18th Oct 2014 ... You're late !

This unseasonal warm weather has certainly confused the insect world.
Another Buff Ermine turned up which is possibly the same one I released 3 days ago.
Compare the markings.com and it looks very similar.
But Swallow-tailed Moth is another entry to the VC30 late list, just waiting for confirmation.
Speaking of warm weather ...
Can you hear that distant whine drifting across the English Channel ?
It's the Energy Company leeches moaning that they are not selling enough gas and their annual extortionate profits are down.
Ok, they are not all French.
"Nous devrons augmenter nos prix" I hear them moan.
Yes, you probably will increase your prices but you do that on the "supply and demand" basis too.  Where is eff offgas when you need them ? Oh well, pay up (shrug)
Give it a week or two and we will all be huddled around the heating (^_*)

18th Oct
Epiphyas postvittana 4
Ditula angustiorana 1
Emmelina monodactyla 2
November Moth agg. 1, year first

November Moth (agg)

Swallow-tailed Moth, 1
Buff Ermine, 1
Shuttle-shaped Dart, 3
Lesser Yellow Underwing, 1
Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2
Blair's Shoulder-knot, 3
Yellow-line Quaker, 1
Angle Shades, 2

Swallow-tailed Moth

Buff Ermine

I've found a couple of these odd looking grubs around the garden, not knowing what they were.
Fortunately, Mark Skevington posted one on his blog and I now know that it is a Hover-fly larva.

This one is the red form of Syrphus ribesii most likely, a common garden species.
Mark has an excellent blog if anyone is interested in creepy crawlies and nature in general .... http://skevsblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Garden Orb Spiders ( Araneus diadematus) are everywhere at the moment.
This one seems to have taken on the colour of the brick wall it frequents..

Search for Buff October ...

In the trap last night, 14th Oct ....

A Buff Ermine, probably late or is it really early ! Almost certainly the latest VC30 record.
Either way, with the partial view I got when I looked in the trap my first thoughts were of Ben Sale and Britains first Fall Webworm, hoping it was Britains 2nd until I got a look at it.
Still, a Buff Ermine on October 14th must be a lot rarer than all of the autumn moths I've dipped out on lately :(
Last nights catch:-
Plutella xylostella, 1
Blastobasis lacticolella, 1
Epiphyas postvittana, 4
Emmelina monodactyla, 2
Willow Beauty, 1
Common Marbled Carpet, 1
Spruce Carpet, 1

1769 Spruce Carpet

Buff Ermine, 1
Turnip Moth, 1
Shuttle-shaped Dart, 4
Large Yellow U'wing, 1
Lesser Yellow U'wing, 2
Setaceous Hebrew Character, 1
Black Rustic, 1
Blair's Shoulder-knot, 3
Beaded Chestnut, 4
Lunar Underwing, 1
Pale Mottled Willow, 1 (small, autumn generation)

One hundred and EIGHTY !

Large Yellow Underwing's that is.
My two garden traps were infested with them.
Admittedly I crammed in more egg boxes to cater for them in the hope there would be enough room for anything else.

As it happens, there were other species, the pick of the bunch was a second Peacock Moth for the year

Peacock Moth

A Blood-vein on the trap glass was a nice find, unfortunately it flew off before I could pot it up for a better photo.

Blood-vein

A late Buff Ermine wasn't expected ...

Buff Ermine

... a very fresh one at that.
And the biggest slug I have ever seen was lurking near one of the traps.
It looks like a Spanish slug that has recently colonised the UK and is spreading across East Anglia at a rapid rate.
Hopefully it is not, but it fits the criteria, and these creatures could spell bad news.

Spanish Slug ?

Spanish Slug ?

Here is an excerpt from the Express 19th Oct 2013

Spanish slug invasion: Hybrid super slug could be biggest threat EVER to UK crops.

The article reads ...

According to experts, the huge Spanish slug which is invading gardens and farms across the country could breed with the native British slug to produce a super-hybrid which can survive both hot and cold climes.

The unbeatable slug will also be unaffected by slug pellets and farming chemicals.

Spanish slugs, or Arion vulgaris, can grow up to 6 inches in length and have become one of the most widely reported pests of both commercial crops and home gardens.

Tristan Maclean, a scientist from the John Innes Centre in Norwich warned that if the Spanish slug does breed with the normal British garden slug, Britain's farming industry would be facing a huge problem.

He said on BBC Breakfast: "I think the big concern is that potentially they could spread across the country and maybe take on some of the traits, if they hybridise and combine with native slugs that give them frost tolerance.

