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Monday 30 April 2007

Weather: Cool, clear and still breezy.

Day 30… It felt cooler than on previous nights - no doubt a consequence of the much clearer skies. A very bright, nearly full moon probably didn’t help much either.

Phoebe was out first this morning followed by a scampering Lucas at about 06:50 (unusually keen!). This morning revealed another relatively empty trap but again, there was a very wide variety. Statistically we had exactly the same as last night - seventeen moths and fifteen species. The difference was that only six of the species we saw the night before last returned and yet again we had two new species, this means we have now seen over the past two nights twenty four species but we’ve only caught thirty four moths! I'm really not sure whether that’s a good sign or bad…

The two new species we caught were a Waved Umber - a particularly striking moth (the photo doesn’t do it justice) and what I think is a Tawny Marbled Minor - not so striking (It seems the Oligias (Minors) are best identified by means of genital dissection - like the Grey / Dark Dagger mentioned below - but this one does seem a bit easier to identify without resorting to such drastic measures). The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria Cl.
• 1 Waved Umber Menophra abruptaria Thunb.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula Linn.
• 1 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.
• 1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula Cl.

Noctuidae

• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 2 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 1 Tawny Marbled Minor Oligia latruncula D. & S.
• 1 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 1 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Tortricidae

• 2 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Waved Umber Tawny Marbled Minor

Sunday 29 April 2007

Weather: Very mild but still quite a strong breeze.

Day 29… The breeze although strong, wasn't quite as strong as it’s been lately, I kept the trap in the same location as last night too.

We were out a bit late this morning (about 08:15 - well, it is Sunday!) so some of the more active arrivals may have already flown away but nonetheless there were still qite a few. Having tallied the catch it became apparent (and this surely must be quite odd) that of the mere seventeen moths we caught there were fifteen different species and yet again we had two new species to report. The first was a White Ermine and the second a Scalloped Hook-tip which, irritatingly, flew away before submitting to having its photo taken. We also had four Cockchafers and countless midges and caddis-flies etc.

Thanks to Sam Bayley (again!) for helping me with yesterday’s Carpet. He suggests it is a particularly dark Grey Pine Carpet, which seems entirely plausable, there’s both Spruce and Scots Pine in the vicinity. Catch as follows:

Drepanidae

• 1 Scalloped Hook-tip Falcaria lacatinaraia Linn.

Geometridae

• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula Linn.
• 1 Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula Cl.
• 1 Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina Linn.

Lymantriidae

• 1 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica Cl.
• 1 White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 2 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 1 Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica Linn.
• 1 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.

Tortricidae

• 2 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

White Ermine

Saturday 28 April 2007

Weather: Mild, clear skies strong breeze.

Day 28… I sited the trap in aplace sheltered from the strong easterly breeze in an area of the garden which is also surrounded by forget-me-nots and ramsons so plenty of nectar to be found too.

07:45 inspection: Lucas got up first this morning, got dressed and then came and woke everybody up to remind us that the moth trap needed inspecting… thanks chap! Anyway an odd night last night, of the fifteen moths in the trap we still managed to get three new ones. There was a lovely Chocolate-tip which I haven’t ever seen before, a Pale Tussock and an (as yet) unidentified Carpet - it’s probably something like a Common Marbled Carpet but I’m not sure [Now Identified - see above]. The catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 2 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 1 Grey Pine Carpet Thera obeliscata Hb.

Notodontidae

• 1 Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula Linn.
• 1 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.

Lymantriidae

• 1 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica Cl.

Noctuidae

• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 3 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 2 Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica Linn.

Tortricidae

• 2 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Pale Tussock Chocolate-tip

Grey Pine Carpet

Friday 27 April 2007

Weather: Cool, overcast, windy.

Day 27… Really quite blustery overnight, though the wind had eased a little by dawn - chilly too, really not expecting much.

Lucas and Phoebe came to inspect again this morning at about 07:00 and not surprisingly there was very little to report, nothing new (except a large Crane-fly) and only 10 moths - I can’ say that I blame them - I wouldn’t have wanted to go out last night. Catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.

Notodontidae

• 2 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.

Noctuidae

• 3 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 1 Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica Linn.
• 1 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.

Thursday 26 April 2007

Weather: Cool and clear to start the night, heavy rain by the morning.

Day 26… The extraordinarily bizarre weather woman on the local news last night confidently predicted the possibility of "the occasional light shower bimbling (yes she actually used that word) around. The rain at dawn this morning was verging on the torrential, accompanied by a clap of thunder at about 07:30 too. My lashed up water-proofing worked though.

Finally managed to get out to the trap at about 08:10 and everything was pretty damp. There was a surprising number of moths to be found inside as well as an entirely unconcerned Lobster Moth sitting on the outside of the trap. The overall total was not as good as we’ve had in recent nights but there were still two new species, a White-spotted Pug and Brindled Beauty. A large Sexton Beetle was trying to bury itself in the damp and softened part of one of the egg-trays making a bit of a mess of it. The night’s catch was:

Geometridae

• 3 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.
• 1 White-spotted Pug E. tripunctaria H.-S.
• 1 Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria Cl.

