3 individuals being netted in the afternoon, a single Esperia sulphurella was attracted to the trap lights during the night ...

Esperia sulphurella

The Catch
0385 ... Anthophila fabriciana, x 3, ... year first
0483 ... Epermenia chaerophyllella, x 1
0649 ... Esperia sulphurella, x 3 (+1)
0697 ... Agonopterix arenella, x 1, ... year first

Agonopterix arenella

0892 ... Mompha subbistrigella, x 4
0974 ... Argyrotaenia ljungiana, x 2, ... year first
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana, x 1 (+3)
1342 ... Eudonia angustea, x 1
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla, x 1
1862 ... Double-striped Pug, x 2
2063 ... Muslin Moth, x 1
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart, x 3
2139 ... Red Chestnut, x 1

Cerastis rubicosa, ... Red Chestnut

Red Chestnut, ... Cerastis rubicosa

2188 ... Clouded Drab, x 3
2190 ... Hebrew Character, x 1
2243 ... Early Grey, x 4

19th May 2013 ... Best night so far

11 deg all night, and apart from a heavyish shower at 01.00 am, it would have been perfect.
Let's hope for many more "best night so far" nights.
Yesterday, I did a bit of afternoon micro hunting in the front part of the garden, where the north-west border is constantly under attack from my neighbours knee-deep selection of wild grasses and weeds.
This bothers me not one whit as it encourages the local wildlife.
Six species were potted/netted and my Laburnum tree produced Leucoptera laburnella the Laburnum Leaf-miner.  Cochylis dubitana was also added to the year list, a common micro at The Dells.
My prized regulars returned last night for the third year running ... Toadflax Brocade and my female Emperor Moth hatched from its pupa after 3 years, unfortunately the weather hasn't been the best to lure some wild males.

The micro catch .........
0247 ... Tinea trinotella ... Bird's-nest Moth ... 1 ... YF

247 ... Tinea trinotella

0254 ... Leucoptera laburnella ... Laburnum Leaf Miner ... 1 ... YF

254 ... Leucoptera laburnella

0647 ... Hofmannophila pseudospretella ... Brown House-moth ... 2
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella ... White-shouldered House-moth ... 3
0649 ... Esperia sulphurella ... Sulphur Tubic ... 2
0697 ... Agonopterix arenella ... Brindled Flat-body ... 1

697 ... Agonopterix arenella

0808 ... Platyedra subcinerea ... Mallow Groundling ... 4
0892 ... Mompha subbistrigella ... Garden Cosmet ... 1
0964 ... Cochylis dubitana ... Little Conch ... 1 ... YF

964 ... Cochylis dubitana 

0974 ... Argyrotaenia ljungiana ... Heather Tortrix ... 2
1288 ... Alucita hexadactyla ... Twenty-plume Moth ... 2
1428 ... Aphomia sociella ... Bee Moth ... 1 ... YF

1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla ... Common Plume ... 1
Macro Moths ...
1707 ... Small Dusty Wave ... Idaea seriata ... 1 ... YF

1707 ... Small Dusty Wave ... Idaea seriata

1724 ... Red Twin-spot Carpet ... Xanthorhoe spadicearia ... 1
1728 ... Garden Carpet ... Xanthorhoe fluctuata ... 6
1781 ... Small Waved Umber ... Horisme vitalbata ... 1
1834 ... Common Pug ... Eupithecia vulgata ... 4
1906 ... Brimstone Moth ... Opisthograptis luteolata ... 3
1920 ... Scalloped Hazel ... Odontopera bidentata ... 1
1979 ... Lime Hawk-moth ... Mimas tiliae ... 1
2007 ... Swallow Prominent ... Pheosia tremula ... 1 ... YF

2007 ... Swallow Prominent ... Pheosia tremula

2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart ... Agrotis puta ... 6
2145 ... Nutmeg ... Dicestra trifolii ... 1
2186 ... Powdered Quaker ... Orthosia gracilis ... 1
2190 ... Hebrew Character ... Orthosia gothica ... 1
2223 ... Toadflax Brocade ...Calophasia lunula ... 2 ... YF

2223 ... Toadflax Brocade ... Calophasia lunula

2243 ... Early Grey ... Xylocampa areola ... 1
2283/4. Dark/Grey Dagger agg. ... Acronicta tridens/psi ... 1
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow ... Paradrina clavipalpis ... 2
2450 ... The Spectacle ... Abrostola tripartita ... 1
Plus a couple for later ID

5th May 2013 ... Dotty about garden addition

New garden macro moths are thin on the ground at The Dells, and I wasn't expecting to find this Dotted Chestnut in the trap this morning .... nice surprise !

2260 .. Dotted Chestnut ... Conistra rubiginea

A Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner was added to the year list. They are possibly one of our commonest moths that have spread across the country in recent years.
How many ?
Count every Horse Chestnut tree in the land and multiply by one million for a wild guess !

366a .. Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner ... Cameraria ohridella

This Shuttle-shaped Dart took a full-on bite from a House Spider before being rescued for a year-first photo shoot, unfortunately by the morning it had expired ...

