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Tuesday 31 July 2007

Weather: Cool, mostly clear, light breeze.

Day 107… After last night’s showing another unseasonably cold night is just what we didn’t want but it is what we got. The contents of the trap, Lucas and I found, rather reflected the conditions. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Notodontidae

• 1 Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina Cl.

Arctiidae

• 1 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Spectacle Abrostola tripartita Hufn.
• 1 Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis Linn.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 1 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Southern Wainscot M. straminea Treit.

Tortricidae

• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 1 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 1 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.

Monday 30 July 2007

Weather: Cool, clear, still.

Day 106… Not ideal, when I was putting the trap out it was already getting quite chilly, the skies were completely clear and there was a huge full moon shining far more brightly than the bulb of the trap. Loobi and I were out at about 07:00 to find the trap more or less deserted - staggering - eight moths in total - not even a grass moth!. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Notodontidae

• 1 Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina Cl.

Arctiidae

• 1 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.

Noctuidae

• 1 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.

Yponomeutidae

• 1 Yponomeutid Sp. (?)

Sunday 29 July 2007

Weather: Mild, rain, breezy.

The weather forecast predicted rain that would last all night and they weren’t wrong.

Saturday 28 July 2007

Weather: Warm, rain before midnight, still.

Day 105… The weather forecast suggested that any early evening rain would soon clear leaving us with a dry night. Consequently I wasn’t bothered by the fact that it was drizzling when I put the trap out at about 21:00, the subsequent three hours or so of heavy rain were slightly more of a concern. When I went to see how things were getting on at about 23:30 the trap was a bit of a sodden mess, on the plus side though, it was also teeming with life, so much so that I had to remember to breathe through my nose and keep my mouth shut to avoid getting a lung-full of little bugs while peering in to see what had arrived.

When Loobi and I went to see what we had caught at about 07:15 the trap and its contents were still very damp but there were lots of moths and as far as we could make out none had succumbed to the rain. Amongst the many moths we had caught there were four new species to add to the list: a Yellow Shell which the UKmoths website describes as having a preference for damper areas so it’s safe to say it’s likely to be seen more or less anywhere this summer, a Dusky Sallow which completely stumped me on the identification front so I had to call on Professor Bayley for help, two Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings which seems a bit of an unnecessarily long name - good looking moth though - and lastly we had a Catoptria falsella (well at least I think it is). The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata Scop.
• 1 Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata Linn.
• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 White-spotted Pug Eupithecia tripunctaria H.-S.
• 1 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata Thunb.
• 2 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Notodontidae

• 1 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromadarius Linn.
• 1 Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina Cl.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 1 Dingy Footman E. griseola Hb.
• 1 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.
• 1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 4 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 2 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Silver Y Autographa gamma Linn.
• 1 Dusky Sallow Eremobia ochroleuca D. & S.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 3 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 3 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 The Clay Mythimna ferrago Fabr.
• 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Hb.
• 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing N. janthe Borkh.
• 6 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 3 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.

Gelechiidae

• 2 Oegoconia quadripuncta Haw.

Tortricidae

• 1 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.
• 1 Cydia splendana Hb.
• 4 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker
• 1 Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana Retzius.
• 1 Pammene fasciana Linn.

Pyralidae

• 1 Catoptria falsella D. & S.
• 4 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 4 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 8 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 5 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis Scop.
• 2 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.
• 1 Trachycera advenella Zinck.

Blastobasidae

• 1 Blastobasis lignea Walsingham.

Yponomeutidae

• 1 Swammerdamia caesiella (?) Hb.

Yellow Shell Dusky Sallow

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Catoptria falsella

Friday 27 July 2007

Weather: Mild, clear, strong wind.

Day 104… Reasonably mild, almost completely clear but very windy. It almost seemed pointless putting the trap out, not really an option though of course. Lucas and I went out in the morning to find a truly feeble catch. Remarkably, of the twenty six moths we did catch we still managed two new species: a Wormwood Pug and a Rusty Dot Pearl. It was also good to see a Sharp-angled Carpet again, so all was not entirely lost. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Sharp-angled Carpet Euphyia unangulata Haw.
• 1 Wormwood Pug Eupithecia absinthiata Cl.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 2 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 3 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura Hb.
• 4 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 2 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Tortricidae

• 1 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.

Pyralidae

• 4 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 1 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis Hb.

Wormwood Pug Rusty Dot Pearl

Thursday 26 July 2007

Weather: Mild, wet, windy.

Another washout.

Wednesday 25 July 2007

Weather: Very mild, occasional cloud, strengthening wind.

