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Friday 31 August 2007

Weather: Mild, mostly overcast, very light breeze.

Day 127… Conditions seemed fairly promising, plenty of cloud cover, relatively humid and quite warm. Lucas and I were out at about 07:15 to see what we had caught and were happy to find the trap well stocked with quite a wide variety of moths. There was only one (possibly) new species: two Dioryctria species some sort which I think might be Dioryctria sylvestrella. Another species, although not new is newly recorded, is the Hoary Footman we've been seeing these for a little while now but as all the literature suggests that they’re not found in Sussex I have been recording them as Scarce Footman. I was alerted to the possibility of it being a Hoary Footman by comments on the Butterfly Conservation - Sussex Branch website regarding the moth’s status in Sussex and after consultation (with the "Man who Knows") it has now been established that this one at least is a Hoary Footman. There were also three Old Ladies which was not only a fine sight but almost enough for a hand of whist! The catch was as follows:

Drepanidae

• 1 Chinese Character Cilix glaucata Scop.

Geometridae

• 4 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata Linn.
• 1 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata Hufn.
• 1 Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria Linn.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.
• 3 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.
• 1 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata Schr.

Arctiidae

• 1 Hoary Footman Eilema caniola Hb.

Noctuidae

• 4 Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea Linn. (or Poss. Svensson’s Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera Fletcher)
• 2 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 3 Old Lady Mormo maura Linn.
• 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Hb.
• 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing N. janthe Borkh.
• 57 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 2 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 4 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 3 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 5 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Tortricidae

• 1 Cydia splendana Hb.
• 1 Bramble Shoot Moth Epiblema uddmanniana D. & S.

Pyralidae

• 1 Agriphila straminella D. & S.
• 1 Agriphila tristella D. & S.
• 2 Dioryctria sylvestrella Ratzeburg
• 1 Euzophera pinguis Haw.
• 2 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.
• 1 Trachycera suavella Zinc.

Blastobasidae

• 1 Blastobasis lignea Walsingham.

Hoary Footman Dioryctria sylvestrella ?

Thursday 30 August 2007

Weather: cool, clear, breezy.

Day 126… A cool clear night with a very nearly full moon so not perfect conditions. Loobi and I were out at about 07:15 to examine our catch and as expected there wasn’t much to report. Reasonable variety but nothing new. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata Linn.
• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 2 Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria Linn.
• 1 Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria Haw.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Notodontidae

• 1 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromadarius Linn.

Arctiidae

• 2 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum D. & S.
• 1 Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea Linn. (or Poss. Svensson’s Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera Fletcher)
• 1 Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica Hufn.
• 2 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 2 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Hb.
• 36 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 1 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 3 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 2 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 2 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Tortricidae

• 1 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana Fabr.

Pyralidae

• 1 Agriphila geniculea Haw.
• 2 Agriphila tristella D. & S.
• 1 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella D. & S.
• 1 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.

Wednesday 29 August 2007

Weather: Mild, cloudy start clear later, still.

Day 125… Back to slightly more mild conditions last night. The weather forecast was for rain towards dawn but that never materialised and in fact the sky was cloudless at 07:00 this morning when Loobi and I went to see what we had caught. The catch was an improvement on last night’s selection but again, except for the Large Yellow Underwings there wasn’t a great number of moths. We did have three new species though (which makes up for the days over the weekend when we had nothing new): a Tawny Speckled Pug, a Flounced Rustic and a Brown China-mark. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria Knoch
• 1 Tawny Speckled Pug Eupithecia icterata Villers
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.
• 1 Small Rivulet Perizoma alchemillata Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Grey Dagger Acronicta psi Linn.
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 1 Flounced Rustic Luperina testacea D. & S.
• 1 Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica Hufn.
• 1 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Hb.
• 46 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 3 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 3 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 4 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 3 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Tortricidae

• 3 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 2 Agriphila geniculea Haw.
• 2 Agriphila tristella D. & S.
• 1 Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata Linn.
• 1 Trachycera suavella Zinc.

Tawny Speckled Pug Flounced Rustic

Brown China-mark

Tuesday 28 August 2007

Weather: Cool, mostly clear, still.