2092 .. Shuttle-shaped Dart ... Agrotis puta

House Spider on its raft-like web

A year first Bright-line Brown-eye that looks like it has also done a couple of rounds with that spider ...

2160 .. Bright-line Brown-eye ... Lacanobia oleracea

Two more micros to add ...
Agonpterix arenella and Platyedra subcinerea which is locally common in the garden ...

808 .. Platyedra subcinerea

697 .. Agonopterix arenella

Full list
Micro moths :-
366a ... Cameraria ohridella ... Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner ... 1, year first
0695 ... Agonopterix alstromeriana ... Brown-spot Flat-body ... 1
0697 ... Agonopterix arenella ... Brindled Flat-body ... 1, year first
0808 ... Platyedra subcinerea ... Mallow Groundling ... 3, year first
0892 ... Mompha subbistrigella ... Garden Cosmet ... 1
0974 ... Argyrotaenia ljungiana ... Heather Tortrix ... 2
1288 ... Alucita hexadactyla ... Twenty-plume Moth ... 2
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla ... Common Plume ... 4
Macro moths :-
1728 ... Garden Carpet ... Xanthorhoe fluctuata ... 1
1862 ... Double-striped Pug ... Gymnoscelis rufifasciata ... 4
2063 ... Muslin Moth ... Diaphora mendica ... 3
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart ... Agrotis puta ... 1, year first
2160 ... Bright-line Brown-eye ... Lacanobia oleracea ... 1, year first
2187 ... Common Quaker ... Orthosia cerasi ... 1
2188 ... Clouded Drab ... Orthosia incerta ... 4
2190 ... Hebrew Character ... Orthosia gothica ... 4
2243 ... Early Grey ... Xylocampa areola ... 1
2260 ... Dotted Chestnut ... Conistra rubiginea ... 1, First garden record
2449 ... The Spectacle ... Abrostola tripartita ... 1

(Below) Probably the most photographed moth face in the UK ....
The Spectacle, ( or should that be "spectacles"? )

28th Aug .. Trap results

Clearer night, bright fullish moon, breezy. cooler.
The weather is feeling positively autumnal and going by past records, Sallow spp and Black Rustic will appear very soon.
The wine bet is a Dells Disaster and to be honest, if I was Paddy Power I would be paying out early.
Captain Trappings is on 217 with a Plain/Shaded Pug pending and I am 14 macro species behind.
Even the bad year is no excuse,  on the same date last year my 2011 total  would have still been 2 species behind Matts 2012 list !
Nothing new last night but I did get my second Canary-shouldered Thorn and 4th Old Lady, plus a Dichrorampha for gen det.
Juniper Webber and Agonopterix arenella were the pick of the micros.

Canary-shouldered Thorn ... Ennomos alniaria 

Agonopteris arenella

Juniper Webber ... Dichomeris marginella

16th May ... The Dells garden traps

Overnight min. temp. a heady 7.1 deg. calm, cloudy

It should have been much better, given the comparatively tropical conditions last night, but the expected full traps turned out to be wishful thinking.
A year first Peppered Moth turned up with a highly probable Oak-tree Pug.
Agonopterix arenella was a year first micro, along with two other micros for ID, one an Agonopterix species and the other a Monopis type or similar.
Traps :-
0648 White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella 3
0697 Agonopterix arenella 1, year first
1342 Eudonia angustea 3
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1834 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata 2
1853 Oak-tree Pug Eupithecia dodoneata 1, year first (tbc)
1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 1
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 2
1931 Peppered Moth Biston betularia 1, year first
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta 8
2306 Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa 1
plus two unidentified micros.

Peppered Moth, Biston betularia

Oak-tree Pug, Eupithecia dodoneata
confirmation required

Agonopterix arenella

One of the unidentified micro moths

1st May 2011....Lime Dancing

Two members of the LIME HAWKMOTH formation dance team.

The garden species list hit the "ton" last night with this superb GREEN SILVER-LINES 2422

The Dells garden was firing on all two cylinders last night as WHITE ERMINE 2060 was added to the 2011 list

Apart from Esperia sulphurella seen flying during the day, the micros have been in short supply, Maybe they dislike the strong easterly breeze that's been blowing through the garden for the last 4 days. I am still finding the little White Shouldered House-moths in the garden shed and the once frequent Agonopterix heracliana have all disappeared to be replaced by......

AGONOPTERIX ARENELLA 697

1st May :-

18 x Shuttle-shaped Dart

2 x Turnip Moth

2 x Lime Hawkmoth

2 x Hebrew Character (soon to be replaced by Setaceous H C )

2 x Endrosis sarcitrella...White Shouldered House-moth

2 x Very worn Pugs... U.F.O's

Esperia sulphurella (daytime)

Brimstone Moth

Knot Grass

Garden Carpet

Flame Shoulder

Waved Umber

Muslin Moth

Green Silver-lines *year first

White Ermine *year first

101 species....66 macro, 35 micro