Day 103… Good to get the trap back out again after the previous night’s horrible weather. Lucas and I found the trap to be busy with what seemed like lots of little moths which included two new species (both micros): Evergestis pallidata and Oegoconia quadripuncta (I thought this one would take me the better part of the day to identify but in fact only took a couple of minutes - assuming I got it right that is!). The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 2 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata D. & S.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Small Fan-footed Wave I. biselata Hufn.
• 1 Single-dotted Wave I. dimidiata Hufn.
• 2 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.

Lymantriidae

• 1 Yellow-tail Euproctis similis Feuss.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Silver Y Autographa gamma Linn.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 1 The Coronet Craniophora ligustri D. & S.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Gelechiidae

• 1 Oegoconia quadripuncta Haw.

Tortricidae

• 3 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.
• 1 Cydia splendana Hb.
• 2 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pyralidae

• 5 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 4 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 5 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata Linn.
• 1 Euzophera pinguis Haw.
• 1 Evergestis pallidata Hufn.

Blastobasidae

• 1 Blastobasis lignea Walsingham.

Evergestis pallidata Oegoconia quadripuncta

Tuesday 24 July 2007

Weather: Mild, heavy rain, windy.

No trap - no point. Professor Bayley pointed out that my Euzophera cinerosella was in fact a Rush Veneer - thanks Sam.

Monday 23 July 2007

Weather: Mild, clear early on, light rain towards dawn, light breeze.

Day 102… After a fine sunny, though not very warm day on Sunday we were hoping for a better night than we’ve had of late. Lucas and I were out at about 07:00 to find out what we had caught and yet again, the catch wasn’t particularly big but we did get two more new species. The first was a big surprise to me: The Vapourer, a male of course, I was only aware of them being day fliers and really didn’t expect to see one in the trap. The other new species was what I think might be a Coleophora paripennella though it does seem to lack the white tips to is antennae that it apparently should have. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata Thunb.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Notodontidae

• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.

Lymantriidae

• 1 The Vapourer Orgyia antiqua Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.
• 1 Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata Forst.

Noctuidae

• 1 Grey Dagger Acronicta psi Linn.
• 2 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 2 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 2 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 1 The Clay Mythimna ferrago Fabr.
• 1 Smoky Wainscot M. impura Hb.
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 1 Double Square-spot X. triangulum Hufn.

Coleophoridae

• 1 Coleophora paripennella Zeller.

Tortricidae

• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker
• 1 Pammene fasciana Linn.

Pyralidae

• 4 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 5 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 6 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.

The Vapourer Coleophora paripennella

Sunday 22 July 2007

Weather: Mild, light showers, light breeze.

Day 101… A slight improvement in weather conditions was found by Lucas and me to have been met by a slight improvement in the variety of moths caught. The highlight (or to be more precise - lowlight) of the morning was the spectacle of a Willow Beauty being attacked and de-winged by a wasp which lumbered off with its victim’s body clasped length-wise underneath its body. The wasp returned a shortwhile later and was thwarted in its attempt to inflict a similar fate on a Scalloped Oak by the back of my hand. We had one new species: a Euzophera cinerosella (I’m fairly certain, although it is apparently scarce). The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 3 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.
• 1 Small Blood-vein Scopula imitaria Hb.

Notodontidae

• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.

Lymantriidae

• 1 Yellow-tail Euproctis similis Feuss.

Arctiidae

• 2 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina Linn.
• 1 The Fan-foot Herminia tarsipennalis Treit.
• 1 Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura Hb.
• 1 Southern Wainscot M. straminea Treit.
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.

Tortricidae

• 1 Cydia splendana Hb.

Pyralidae

• 3 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 2 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 3 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella D. & S.

Rush Veneer

Saturday 21 July 2007

Weather: Cool, occasional cloud, moderate breeze.

Day 100… After yesterday…s torrential rain the air temperature never really recovered and the night felt really quite chilly. Loobi and I were out at about 07:15 to see what we had caught. It was almost not worth getting up for - a total of twenty one moths. The saviour of the night was an example of the carbonaria form Peppered Moth which I’ve never seen before and had assumed was only to be found in the "industrial north". The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Peppered Moth Biston betularia Linn. f. carbonaria Jordan.
• 2 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Sphingidae

• 1 Pine Hawk-moth Hyloicus pinastri Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina Cl.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 1 Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata Forst.
• 1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Flame Axylia putris Linn.
• 1 Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica Hufn.
• 2 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.

Pyralidae

• 1 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 2 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 3 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Trachycera advenella Zinck.