Day 124… A noticeably cooler night last night. Loobi and I didn’t find much in the trap this morning, except for the Large Yellow Underwings there were only about twenty moths in total. There was however a new species to report a Nephopterix angustella so all was not entirely lost. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.

Noctuidae

• 2 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Hb.
• 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing N. janthe Borkh.
• 49 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 2 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 2 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 1 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Pyralidae

• 2 Agriphila geniculea Haw.
• 4 Agriphila tristella D. & S.
• 1 Nephopterix angustella Hb.

Nephopterix angustella

Monday 27 August 2007

Weather: Warm, clear, still.

Day 123… More of the same really as far as the weather is concerned and frankly more of the same with the moths too - Loobi and I found a fairly good selection of moths but again, nothing new. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria Knoch
• 1 Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria Linn.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 2 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.
• 1 Grey Pine Carpet Thera obeliscata Hb.

Notodontidae

• 1 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromadarius Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.

Noctuidae

• 3 Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea Linn. (or Poss. Svensson’s Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera Fletcher)
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 6 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 95 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 1 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 2 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Tortricidae

• 1 Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana Hb.
• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 4 Agriphila geniculea Haw.
• 4 A. tristella D. & S.

Sunday 26 August 2007

Weather: Mild, mostly clear, still.

Day 122… Another clear night maybe a little cooler than last night. Loobi and I found slightly more moths in the trap this morning but yet again, there was nothing new to report. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 3 Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria Knoch
• 4 Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria Haw.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.

Noctuidae

• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 1 Turnip Moth A. segetum D. & S.
• 1 Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea Linn. (or Poss. Svensson’s Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera Fletcher)
• 1 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 68 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 3 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 3 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 1 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Tortricidae

• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker
• 1 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana Fabr.

Pyralidae

• 3 Agriphila geniculea Haw.
• 2 Agriphila tristella D. & S.
• 1 Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata Linn.

Saturday 25 August 2007

Weather: Mild, clear at first becoming foggy towards dawn, still.

Day 121… The first night where we’ve had clear skies for some time and by the morning there was a distinctly autumnal feel in the air. Loobi and I were out inspecting at about 08:00 to find a trap containing substantially fewer moths than we have been seeing of late and no new species either. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 2 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.

Notodontidae

• 1 Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma Fabr.

Noctuidae

• 1 Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum D. & S.
• 1 Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea Linn. (or Poss. Svensson’s Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera Fletcher)
• 1 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 4 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 2 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 Old Lady Mormo maura Linn.
• 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 59 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 6 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 2 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 2 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Tortricidae

• 2 Cydia splendana Hb.
• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker
• 2 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana Fabr.

Pyralidae

• 2 Agriphila geniculea Haw.
• 1 A. straminella D. & S.
• 2 A. tristella D. & S.
• 1 Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hb.

Friday 24 August 2007

Weather: Mild, overcast, still.

Day 120… Well, the best thing you can say about last night’s weather was that it didn’t actually rain. When I had a peak at what was around last night there seemed to be plenty of activity in and around the trap but nothing out of the ordinary.

When Loobi and I went out to see what we had caught we couldn’t quite believe the sight that confronted us. The trap was alive with moths - not only were there 101 Large Yellow Underwings but nearly one hundred other moths too. Recording the catch in fact proved to be quite a challenge and I had to be very careful that moths weren’t hidden under or dismissed as Large Yellow Underwings. After all was done and dusted we had three new species in the bag: a Mouse Moth, a Cypress Pug (well I think it is - it certainly looked unusually distinctive) and finally a (again, I think) Trachycera suavella. The catch was as follows:

Hepialidae

• 1 Orange Swift Hepialus sylvina Linn.

Drepanidae

• 1 Oak Hook-tip Drepana binaria Hufn.

Geometridae

• 2 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata Linn.
• 1 Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata Linn.
• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 2 Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria Linn.
• 1 Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria Haw.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Cypress Pug Eupithecia phoeniceata Rambur.
• 3 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.
• 2 Riband Wave Idaea aversata Linn.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 2 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Lymantriidae

• 1 Black Arches Lymantria monacha Linn.

Arctiidae

• 3 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.