"They produce lots of slime to cope with warm conditions and if they breed they will be able to cope with colder conditions as well, we're looking at a slug that can really effect foodsecurity."

Spanish Slugs are known to produce twice as many eggs as slugs native to the UK and have an extensive omnivorous diet which includes excrement, dead animals and crops that aren’t normally susceptible to slug feeding.

They have even been known to eat each other at times, pushing out other slug and snail species to dominate an area, due to large size and high population density.

Dr Ian Bedford, head of entomology at the John Innes Centre added: "It’s about understanding your enemy,” he says. “We know so little about this species. We think they’re spreading through Europe, and causing problems for crops, but it’s all anecdotal at the moment, so we need to do research.

“We’ve only been able to confirm Arion vulgaris is in East Anglia so far. It is possible it has spread wider afield but without a taxonomic analysis we cannot say.”

A number of scientists are calling for members of the general public to report sightings of the Spanish slug to deal with the rising numbers.

For more go to www.slugwatch.co.uk

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

11th July 2013... Common Rustic agg. ???? I think not ....

On the 25th June I posted a Common Rustic agg as a Year first.
Last night, almost three weeks later, I caught a "real" Common Rustic agg. and I am now convinced that the one from 25th June is NOT a C.R.agg.
Apart from the fact that I have never waited 3 weeks between my first and second, (they are very common and once they appear they just keep on coming)  the shape is much different.
Below top

......... Common Rustic agg. Looks more pointed at the head

???

The above moth is from 25th June, bulkier at the head and shoulders, more arched resting position, CR sits much flatter ....... (below)

Now compare the haircuts ...... Top moth is the 25th June capture

I believe the 25th June moth is more likely to be Small Clouded Brindle ... whatever, it ain't no CR agg.
PLEASE COMMENT
.... .... .... .... .... .... .... ...
Much cooler last night at 9 deg. with a distinct chill in the breeze.
Not much about apart from Scoparia pyralella which was new for the year, and the expected Rustic types. Even more Privet Hawks, a bumper year so far, and a pot full of Buff Ermine ......

Buff Ermine

TRAPS :-
0450 ... Scythropia crataegella ... Hawthorn Moth
0647 ... Hofmannophila pseudospretella ... Brown House-moth
0782 ... Bryotropha senectella  ... Dull Red Groundling ...gen det req.
0787 ... Bryotropha terrella ... Cinereous Groundling ... 3
0905 ... Blastodacna hellerella ... Hawthorn Cosmet
0994 ... Clepsis consimilana ... Privet Tortrix
1001 ... Lozotaeniodes formosana ... Orange Pine Tortrix ... 2
1293 ... Chrysoteuchia culmella ... Garden Grass-veneer ... 4
1294 ... Crambus pascuella ... Grass-veneer ... 9
1302 ... Crambus perlella ... Yellow Satin Veneer
1333 ... Scoparia pyralella ... YF

1333 ... Scoparia pyralella

1344 ... Eudonia mercurella ... Small Grey
1390 ... Udea prunalis ... Dusky Pearl
1424 ... Endotricha flammealis ... Rosy Tabby
1699 ... Least Carpet ... 3
1713 ... Riband Wave ... 3
1922 ... Swallow-tailed Moth
1976 ... Privet Hawk-moth ... 4
1980 ... Eyed Hawk-moth
2047 ... Scarce Footman ... 4
2050 ... Common Footman ... 12
2061 ... Buff Ermine ... 11
2069 ... Cinnabar
2077 ... Short-cloaked Moth
2088 ... Heart and Club ... 5
2089 ... Heart and Dart ... 9
2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart ... 2
2098 ... The Flame ... 3
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing ... 2
2110 ... Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
2160 ... Bright-line Brown-eye
2164 ... Broad-barred White ... 2
2165 ... Small Ranunculus
 2198 ... Smoky Wainscot

2198 ... Smoky Wainscot

2283/4. Dark/Grey Dagger agg ... 6.
2321 ... Dark Arches ... 13
2322 ... Light Arches ... 2
2341 ... Cloaked Minor
2343/a. Common Rustic agg.

2343/a ... Common Rustic agg.