Notodontidae

• 3 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.
• 1 Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Grey Dagger Acronicta psi Linn.
• 3 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 2 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 1 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 4 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.

Brindled Beauty White-spotted Pug

Wednesday 25 April 2007

Weather: Warm, overcast and more very light rain, breezy.

Day 25… Very optimistic for a good night’s catch, the weather seems to have been perfect.

07:00 inspection: Phoebe and Lucas again this morning. The trap seems to be teeming with insects; the first cockchafer of the year, various smaller beetles, flies and wasps as well as lots of moths, many of which fly away as soon as they’re disturbed. The new species today are: A Grey Dagger (I’m plumping for "Grey" rather than "Dark" for no particular reason - acording to the texts the only way to tell the species apart is genital dissection which frankly is beyond the pale for the sake of this diary (assuming that is that I was prepared, capable or steady enough of hand, to carry out such a procedure)). A Flame Shoulder, a Pale Prominent and a Coxcomb Prominent.

A Sallow Kitten also appeared and I’m glad to say I managed to get a decent photo this time. Identification problems still persist with the pugs - they seem to get so worn that no markings remain on the wings of some specimens so there’s far too much guess work involved. Also there were two very tiny micros this morning which are beyond the scope of my digital camera - I’m beginning to feel the need to start photographing them with the "proper camera" - we’ll see… Catch as follows.

Geometridae

• 1 Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata Hufn.
• 1 Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria Linn.
• 3 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata Steph.
• 10(+) Common Pug E. vulgata Haw.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica Cl.
• 1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa Linn.

Notodontidae

• 2 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.
• 1 Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula Cl.
• 1 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromadarius Linn.
• 1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula Cl.
• 1 Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina Cl.
• 1 Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Grey Dagger Acronicta psi Linn.
• 4 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Linn.
• 1 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 1 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 5 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 1 Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa Esp.
• 5 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Alucitidae

• 1 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla Linn.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.

Tortricidae

• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Grey Dagger Flame Shoulder

Pale Prominent Coxcomb Prominent

Sallow Kitten

Tuesday 24 April 2007

Weather: Very mild, overcast and light rain near dawn.

Day 24… Probably, the rain didn’t help but the very mild conditions would make thing seem hopeful. Even though rain was not forecast I thought it would be wise to make some sort of protection for the more exposed electricals on the trap, which, I’m very glad to say, I did.

07:00 inspection: Phoebe and Lucas this morning. I think Lucas is going to start getting fed up if we don’t see a hawk-moth of some description soon. Even approaching the trap was enough to disturb numerous pugs and other small-fry so those, of course, will have to go uncounted. Plenty inside the trap though, and new species too (no hawk-moths): the first Heart & Dart of what will (if my memory serves) become many. A Swallow Prominent and a Red-green Carpet (as identified by P & L encouragingly). Catch as follows.

Geometridae

• 1 Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata Hufn.
• 1 Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria Linn.
• 7(+) Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.
• 2 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula Cl.

Noctuidae

• 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis Linn.
• 2 Shuttle-shaped Dart A. puta Hb.
• 1 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 1 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 2 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Diurnea fagella D. & S.

Red-green Carpet Swallow Prominent

Heart & Dart

Monday 23 April 2007

Weather: Mild and partly overcast at first but became clear and cool by dawn.

Day 23… Surely this must have been a better night even if the sky did clear overnight.

07:00 inspection: This looks a bit better, well at least there was more than last night and some new species too. Most notably, there was a Sallow Kitten sitting on the lamp mounting (sadly no photo), an already quite worn Ruby Tiger and what I think is a Pale Mottled Willow. Catch as follows.

Geometridae

• 9 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa Linn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula Cl.
• 2 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis Scop.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 1 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 1 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.

Alucitidae

• 2 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla Linn.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.

Ruby Tiger Pale Mottled Willow

Sunday 22 April 2007

Weather: Cool, clear, breezy.

Day 22… Not a brilliant night again but milder than the previous night.

Out with Lucas to inspect the trap at 08:00 again. Well, to say the catch was disappointing would be a major understatement. The one saving grace was the fact that of the five moths we caught they were all different species. In terms of numbers though, it was our worst night yet. Catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.
• 1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica Cl.

Notodontidae

• 1 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta Hufn.

Saturday 21 April 2007

Weather: Cool, clear, breezy.

Day 21… No frost but could well have been if it hadn’t been for the breeze - not a great night for moths, again…

Well, an 08:00 inspection with Lucas revealed very little. Not the worst night by a long chalk , but still nothing new to report. It seems strange that after many nights where Quakers and their ilk have been the predominant species to have them usurped by Lunar Marbled Browns. Catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 3 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.