Noctuidae

• 2 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 4 Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea Linn. (or Poss. Svensson’s Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera Fletcher)
• 1 Mouse Moth A. tragopoginis Cl.
• 1 Silver Y Autographa gamma Linn.
• 3 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 2 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 2 Vine’s Rustic H. ambigua D. & S.
• 4 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae Linn.
• 10 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 2 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens Linn.
• 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 101 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 1 Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa Esp.
• 4 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 2 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 2 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Tortricidae

• 2 Celypha lacunana D. & S.
• 1 Cydia splendana Hb.
• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker
• 1 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana Fabr.

Pyralidae

• 4 Agriphila geniculea Haw.
• 2 A. straminella D. & S.
• 4 A. tristella D. & S.
• 1 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis Scop.
• 3 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.
• 1 Trachycera suavella Zinc.

Blastobasidae

• 2 Blastobasis lignea Walsingham.

Mouse Moth Cypress Pug



Trachycera suavella

Thursday 23 August 2007

Weather: Mild, overcast, wet, very windy.

Day 119… Another foul, grey day followed by another foul, wet autumnal night. Loobi (returned from his grand-parental exploits) and I found that yet again the moths weren’t in the least bit disconcerted by the weather. The trap was again heaving with Large Yellow Underwings as well as lots of others including one new species, a Copper Underwing (or possibly a Svensson’s Copper Underwing - another one of those tricky to tell apart species). The catch was as follows:

Drepanidae

• 1 Oak Hook-tip Drepana binaria Hufn.

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria Linn.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 3 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 2 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Spectacle Abrostola tripartita Hufn.
• 1 Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis Linn.
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea Linn. (or Poss. Svensson’s Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera Fletcher)
• 1 Silver Y Autographa gamma Linn.
• 3 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 3 Vine’s Rustic H. ambigua D. & S.
• 3 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 2 Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae Linn.
• 2 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 51 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 3 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 1 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis Scop.
• 4 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 2 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 1 Double Square-spot X. triangulum Hufn.

Tortricidae

• 1 Celypha lacunana D. & S.
• 2 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 1 Agriphila geniculea Haw.
• 2 Agriphila tristella D. & S.
• 1 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis Scop.

Copper Underwing

Wednesday 22 August 2007

Weather: Mild, overcast, damp, very strong, possibly gale-force wind.

Day 118… The weather at the moment feels more like late October than late August, nevermind though, the moths still keep coming. As it was so windy this morning I retired to the garage with the trap to examine its contents. There were moths everywhere - or should I say Large Yellow Underwings everywhere - I don’t recall seeing so many moths in the trap before. I’m glad to say there were more new species too, most notably an enormous Red Underwing and also sitting right next to it was an Old Lady - great name. The catch was as follows:

Hepialidae

• 1 Orange Swift Hepialus sylvina Linn.

Geometridae

• 1 Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria Linn.
• 1 Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria Haw.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 2 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Noctuidae

• 1 Grey Dagger Acronicta psi Linn.
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 1 Red Underwing Catocala nupta Linn.
• 6 Vine’s Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua D. & S.
• 1 Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae Linn.
• 4 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 Old Lady Mormo maura Linn.
• 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 58 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 6 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 3 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 1 Double Square-spot X. triangulum Hufn.
• 1 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Tortricidae

• 1 Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana Hb.
• 1 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.
• 3 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker
• 1 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana Fabr.

Pyralidae

• 2 Agriphila geniculea Haw.
• 1 A. tristella D. & S.
• 1 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.

Red Underwing Old Lady

Tuesday 21 August 2007

Weather: Mild, overcast occasional rain, windy.

Day 117… Another miserable, damp night but, on the bright side, it does seem to be the sort of conditions that moths like, it’s certainly the sort of weather that slugs enjoy - there were hundreds of them about when I went out last night to see the trap. I was on my own this morning as Lucas and Phoebe are off at their Grandma’s for a couple of nights. Again I found a well stocked trap, not quite as many Large Yellow Underwings but about the same number of species, including yet another two new ones. The first was an Orange Swift and the other was a Carnation Tortrix, its identity given away by its bright orange hindwings. The catch was as follows:

Hepialidae

• 1 Orange Swift Hepialus sylvina Linn.