2381 ... Uncertain ... 7
2387 ... Mottled Rustic
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow ... 3

10th July
A Dusky Brocade was added to the garden list and a new for year micro ....
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella
870/1a. Oegoconia agg.
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana
1001 ... Lozotaeniodes formosana ... YF

1001 ... Lozotaeniodes formosana

1063 ... Celypha striana ... 3
1076 ... Celypha lacunana
1293 ... Chrysoteuchia culmella
1294 ... Crambus pascuella ... 3
1302 ... Crambus perlella
1344 ... Eudonia mercurella
1428 ... Aphomia sociella ... 2
1699 ... Least Carpet ... 3
1713 ... Riband Wave ... 2
1769 ... Spruce Carpet
1906 ... Brimstone Moth ... 3
1937 ... Willow Beauty ... 2
1976 ... Privet Hawk-moth ... 3
1978 ... Pine Hawk-moth
1991 ... Elephant Hawk-moth
1994 ... Buff-tip
2047 ... Scarce Footman ... 3
2050 ... Common Footman ... 15
2061 ... Buff Ermine 6
2088 ... Heart and Club ... 2
2089 ... Heart and Dart ... 7
2098 ... The Flame ... 4
2107 ... Large Yellow Underwing ... 2
2128 ... Double Square-spot
2160 ... Bright-line Brown-eye
2164 ... Broad-barred White
2193 ... The Clay
2216 ... The Shark
2321 ... Dark Arches ... 26
2322 ... Light Arches
2330 ... Dusky Brocade ... GF

2330 ... Dusky Brocade ... Apamea remissa

2381 ... Uncertain
2387 ... Mottled Rustic
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow
2450 ... Spectacle

25th May 2012 ... In the buff

Overnight low ... 11.4 deg. Clear with an easterly breeze, gusty at times.
A Buff Ermine was a newcomer for the year, along with another nice selection....

17     Common Swift Hepialus lupulinus 3
1648 Pebble Hook-tip Drepana falcataria 1, year first (Below)

1728 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata 2, (Below)

1781 Small Waved Umber Horisme vitalbata 1
1819 Mottled Pug Eupithecia exiguata 1, (Below)

1825 Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata 2 (Below)

1834 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata 3, (Below)

1883 Yellow-barred Brindle Acasis viretata 1
1920 Scalloped Hazel Odontopera bidentata 2
1997 Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula 1
2028 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda 1
2061 Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum 1, year first (Below)

2087 Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum 3
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta 12 (Below)

2173 The Lychnis Hadena bicruris 1
2283/4 Dark/Grey Dagger Acronicta tridens/psi 1
2289 Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis 1, year first (Below)

2389 Pale Mottled Willow Paradrina clavipalpis 5
2441 Silver Y Autographa gamma 1, year first (Below)

2480 Buttoned Snout Hypena rostralis 1, (Below)

247 Tinea trinotella 1
409a Argyresthia trifasciata 1
648 White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella 2
697 Agonopterix arenella 1
808 Platyedra subcinerea 4
947 Aethes smeathmanniana 1
974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 5
986 Syndemis musculana 1
998 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana 5
1428 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella 2
1474 Ephestia parasitella 2, year first (Below)

1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2

5th May 2011...Garden latest

The warmer weather should spark off an explosion of FFY's around the country and The Dells garden notched a few more.
This WHITE-SPOTTED PUG 1835 is a new tick, probably overlooked before or written off as a Common Pug.

Another FFY is this pristine BUFF ERMINE 2061

SMALL DUSTY WAVE 1707........ FFY Last nights haul:-

10 x Shuttle-shaped Dart

6 x Garden Carpet

5 x Common Pug

4 x Argyresthia trifasciata

3 x Bright-line Brown-eye

3 x Turnip Moth

3 x Platyedra subcinerea

3 x Muslin Moth

2 x Lime Hawkmoth

2 x Setaceous Hebrew Character *year first

2 x Scalloped Hazel

2 x Epiblema cynosbatella

2 x Flame Shoulder

Pebble Hook-tip

Small Dusty Wave *year first

Aphomia sociella *year first

Emmelina monodactyla

Argyrotaenia ljungiana

Nutmeg

Phtheocroa rugosana *year first

Buff Ermine *year first

Mottled Pug

White-spotted Pug **Garden first

Plus one Pug awaiting ID

111 species .... 73 macro & 38 micro

8th July.....Magpie

After a very enjoyable evening at Chicksands Wood, hosted by Andy & Melissa, it was home to check the garden traps. Best weather for a while, warmer with just a hint of a breeze. Waiting for me on the back door, attracted by the kitchen lights, was a very welcome garden first, a spectacular.....................
..................MAGPIE MOTH

on the brick wall near the funnel trap a PALE PROMINENT

SPECTACLE in the skinner, near the house

Two TURNIP MOTHS ensuring I get another trapful next August

A very well marked BUFF ERMINE

COMMON WAINSCOT 35 species of macro and 12 micro including 3 x COPPER UNDERWING and a SVENSSONS COPPER UNDERWING which is the first time I have identified one, having taken the trouble to check the hindwing details.