Gelechiidae

• 1 Gelechia sororculella Hb.

Peppered Moth (f. carbonaria)

Friday 20 July 2007

Weather: Very warm, humid occasional heavy rain after midnight, still.

Day 99… The weather forecast predicted heavy rain but as the conditions otherwise seemed to good to miss I put the trap out with the parasol from the patio over it to shelter it from the worst of the predicted rain.

As the night went on the rain became heavier and more persistent but at the time Loobi and I went to examine the contents of the trap it had eased enough for us to have a quick look while standing under the parasol. It was far too dark for any photography and as we were there the rain started to gain in strength again so we retired indoors. After another easing of the rain I rescued the trap, contents and all, and put it in the garage for later. The rain proved to be torrential, the river broke its banks and we had water flooding 3 or 4 metres up the garden - a bit of a worrying time. When the deluge finally subsided at around 11:30 I went to do a thorough check on our catch.

It was definitely worth risking the weather with the trap, we had caught more moths than we have for some time. There were three new species: a Pine Hawk-moth, our fifth species of Hawk-moth to date and The V-Pug which irritatingly flew off as soon as I disturbed it - at least it had hung around enough to be identified - and two Pyrausta aurata (which is only new as far as the trap is concerned - we see loads of them on sunny days in the garden) . The catch was as follows:

Drepanidae

• 1 Oak Hook-tip Drepana binaria Hufn.

Geometridae

• 1 The V-Pug Chloroclystis v-ata Haw.
• 3 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 2 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata Hufn.
• 1 Single-dotted Wave I. dimidiata Hufn.
• 1 Dwarf Cream Wave I. fuscovenosa Goeze.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.
• 1 Small Blood-vein Scopula imitaria Hb.

Sphingidae

• 1 Pine Hawk-moth Hyloicus pinastri Linn.
• 1 Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi Linn.

Notodontidae

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

Arctiidae

• 2 Common Footman Eilema lurideola Zinck.

Noctuidae

• 1 Poplar Grey Acronicta megacephala D. & S.
• 1 Knot Grass A. rumicis Linn.
• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 2 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Silver Y Autographa gamma Linn.
• 3 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 1 The Fan-foot Herminia tarsipennalis Treit.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 Vine’s Rustic H. ambigua D. & S.
• 1 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.

Tortricidae

• 1 Agapeta hamana Linn.
• 1 Cnephasia Sp.
• 1 Bramble Shoot Moth Epiblema uddmanniana D. & S.

Pyralidae

• 4 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 6 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Crambus perlella Scop.
• 3 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 2 Pyrausta aurata Scop.

Yponomeutidae

• 1 Swammerdamia caesiella (?) Hb.

Pine Hawk-moth Pyrausta aurata

Thurssday 19 July 2007

Weather: Warm, occasional light showers, windy.

Day 98… More unremarkable weather, warmer than the past couple of nights but windy and not quite dry. Out with loobi at 06:45 prompt again to find a very light weight catch - only twenty seven moths in total. Somewhat made up for by the fact that there were two new species though: a Poplar Grey and the apparently quite local Euzophera pinguis, presumably attracted by the large Ash in the corner of the garden. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata Hufn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 1 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.
• 1 Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata Forst.
• 1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Poplar Grey Acronicta megacephala D. & S.
• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 2 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 The Flame Axylia putris Linn.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 1 The Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina Linn.
• 1 The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda D. & S.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 1 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 1 Double Square-spot X. triangulum Hufn.

Pyralidae

• 2 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 4 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 2 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Euzophera pinguis Haw.

Poplar Grey Euzophera pinguis

Wednesday 18 July 2007

Weather: Mild, mostly clear, breezy.

Day 97… Another coolish night and yet again Loobi and I found another fairly disappointing selection of moths in the trap this morning. Nothing new to report either. The catch was as follows:

Lasiocampidae

• 1 The Drinker Euthrix potatoria Linn.

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata Müll.
• 1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.

Noctuidae

• 2 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 2 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 The Coronet Craniophora ligustri D. & S.
• 1 Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica Hufn.
• 2 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 3 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Coleophoridae

• 1 Coleophora Sp.

Pyralidae

• 3 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 6 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Crambus perlella Scop.
• 6 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Pempelia formosa Haw.
• 1 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.
• 1 Udea prunalis D. & S.

Pterophoridae

• 1 White Plume Moth Pterophorus pentadactyla Linn.

Tuesday 17 July 2007

Weather: Mild, mostly clear, strong breeze.