Geometridae

• 1 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata Scop.
• 1 Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria Linn.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata Linn.
• 2 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Turnip Moth A. segetum D. & S.
• 1 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 8 Vine’s Rustic H. ambigua D. & S.
• 1 Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae Linn.
• 3 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 29 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 2 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 1 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 2 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Tortricidae

• 2 Cydia splendana Hb.
• 1 Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana Hb.
• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 2 Agriphila straminella D. & S.
• 1 A. tristella D. & S.
• 2 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 2 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.

Orange Swift Carnation Tortrix

Monday 20 August 2007

Weather: Mild, overcast almost non-stop rain or drizzle, light breeze.

Day 116… Back in action again. I didn’t put the trap out after we got back from Devon on Saturday as the weather was so truly disgusting. Last night though it had cleared a little, still very damp but not as wet as the night before. Lucas and I were out at about 08:00 to see what we had caught and we were surprised at the number of moths in the trap, admittedly most of them were Large Yellow Underwings but we still had four new species to report. One of these were two Six-striped Rustics which was handy as we saw one of these in Devon but the photo I took of it was useless. The other new species today were: a Square-spot Rustic and two crambids: Agriphila geniculea and Agriphila tristella (I think). By the way, thanks Sam for the Turnip Moth ID. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria Knoch
• 3 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Notodontidae

• 1 Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Spectacle Abrostola tripartita Hufn.
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica Hufn.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 7 Vine’s Rustic H. ambigua D. & S.
• 2 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 33 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 5 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 5 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.
• 2 Six-striped Rustic X. sexstrigata Haw.
• 1 Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa D. & S.

Tortricidae

• 1 Celypha lacunana D. & S.
• 1 Cydia splendana Hb.
• 3 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 2 Agriphila geniculea Haw.
• 1 A. straminella D. & S.
• 1 A. tristella D. & S.
• 1 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis Scop.

Six-striped Rustic Square-spot Rustic

Agriphila geniculea Agriphila tristella

Friday 10 August 2007

Weather: Cool, Clear, still.

Day 115… Another really quite chilly night and when Loobi and I examined the trap in the morning it was pretty apparent the moths thought so too. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Notodontidae

• 1 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromadarius Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Heart & Club Agrotis clavis Hufn.
• 3 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 2 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 1 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.

Pyralidae

• 3 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Trachycera advenella Zinck.

Thursday 09 August 2007

Weather: Cool, predominantly clear, light breeze.

Day 114… A chillier night than one would normally expect at this time of year but Loobi and I did find a reasonably well stocked trap when we went to examine it at about 07:00. Nothing new to report (I think), there was one fairly worn moth which looks like an Agrotis of some sort (see photo) but doesn’t seem to have any markings remaining on its wings. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 2 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.
• 2 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Arctiidae

• 1 Dingy Footman Eilema griseola Hb.

Notodontidae

• 1 Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma Fabr.

Lymantriidae

• 1 Black Arches Lymantria monacha Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Spectacle Abrostola tripartita Hufn.
• 1 Heart & Club Agrotis clavis Hufn.
• 2 Heart & Dart A. exclamationis Linn.
• 5 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 1 Turnip Moth A. segetum D. & S.
• 1 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 2 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 2 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 4 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 4 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.

Pyralidae

• 1 Agriphila straminella D. & S.
• 1 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 1 Crambus pascuella Linn.

Black Arches Turnip Moth

Wednesday 08 August 2007

Weather: Mild, occasional thundery showers, clearing partially, light breeze.

Day 113… A little bit of rain and generally overcast, albeit not terribly warm, should make for a fine night. Out with Loobi at about 07:00 to see what we had caught. It soon was apparent that it had been a pretty good night, lots of moths and species. We had four new species: two "macros"; a Lime-speck Pug and what I think must be Dingy Footman ab. stramineola (unless it’s a Buff Footman) and two "micros"; an Agriphila straminella and what (to me) looks very much like a Blastobasis wolffi - but who knows? The Red Twin-spot Carpet was back again but yet again declined to be photographed.

