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

3rd April 2014 ... Warm start to Spring brings early arrivals

Min overnight temperature, 11 deg C, cloudy. Wind change from East to Sou'west.
Many early arrivals, including Yellow-barred Brindle, V-pug and Varied Coronet which is exceptionally early.
28 species were recorded

0284 ... Caloptilia rufipennella, x 1
0483 ... Epermenia chaerophyllella, x 2
0648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella, x 1, ... year first

Endrosis sarcitrella, White-shouldered House-moth

0688 ... Agonopterix heracliana, x 1
0998 ... Epiphyas postvittana, x 2
1047 ... Acleris schalleriana, x 1
1288 ... Alucita hexadactyla, x 2
1524 ... Emmelina monodactyla, x 8
1862 ... Double-striped Pug, x 17
1858 ... V-pug, x 1, ... year first

Chloroclystis v-ata, V-pug

1883 ... Yellow-barred Brindle, x 1, ... year first

Acasis viretata, Yellow-barred Brindle

1917 ... Early Thorn, x 1
2063 ... Muslin Moth, x 1
2064 ... Ruby Tiger, x 1, ... year first

2092 ... Shuttle-shaped Dart, x 1, ... year first

Agrotis puta, Shuttle-shaped Dart

2139 ... Red Chestnut, x 1
2170 ... Varied Coronet, x 1, ... year first

Hadena compta, Varied Coronet

2182 ... Small Quaker, x 5
2185 ... Lead-coloured Drab, x 1, ... year first

Eupithecia plumbeolata, Lead-coloured Drab (male)

2186 ... Powdered Quaker, x 1, ... year first

Orthosia gracilis, Powdered Quaker

2187 ... Common Quaker, x 25
2188 ... Clouded Drab, x 2
2189 ... Twin-spotted Quaker, x 1
2190 ... Hebrew Character, x 6
2243 ... Early Grey, x 6
2256 ... Satellite, x 1
2389 ... Pale Mottled Willow, x 2

27th April 2013 ... Back to winter

Happy Birthday Mum, 88 today and going strong ...

Last night temperatures fell to below 3 deg and tonight could be below zero, so I'm hoping the Victoria Plum blossom survives, which is now in full bloom, or no plums this year.

Not much to report from the garden moth traps, the usual hardy Orthosia species, and just one addition to the year list which was in the shed, White-shouldered House Moth.
Best of the rest were the second Nut-tree Tussock and a second Spectacle.

648 ... Endrosis sarcitrella ... White-shouldered House Moth

30th April 2012 .. Garden Traps

Overnight min. temp. a heady 9.6 deg. breezy, constant rain late evening;
It could have been an absolute bumper night but along came the rain to put a damper on it...again.
Pinch, punch, first of the month, no returns, white rabbits, and hoping that Awful April doesn't become Miserable May.
Trap results :-
0229 Monopis obviella 1, year first (29th Apr)
0648 White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella 1 year first
0649 Esperia sulphurella 4
0974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 2
1288 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla 1
1342 Eudonia angustea 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1728 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata 2, year first
1781 Small Waved Umber Horisme vitalbata 1, year first
1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 2
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 1, year first
2028 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda 1, year first
2064 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa 1, year first
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta 1

2028 Pale Tussock, Calliteara pudibunda

1906 Brimstone Moth, Opisthograptis luteolata

1728 Garden Carpet, Xanthorhoe fluctuata

2064 Ruby Tiger, Phragmatobia fuliginosa
Ruby, Kaiser chiefs

648 White Shouldered House Moth, Endrosis sarcitrella

14th,15th & 16th Oct....Landmark reached

Temperatures have been falling over the last three days and 3.6deg C was recorded at 11.45 last night. My 200th macro moth species was recorded on the 15th in the shape of a YELLOW-LINE QUAKER and despite the low temperature last night, a garden "first" was recorded on the illuminated shed wall, a LARGE WAINSCOT.
The lines shown on the pics are from a lined notebook. I do this to give an idea of size, the lines being 8mm apart.
....................................................................................................................................
Only 3 moths recorded last night (16th) in the near frosty conditions. One being this plucky little micro a WHITE-SHOULDERED HOUSE-MOTH

This micro appeared on the 15th just before the rain. According to "Mr. Micro", our esteemed VC micro recorder, it is highly probably Acleris hastiana, which along with A. cristana are the most polymorphic of all the UK species with many variations and intermediates. SO, I think I will record this as

ACLERIS HASTIANA ? OAK NYCTEOLINE

another species that beat the rain was this SATELLITE. Not a year first as I had one on Feb 4th.

My 200th macro on the 15th turned up sometime after the rain had cleared...

YELLOW-LINE QUAKER

Last night only 3 moths were recorded as temperatures plummeted. One of them was this new garden addition......

....... LARGE WAINSCOT 14th Oct............................... 15th Oct............................. 16th Oct

4 x Willow Beauty............... 1 x Willow Beauty............. 1 x S.S. Dart

3 x P.M.Willow.................... 1 x P.M.Willow................... 1 x Large Wainscot

3 x Blair's Sh.-knot............. 1 x S.S.Dart........................ 1 x W.S.H.Moth

2 x S.S.Dart.......................... 1 x Satellite

2 x Beaded Chestnut........... 1 x Yellow-line Quaker

1 x Large Y U'wing.............. 1 x Acleris hastiana ?

1 x Lesser Y U'wing

1 x Turnip Moth

1 x Common Marbled Carpet

1 x Green-brindled Crescent