17th July 2014 . New county macro moth

Warm and humid conditions of late have seen the traps absolutely crawling with creatures, mostly moths.
An electrical storm with accompanying torrential rain at around 2am put a damper on proceedings but by then I had already racked up a good selection.
The undoubted highlight was a county first macro moth ....
KENT BLACK ARCHES, normally found on the south coast around to the East Anglian coast but appears to be slowly spreading inland.
Two female OAK EGGAR, one captured, one flying around the trap were followed by a stunning male inside the trap on the morning inspection.
Males are rarely seen, females are annual in the garden.
below :-
2076 Kent Black Arches

above:-
Would you care to dance ?  1637 Oak Eggar
below:-
No !

Too late mate, note the egg that rolled out of the capture pot .. top left
moving on ...
More year firsts ...
1978 ... PINE HAWK-MOTH

It was in pristine condition, but took the full force of the deluge as it sat below the gap in the skinner trap.
below ... A site first micro that will require gen det, either way it's a site first
My pick is ... 844 Syncopacma larseniella but it could equally be
847 . Syncopacma taeniolella

below ..
1380 . Phlyctaenia perlucidalis

1645 . Scalloped Hook-tip

2003 . Pebble Prominent

16th July
Year list additions
0873 . Blastobasis adustella
1108 . Lobesia obscisana
1304 . Agriphila straminella
2303 . Straw Underwing
The second generation of Toadflax Brocade is on the wing with singles on 16th and 17th ...
below:-
Toadflax Brocade

1108 . Lobesia obscesana

20th July 2013 ... Moth catch highlights

The traps are full of "brown stuff" at the mo.
Lots of Dark Arches, I've stopped counting them, I weigh them, Heart n Clart, Uncertain/Rustic, Common Rustic, Mottled Rustic.
Shuttle-shaped Dart numbers are slowly increasing, Common and Scarce Footman are everywhere as are Bird Cherry Ermine and Endotricha flammealis.
Pick of the crop ....
1637 ... Oak Eggar .................

A new micro for the garden ... Helcystogramma rufescens

868 ... Helcystogramma rufescens
Garden first

2425 ... Nut-tree Tussock

2352 ... Dusky Sallow, Year first

862 ... Dichomeris marginella ... Year first

1380 ... Phlyctaenia perlucidalis ... Year first

2377 ... Fen Wainscot ... Year first

1651 ... Chinese Character

2165 ... Small Ranunculus
2164 ... Broad-barred White
2306 ... Angle Shades
1917 ... Early Thorn
1958 ... Clouded Silver
1887 ... Clouded Border
1921 ... Scalloped Oak
1726 ... Large Twin-spot Carpet
2450 ... Spectacle
1690 ... Small Blood-vein
2110 ... Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
2192 ... Brown-line Bright-eye
2145 ... Nutmeg
2193 ... Clay
2031 ... White Satin Moth
366a ... Cameraria ohridella

Three year first Butterflys (today 21 st )
Common Blue
Small Skipper

Gatekeeper

Garden Update

28th May
MIDDLE-BARRED MINOR 2340

27th May ...PTEROPHORUS PENTADACTYLA 1513

CNEPHASIA STEPHENSIANA 1020 25th May...MAY HIGHFLYER 1778 PHLYCTAENIA PERLUCIDALIS 1380 HOMOEOSOMA SINUELLA 1481 ELACHISTA GANGABELLA 0620 Garden total to date:-

186 species......120 macro, 66 micro