Also I found This fellow wandering under one of our apple trees yesterday, no doubt looking for somewhere to pupate. I think it might be Eyed Hawk-moth as the other two possibilities (Lime and Poplar Hawk) are not listed as apple feeders and there doesn’t seem to be anything else (except, possibly, an ash tree about 10m away) in the immediate vicinity upon which it might have been feeding. Problem is, we haven’t seen an Eyed Hawk-moth this year. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 2 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria Linn.
• 2 Dusky Thorn E. fuscantaria Haw.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 2 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata D. & S.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata Linn.
• 4 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Small Fan-footed Wave I. biselata Hufn.
• 1 Small Rivulet Perizoma alchemillata Linn.
• 1 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria Fabr.
• 1 Red Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia D. & S.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 1 Dingy Footman Eilema griseola ab. stramineola Hb.

Notodontidae

• 1 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromadarius Linn.
• 1 Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma Fabr.

Noctuidae

• 2 Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis Linn.
• 3 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 9 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 1 The Coronet Craniophora ligustri D. & S.
• 2 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 3 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 3 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens Linn.
• 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Hb.
• 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing N. janthe Borkh.
• 4 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 4 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 2 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis Scop.
• 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.

Tortricidae

• 1 Cydia splendana Hb.
• 2 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 1 Agriphila straminella D. & S.
• 5 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 1 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Phlyctaenia coronata D. & S.
• 6 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.

Blastobasidae

• 1 Blastobasis lignea Walsingham.
• 1 Blastobasis wolffi Karsholt & Sinev

Gelechiidae

• 1 Gelechia sororculella Hb.

Lime-speck Pug Dingy Footman (ab. stramineola)

Agriphila straminella Blastobasis wolffi

Eyed Hawk?

Tuesday 07 August 2007

Weather: Mild, clear, light breeze.

Day 113… A much cooler and fresher night than of late, still reasonably busy around the trap during the night though. Out at 07:00 with Loobi again, the trap was fairly well stocked but not to the same extent that it was the night before. No new species to report either. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 4 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria Haw.
• 1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata Linn.

Arctiidae

• 2 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida Brahm.
• 1 Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma Fabr.

Noctuidae

• 1 Heart & Club Agrotis clavis Hufn.
• 1 Heart & Dart A. exclamationis Linn.
• 5 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 1 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 The Coronet Craniophora ligustri D. & S.
• 1 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 1 Pale-shouldered Brocade L. thalassina Hufn.
• 3 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens Linn.
• 3 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 5 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.

Tortricidae

• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 1 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 1 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis Scop.
• 1 Pyrausta aurata Scop.
• 2 Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hb.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla Hb.

Monday 06 August 2007

Weather: Very warm, clear, light breeze.

Day 112… Even warmer and more humid than last night and the trap was very busy with all sorts of comings and goings when I had a look at about 23:00.

Loobi and I got out to the trap at about 07:00 this morning and again we were greeted by a small cloud of escapees. Quite an improvement though with the remainder, a marked increase in numbers over the previous night. Three new species to report too, two of which are "Thorns"; a Canary-shouldered Thorn and two Dusky Thorns, the other, two Amblyptilia punctidactyla, weren’t exactly new as I believe we’ve had them before but this is the first time one has waited to have its photo taken. The catch was as follows:

Drepanidae

• 1 Oak Hook-tip Drepana binaria Hufn.

Geometridae

• 1 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata Scop.
• 1 Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria Linn.
• 2 Dusky Thorn E. fuscantaria Haw.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 3 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata Linn.
• 1 Small Fan-footed Wave I. biselata Hufn.
• 4 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 1 Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata Forst.

Notodontidae

• 1 Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida Brahm.
• 1 Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma Fabr.

Noctuidae

• 5 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 4 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 6 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 12 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 2 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis Scop.
• 1 Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum Hufn.

Oecophoridae

• 2 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Tortricidae

• 2 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.
• 2 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 4 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 3 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Phlyctaenia coronata D. & S.
• 1 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis Scop.
• 1 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.
• 2 Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hb.

Pterophoridae

• 2 Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla Hb.

Canary-shouldered Thorn Dusky Thorn

Beautiful Plume

Sunday 05 August 2007

Weather: Warm, clear, very light breeze.

Day 111… (Nelson’s) Seemingly fine weather - admittedly clear skies aren’t ideal but a warm and humid atmosphere should be conditions to make a moth happy.