Day 96… A cooler night than the night before but still very mild so expectations are staying high. Loobi and I found another well stocked trap this morning, noticeably fewer grass moths but other than that still plenty of variety. We had four new species: a Small Emerald which I at first assumed to be a smaller than usual Light Emerald that was "sitting funny" but on closer examination proved not to be, a Slender Brindle, a Smoky Wainscot and what I’m pretty sure is a Pempelia formosa. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Peppered Moth Biston betularia Linn.
• 4 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Freyer’s Pug Eupithecia intricata Freyer.
• 1 Small Emerald Hemistola chrysoprasaria Esp.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata Linn.
• 3 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 3 Single-dotted Wave I. dimidiata Hufn.
• 1 Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria Linn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Notodontidae

• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.

Arctiidae

• 2 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 1 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.
• 1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis Linn.
• 1 Heart & Club Agrotis clavis Hufn.
• 1 Heart & Dart A. exclamationis Linn.
• 2 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 2 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Slender Brindle Apamea scolopacina Esp.
• 1 Silver Y Autographa gamma Linn.
• 3 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 Vine’s Rustic H. ambigua D. & S.
• 3 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 The Snout Hypena proboscidalis Linn.
• 1 True Lover’s Knot Lycophotia porphyrea D. & S.
• 1 The Clay Mythimna ferrago Fabr.
• 1 Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura Hb.
• 3 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Coleophoridae

• 1 Coleophora Sp.

Tortricidae

• 2 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.
• 1 Pammene fasciana Linn.

Pyralidae

• 1 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella Linn.
• 11 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 7 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Crambus perlella Scop.
• 8 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Pempelia formosa Haw.
• 1 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis Scop.
• 1 Meal Moth Pyralis farinalis Linn.
• 3 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.
• 1 Trachycera advenella Zinck.
• 2 Udea prunalis D. & S.

Blastobasidae

• 1 Blastobasis lignea Walsingham.

Yponomeutidae

• 1 Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella Curt.

Small Emerald Slender Brindle

Smoky Wainscot Pempelia formosa

Monday 16 July 2007

Weather: Very warm, mostly clear, light rain, still.

Day 95… Very warm and humid last night (the forecast suggested the minimum temperature would be 18°C, making it the warmest night so far this year I’d guess) so if we haven’t caught an absolutely huge number of moths there must be something wrong…

Loobi and I were back in action at 06:45 again this morning. The trap was as hoped, teeming with insects of all sorts and I’m glad to say there were a fair few moths included. It has to be said though that most of the moths did seem to be "micros" but after going through the catch I think we did get the greatest number of species for a single night to date. Some of the variety we have been seeing over the past few days has been the start of the second brood of moths we last saw back in May or before. Today we saw three Ruby Tigers and an Early Thorn and we’ve also seen Nut-Tree Tussocks, Shuttle-shaped Darts and Flame Shoulders in recent nights.

One thing I am curious about is the suggestion that the Riband Wave "Typical form" is as frequent as the "remutata" form. Last night we caught eight "remutata" and one "Typical form" which, including what was probably the same individual that we caught last night, is only the third "Typical form" we have seen.

We had six new species two of which I haven’t been able to identify as yet. Of the ones I could identify my favourite was the Water Veneer - ever since being introduced to this species by Sam Bayley I have assiduously been looking at the bottom of the trap every morning in the hope of finding one of these curious little beasties to no avail - until now that is. The other species were: a Marbled Beauty (our only new "macro"), and the two tortricids Ancylis badiana and Cydia splendana (I think (on both counts)). The two that I haven’t been able to identify are what I think is another tortricidid and a yponomeutid of some sort. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Peppered Moth Biston betularia Linn.
• 3 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 The Engrailed Ectropis bistortata Goeze.
• 1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata Linn.
• 8 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Single-dotted Wave I. dimidiata Hufn.
• 1 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata Haw.
• 1 Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata Linn.
• 2 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.
• 2 Small Blood-vein Scopula imitaria Hb.
• 1 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria Fabr.

Notodontidae

• 1 Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula Cl.

Arctiidae

• 2 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 3 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.
• 1 Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata Forst.
• 3 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Spectacle Abrostola tripartita Hufn.
• 1 Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica Hufn.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 Vine’s Rustic H. ambigua D. & S.
• 1 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Hb.
• 5 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.

Coleophoridae

• 1 Coleophora Sp.

Tortricidae

• 1 Ancylis badiana D. & S.
• 3 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.
• 1 Cydia splendana Hb.
• 1 Tortricidid Sp. (?)

Pyralidae

• 1 Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella D. & S.
• 1 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella Linn.
• 20+ Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 20+ Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 2 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis Fabr.
• 1 Phycitodes binaevella Hb.
• 1 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis Scop.
• 1 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.
• 2 Trachycera advenella Zinck.
• 1 Udea prunalis D. & S.

Yponomeutidae

• 1 Yponomeutid Sp. (?)

Marbled Beauty Water Veneer

Ancylis badiana Cydia splendana

Tortricidid Sp. (?) Yponomeutid Sp. (?)

Sunday 15 July 2007

Weather: Warm, mostly clear, torrential rain am, light breeze.

Day 94… At 06:00 this morning (St. Swithun’s Day) we had a thunder storm and a torrential downpour in which ½” of rain fell within 10 minutes, even though I rushed out to attempt to cover the trap in some way it still got completely soaked. When, later on, Loobi and I went to see what hadn’t been washed away or drowned we found another reasonable catch, not quite as many as the previous night but not bad nonetheless. No new "macros" to report just two "micros": a Carcina quercana (which really does deserve an English Name looking as fancy as it does) and a tiny little moth whose identity is a total mystery. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 2 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Freyer’s Pug Eupithecia intricata Freyer.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata Linn.
• 2 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 3 Single-dotted Wave I. dimidiata Hufn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.

Notodontidae

• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.
• 2 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula Cl.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 1 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Miller Acronicta leporina Linn.
• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 2 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 The Coronet Craniophora ligustri D. & S.
• 2 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 True Lover’s Knot Lycophotia porphyrea D. & S.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn. (or Poss. Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma Esp.)
• 4 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 1 Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana Linn.
• 1 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.

Tortricidae

• 3 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.

Pyralidae

• 10+ Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 10+ Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 2 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis Fabr.
• 1 Phlyctaenia coronata D. & S.
• 1 Meal Moth Pyralis farinalis Linn.
• 1 Trachycera advenella Zinck.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Carcina quercana Fabr.

No Idea

• 1 Unknown

Carcina quercana No Idea

Saturday 14 July 2007

Weather: Warm, partial cloud, muggy, light breeze.

Day 93… Loobi and I weren’t out until 08:00 this morning so I suspect a few of our catch had disappeared by the time we got there (especially the grass moths). Another reasonable catch with yet more new species for the list. We had a Common Lutestring, and a Dot Moth (a classic example of a moth that warrants closer inspection as it has such beautiful patterns almost hidden on its dark velvety wings) and lastly, one I have no idea about but think might be a Yponomeutid Sp. The catch was as follows:

Thyatiridae

• 1 Common Lutestring Ochropacha duplaris Linn.

Geometridae

• 2 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 2 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.
• 3 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.
• 1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula Cl.

Arctiidae

• 2 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 2 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Sycamore Acronicta aceris Linn.
• 1 Heart & Club Agrotis clavis Hufn.
• 1 Heart & Dart A. exclamationis Linn.
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 2 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 2 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 4 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 1 Dot Moth Melanchra persicariae Linn.
• 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Hb.
• 6 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 1 Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana Linn.
• 1 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.

Tortricidae

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

Pyralidae

• 3 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 3 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 2 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata Linn.
• 1 Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis Fabr.
• 1 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis Scop.
• 1 Udea prunalis D. & S.

Blastobasidae

• 1 Blastobasis lignea Walsingham.

Common Lutestring Dot Moth

Blastobasis lignea We don’t get too many Ringlets in the garden.

Friday 13 (oh no!) July 2007

Weather: Very mild, overcast light drizzle by morning, very light breeze.

Day 92… Another very mild damp night - I remain optimistic.

When Loobi and I got out to the trap this morning we found it reasonably well populated but mostly by "micros". These weren’t the only head-ache though as the "macros" posed their own identification problems too. Our first new species of the day a Small Phoenix seemed identical in every respect to every published photograph I could find except for the fact that our specimen lacks the division of the broad dark bar on the fore wings. The next is The Clay this I first thought to be a White-point with its clearly defined white spot and terra-cotta colouration but the row of dark spots would suggest not. Of the other species I have been able to identify (after a fashion) we had a Lesser Yellow Underwing, a Phycitodes binaevella and possibly a Swammerdamia caesiella (?) (Big Guess). There were two I couldn’t track down: the first, and I thought this one would be relatively straight forward, was a tortricid of some sort possibly a Cnephasia Sp. and the other might possibly be a Momphid Sp. though that really is wild speculation. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 2 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata D. & S.
• 1 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata Thunb.
• 4 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula Cl.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 1 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.