Out at about 07:45 with loobi to see what the night had brought us. The already very warm morning had caused the trap’s contents to become quite active and a small cloud of grass moths and others flew off as we approached. What was left it has to be said, was a little disappointing in terms of both number and variety - thirty four moths representing twenty species I’d suggest is well below par for the conditions. On the bright side we did get three new species, a Red Twin-spot Carpet which eluded the camera despite being stalked around the garden as it settled on various fences and walls. We also had a Poplar Kitten and what I think possibly is a Cydia fagiglandana so all was not entirely lost. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 2 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata Linn.
• 1 Red Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia D. & S.

Notodontidae

• 1 Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida Brahm.
• 1 Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma Fabr.
• 1 Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina Cl.

Noctuidae

• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 4 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 1 Small Angle Shades Euplexia lucipara Linn.
• 3 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 3 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 5 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.

Tortricidae

• 1 Cydia fagiglandana Fabr.

Pyralidae

• 3 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 1 Crambus pascuella Linn.

Poplar Kitten Cydia fagiglandana

Saturday 04 August 2007

Weather: Warm, clear, still.

Day 110… Clear skies and a little warmer certainly brought lots of little insects to the trap in the evening but by the morning when Loobi and I went to see what the night had brought it was all a bit of a disappointment again. There was an interesting variety of moths including the sudden appearance of three Straw Dot which we haven’t seen for some time but yet again there was nothing new to report. We did have a couple of moths scarper before we could identify them but I don't think they were significant. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Small Rivulet Perizoma alchemillata Linn.

Sphingidae

• 2 Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromadarius Linn.
• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.
• 1 Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina Cl.

Lymantriidae

• 1 Yellow-tail Euproctis similis Feuss.

Noctuidae

• 1 Grey Dagger Acronicta psi Linn.
• 3 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 1 Pale-shouldered Brocade L. thalassina Hufn.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Borkh.
• 5 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 3 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis Scop.

Coleophoridae

• 1 Coleophora Sp. (?)

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Tortricidae

• 1 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana Fabr.

Pyralidae

• 2 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 2 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata Linn.
• 1 Phlyctaenia coronata D. & S.
• 2 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.
• 1 Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hb.

Blastobasidae

• 1 Blastobasis lignea Walsingham.

Friday 03 August 2007

Weather: Mild, occasional cloud early on, clearing completely, still.

Day 109… Mild night, new bulb, high hopes. Loobi and I were out at 07:15 again to see what we had caught. Fairly disappointing really, relatively few moths and nothing new to report. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Peppered Moth Biston betularia Linn.
• 2 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Single-dotted Wave I. dimidiata Hufn.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 1 Small Rivulet Perizoma alchemillata Linn.

Sphingidae

• 2 Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.

Noctuidae

• 4 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 Pale-shouldered Brocade Lacanobia thalassina Hufn.
• 2 Southern Wainscot M. straminea Treit.
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 1 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Tortricidae

• 1 Cydia splendana Hb.
• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 1 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella Linn.
• 2 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 5 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 3 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hb.

The ancient art of Poplar Hawk-moth balancing.

Thursday 02 August 2007

Weather: Mild, mostly overcast, still.

Day 108… With a lovely new lamp now fitted and considerably improved conditions, hopefully we can get August off to a fine start.

Loobi and I were out to see what the new lamp had attracted at about 07:15 and although the trap wasn’t exactly brimming with moths it was certainly more extensively populated than we’ve seen of late. We had three new species: a Black Arches which was sadly rather damaged on it’s right hand side but otherwise perfect, a Small Rivulet, and a Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata Scop.
• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata Linn.
• 1 Single-dotted Wave I. dimidiata Hufn.
• 1 Small Rivulet Perizoma alchemillata Linn.

Sphingidae

• 1 Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma Fabr.

Lymantriidae

• 1 Black Arches Lymantria monacha Linn.

Noctuidae

• 4 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Pale-shouldered Brocade Lacanobia thalassina Hufn.
• 1 Southern Wainscot M. straminea Treit.
• 2 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 1 Double Square-spot X. triangulum Hufn.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Tortricidae

• 1 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana Fabr.

Pyralidae

• 5 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 2 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1