Noctuidae

• 2 Heart & Club Agrotis clavis Hufn.
• 3 Heart & Dart A. exclamationis Linn.
• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 2 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 2 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 The Clay Mythimna ferrago Fabr.
• 1 Southern Wainscot Mythimna straminea Treit.
• 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Hb.
• 6 Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba Linn.
• 1 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.

Gracillariidae

• 2 Azalea Leaf Miner Caloptilia azaleella Brants.

Tortricidae

• 1 Cnephasia Sp. (?)
• 1 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.
• 1 Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana Retzius.
• 1 Pammene fasciana Linn.

Pyralidae

• 10+ Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 10+ Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 2 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Eudonia mercurella Linn.
• 1 Phycitodes binaevella Hb.
• 1 Udea prunalis D. & S.

Gelechiidae

• 1 Gelechia sororculella Hb.

Yponomeutidae

• 1 Swammerdamia caesiella (?) Hb.

Small Phoenix The Clay

Lesser Yellow Underwing Phycitodes binaevella

Swammerdamia caesiella ? Gelechia sororculella

Cnephasia Sp. (?)

Thursday 12 July 2007

Weather: Very mild, overcast, very light breeze.

Day 91… Lovely mild night - just what’s required.

Out and about at 06:45 with Loobi to find plenty of moths in the trap. No new "macros" to report but there were three Scarce Footman one of which I wouldn’t have hesitated to have identified as a Hoary Footman if it had been trapped on the coastal cliffs of South Devon but it wasn’t so it isn’t. The new "micros" were a Clepsis consimilana, a new Coleophora Sp. (this one is definitely a moth and I’ even go as far as to say it might be a Coleophora lutipennella but its bits would need to be fiddled with to make sure) and lastly there were two Phlyctaenia coronata. The catch was as follows:

Lasiocampidae

• 1 The Drinker Euthrix potatoria Linn.

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 2 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Dwarf Cream Wave I. fuscovenosa Goeze.
• 1 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.

Arctiidae

• 3 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Miller Acronicta leporina Linn.
• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 2 The Coronet Craniophora ligustri D. & S.
• 1 The Fan-foot Herminia tarsipennalis Treit.
• 3 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 2 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 2 Southern Wainscot Mythimna straminea Treit.
• 3 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 1 Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana Linn.
• 1 Minor Sp. Oligia Sp.

Coleophoridae

• 1 Coleophora Sp.

Tortricidae

• 1 Clepsis consimilana Hb.
• 1 Cnephasia Sp.
• 2 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.

Pyralidae

• 1 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella Linn.
• 9 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 12 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 2 Phlyctaenia coronata D. & S.
• 1 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.
• 1 Trachycera advenella Zinck.

Yponomeutidae

• 1 Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella Curt.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.

Clepsis consimilana Phlyctaenia coronata

Coleophora Sp.

Wednesday 11 July 2007

Weather: Mild, mostly cloudy, dry, still.

Day 90… The night started clear but soon clouded over, surely putting us in the running for some better "moth action" than we’ve had over the past couple of nights.

When Lucas and I went out at 06:45 this morning we found a considerably more satisfactory selection of moths than of late. Loobi spotted a lovely, fresh (still really quite olive green) The Coronet sitting on the outside of the trap. We also had two other new species, a Dwarf Cream Wave - another of the tiny little waves - and what I believe is a Calamotropha paludella which is described as "scarce and local" on the UKmoths website, though its habiat preference would fit with the river where there is Common Reedmace (Typha latifolia) growing. I can’t find anything else that looks even vaguely like it so if it’s not Calamotropha paludella then I’m stuck… The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 2 Freyer’s Pug Eupithecia intricata Freyer.
• 1 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata Thunb.
• 2 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Single-dotted Wave I. dimidiata Hufn.
• 1 Dwarf Cream Wave I. fuscovenosa Goeze.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.
• 1 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.

Noctuidae

• 3 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 2 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 1 The Coronet Craniophora ligustri D. & S.
• 1 The Fan-foot Herminia tarsipennalis Treit.
• 6 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 2 Southern Wainscot Mythimna straminea Treit.
• 3 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 1 Minor Sp. Oligia Sp.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Tortricidae

• 1 Cnephasia Sp.
• 2 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.

Pyralidae

• 1 Calamotropha paludella Hb.
• 11 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 9 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 2 Crambus perlella Scop.
• 3 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis Hb.
• 1 Trachycera advenella Zinck.

Dwarf Cream Wave The Coronet

Calamotropha paludella

Tuesday 10 July 2007

Weather: Mild, occasional showers, light breeze.

Day 89… A fairly mild and damp night, should be good - one would have thought so anyway - but after last night’s feeble effort who knows? Out to find out if it was a good night with Loobi at 06:45 and unsurprisingly we found another relatively poor catch, there was slightly more variety than last night but no new species to report. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 2 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Foxglove Pug Eupithecia pulchellata Steph.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.
• 1 Pine Carpet Thera firmata Hb.

Noctuidae

• 5 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 3 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 The Flame Axylia putris Linn.
• 2 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stain.

Tortricidae

• 1 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.

Pyralidae

• 4 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 3 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Crambus perlella Scop.
• 1 Trachycera advenella Zinck.

Monday 09 July 2007

Weather: Mild, mostly clear, light breeze.

Day 88… A very similar night to last night, maybe just a little cooler, rain was forecast but none actually materialised. Loobi and I were out at 06:45 to find a trap that was, surprisingly, almost completely empty - only nine macro moths in total - it seems very hard to believe that conditions were really that rubbish. The night’s trapping was slightly redeemed by the Dingy Footman I discovered hiding in a corner as I packed the trap away. The catch was as follows:

Arctiidae

• 1 Dingy Footman Eilema griseola Hb.
• 3 Common Footman E. lurideola Zinck.

Noctuidae

• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 Vine’s Rustic H. ambigua D. & S.
• 1 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens Linn.
• 1 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.

Pyralidae

• 5 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 5 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Trachycera advenella Zinck.

Dingy Footman

Sunday 08 July 2007

Weather: Mild, clear, light breeze.

Day 87… First rule of thumb when moth trapping: don’t leave the trap until gone 08:00 in a sunny spot before checking it’s contents. I have a sneaky suspicion that quite a lot had scarpered before we got there… We did get one new species though, the pyralid Trachycera advenella (I think) and one which at first I didn’t even think was a moth until I photographed and examined it and came to the conclusion that it might be a Coleophora Sp. of some sort - there again, it could just be a small caddis fly. The catch was as follows:

oo…

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 The Phoenix Eulithis prunata Linn.
• 1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Haw.

Arctiidae

• 1 Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata Forst.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Sycamore Acronicta aceris Linn.
• 2 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 2 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 2 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 1 Southern Wainscot Mythimna straminea Treit.
• 4 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.

Coleophoridae

• 1 Coleophora Sp. (?)

Tortricidae

• 2 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.

Pyralidae

• 3 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 4 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.
• 1 Trachycera advenella Zinck.

Yponomeutidae

• 1 Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella Curt.

Trachycera advenella Coleophora Sp. (?)

Saturday 07 July 2007

Weather: Mild, clear, windy.

Day 86… After a very windy day on Friday things calmed down a little and yet again there was no rain! Loobi and I were out at about 07:30 to examine the trap’s contents. I’m glad to say the Buff Arches had returned and this time stayed, our only other new species was what I think is Pammene fasciana. The catch was as follows:

Oh, and I found a tiny geometrid caterpillar on the apple tree too…

Thyatiridae

• 1 Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides Hufn.

Geometridae

• 1 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata Scop.
• 1 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata Linn.
• 2 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 Single-dotted Wave I. dimidiata Hufn.
• 1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria D. & S.
• 1 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Common Footman Eilema lurideola Zinck.

Noctuidae

• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 1 Light Arches Apamea lithoxylaea D. & S.
• 2 Dark Arches A. monoglypha Hufn.
• 2 The Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina Linn.
• 3 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 2 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 1 L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album Linn.
• 1 The Delicate M. vitellina Hb.
• 4 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.

Alucitidae

• 1 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla Linn.

Tortricidae

• 1 Cnephasia Sp.
• 4 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.
• 1 Pammene fasciana Linn.

Pyralidae

• 1 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella Linn.
• 3 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 4 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 1 Crambus perlella Scop.
• 2 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis Fabr.
• 1 Scoparia ambigualis Treit.

Buff Arches Pammene fasciana

Tiny geometrid caterpillar

Friday 06 July 2007

Weather: Mild, constant rain until midnight at least, very windy.

Didn't bother.

Thursday 05 July 2007

Weather: Mild, showers before midnight, strong breeze.

Day 85… Another partly wet but mild night and things were looking busy around the trap last night - including a Buff Arches which, irritatingly, didn’t hang around till morning. We did get three new species which did stay until the morning, a Single-dotted Wave (a tiny little "Wave" which I at first assumed to be a Treble Brown Spot so I’m glad I photographed it just in case), what I’m pretty sure is a very worn, L-album Wainscot and a Mother of Pearl.

It seems that maybe the "Age of the Heart & Dart" has passed and we are now entering the "Era of Dark Arches (and crambids)". The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata Thunb.
• 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab. remutata Linn.
• 1 Single-dotted Wave I. dimidiata Hufn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Scarce Footman Eilema complana Linn.

Noctuidae

• 2 Heart & Club Agrotis clavis Hufn.
• 4 Heart & Dart A. exclamationis Linn.
• 8 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 2 The Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina Linn.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album Linn.
• 1 The Delicate M. vitellina Hb.
• 3 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Linn.

Alucitidae

• 1 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla Linn.

Tortricidae

• 1 Cnephasia Sp.
• 1 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.

Pyralidae

• 1 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella Linn.
• 16 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 4 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 5 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis Scop.

Single-dotted Wave L-album Wainscot

Mother of Pearl

Wednesday 04 July 2007

Weather: Mild, predominantly clear, windy.

Day 84… Only the second entirely rain free night since 21 June, it was very windy though so conditions were still far from ideal.

Out and about at 06:45 with Loobi again. It didn’t take long for us to discover that the trap’s contents weren’t quite as spectacular as they were yesterday, nevertheless the trap was fairly well stocked and there were five new (or, in one case, probably not so new) species. The probably not so new species was The Uncertain, this moth is very similar to The Rustic and Vine’s Rustic but after reading as much as I can find on the subject and canvassing opinion from sources far more knowledgeable than myself I think I might have got this one nailed. I cant help thinking that these three moths are wrongly named - their Latin names don’t match the vernacular: surely The Uncertain should be ambigua and the plainer looking Vine’s Rustic should be blanda… Just a thought. The irony of my difficulty with a moth called The Uncertain isn’t lost on me either.

The other four new species for the night were a Small Fan-footed Wave, a July Highflyer (we saw both of these at Leechpool Wood the other night) a Common Rustic - this is another of those moths that’s visually inseparable from another species, in this case the Lesser Common Rustic (M. didyama) so this identification is purely guesswork. The last of the new species was a Meal Moth, a striking pyralid that should normally be found around grain stores, I guess this one must be lost.

I’ve also put up a photo of a The Rustic where the reniform and orbicular stigma (how’s that for a bit of jargon?) are joined on one wing. It’s probably not in the least uncommon to see this sort of aberration - I only noticed because I was paying more attention than usual to this morning’s Rustics, interesting though.

This morning’s catch takes our total number of species for the year to 201, averaging nearly 2.5 new species per day - not bad. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria Linn.
• 1 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata Thunb.
• 1 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata Hufn.
• 1 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Common Footman Eilema lurideola Zinck.

Noctuidae

• 1 The Sycamore Acronicta aceris Linn.
• 1 Heart & Club Agrotis clavis Hufn.
• 5 Heart & Dart A. exclamationis Linn.
• 3 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha Hufn.
• 1 The Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina Linn.
• 1 The Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines Brahm.
• 1 Vine’s Rustic H. ambigua D. & S.
• 1 The Rustic H. blanda D. & S.
• 1 Pale-shouldered Brocade Lacanobia thalassina Hufn.
• 1 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis Linn.
• 1 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Linn.

Alucitidae

• 2 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla Linn.

Tortricidae

• 2 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Linn.

Pyralidae

• 7 Chrysoteuchia culmella Linn.
• 6 Crambus pascuella Linn.
• 3 Endotricha flammealis D. & S.
• 1 Meal Moth Pyralis farinalis Linn.

Yponomeutidae

• 1 Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella Curt.

Small Fan-footed Wave July Highflyer

(Lesser?) Common Rustic The Uncertain

Meal Moth Rustic with curiously asymmetrical aberration.

Tuesday 03 July 2007

Weather: Mild, mostly cloudy, occasional blustery showers.

Day 82… Damp again but mild - pretty much like yesterday’s conditions but with more rain early on.

It was a bit of a late night for me last night, having spent the evening standing in the rain with Sam Bayley and two other chaps swallowing and choking on midges attracted to two moth traps in Leechpool woods near Horsham. A peculiarly enjoyable way to spend an evening nonetheless. Consequently my eagerness to be out inspecting our own trap with Lucas at 06:45 this morning was somewhat diminished. Luckily Lucas’s enthusiasm was not in the least bit diminished, mine swiftly returned immediately upon looking into the trap - what a sight! Three different species of Hawk-moth including an absolutely pristine Privet Hawk-moth as well as lots of other moths too. I don’t care if it rains if we get catches like this all the time - well actuall