Arctiidae

• 1 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica Cl.

Notodontidae

• 4 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 3 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Friday 20 April 2007

Weather: The night started cool and clear but became partially overcast with a light breeze.

Day 20… Milder than the past couple of nights and with a bit of cloud cover. We should hopefully, see an upturn in numbers.

Well, there were a few more moths, but nothing new to report. At least there were some geometrids again after an absence of two nights, there was also an extremely tatty Nut-tree Tussock, looking like it had just come second in a fight with a lawn mower. Catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 3 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata Haw.
• 1 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria Fabr.

Notodontidae

• 1 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.
• 1 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromadarius Linn.
• 2 Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma Fabr.

Noctuidae

• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 4 Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica Linn.
• 1 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 3 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Early Thorn

Thursday 19 April 2007

Weather: Night started very cool but by morning quite a thick fog had developed with visibilty no more than about 300m, the frost that was forecast, however, failed to materialise.

Day 19… Pretty much like last night’s temperature but foggy, really not sure what to expect.

07:00 inspection revealed another night of very few moths, but considering the total number of moths caught was only ten, which was admittedly one more than the previous night, we still had two new species turn up. A The Mullein (this sounds horribly grammatically incorrect but as the name of the moth is "The Mullein" it must surely be right) and a Pine Beauty (which escaped rather than allow itself to be photographed - doh!). We also had another Lunar Marbled Brown which was a larger specimen than the one caught last Tuesday. I’m a little unsure though that they’re not Marbled Browns though, their wing markings seem to match the former far more so than the latter except for the lack of the small dark crescent which should appear on the fore-wings (which I guess gives it the "Lunar" epithet) - any suggestions gratefully received…

By the way, I forgot to mention on yesterday’s entry that at 21:01:49 on Tuesday there was a really spectacular "Iridium flare" in the skies above Lindfield (absolutely nothing to do with moths I know, but worth checking out nonetheless - go to www.heavens-above.com for more info).

Catch as follows.

Notodontidae

• 1 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 1 The Mullein Cucullia verbasci Linn.
• 1 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 4 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Pine Beauty Panolis flammea D. & S.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

The Mullein Lunar Marbled Brown

Wednesday 18 April 2007

Weather: Cold, no frost, clear, still.

Day 18… Much cooler than it’s been recently - not ideal conditions.

Wow! What a difference a day makes. At first glance (at about 07:00) Lucas and I wondered whether we’d caught anything. On opening the trap, while there was not very much to find - not a single micro or geometrid, for instance - we were very pleasantly surprised by the discovery of two Lesser Swallow Prominents which makes up for there only being seven other moths. At least I don’t have to spend most of the morning (when I really should be working) trying to identify Pugs. Catch as follows:

Arctiidae

• 1 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica Cl.

Notodontidae

• 1 Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi Linn.
• 2 Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma Fabr.

Noctuidae

• 1 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 1 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 3 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.

Lesser Swallow Prominent

Tuesday 17 April 2007

Weather: Warm, overcast, very light breeze.

Day 17… Perfect conditions, I would have thought.

First inspection (with an increasingly enthusiastic Lucas) at about 07:00 and its absolutely teeming with all sorts of insects, hundreds of midges and mosquitos, tiny beatles, micro moths and more importantly, lots of macro moths.

I can see a problem beginning to emerge and that is the amount of time that needs to be taken up identifying everything new that appears. I can deal with species such as the Angle Shades, Iron Prominent and Brimstone Moths pretty swiftly but when there are ten various Pugs that need sorting out and all manner of others that need identifying it’s potentially going to become a bit of a slow business. Familiarity and practise is the key I guess. Another problem which is proving to be difficult is escapees - either before being counted or identified, there was a noctuid of some sort this morning which caught my eye but when it came to identification it had disappeared.

Chestnuts, these have been coming to the trap for the past three nights but I have only just worked out what they are (I think) so they are now included in the lists.

Oh… and by the way, if anybody actually reads this and sees anything that has been misidentified (I’m thinking Pugs here) I would really appreciate it if you were to get in touch (e-mail link above) and relieve me of a little of my ignorance. I claim absolutely no expertise, I just think pictures deserve a caption. Catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Early Tooth-striped Trichopterix carpinata Borkh.
• 2 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata Steph.
• 1 Grey Pug E. subfuscata Haw.
• 7 Common Pug E. vulgata Haw.
• 2 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Linn.
• 1 Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria Linn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica Cl.

Notodontidae

• 1 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromadarius Linn.
• 1 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis Hufn.

Noctuidae

• 2 The Chestnut Conistra vaccinii Linn.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea Linn.
• 3 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 2 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 6 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 2 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 1 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Twin Spot Quaker O. munda D & S.
• 1 Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa Esp.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Alucitidae

• 3 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla Linn.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.

Tortricidae

• 7 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Micropterigidae

• 20+ Micropterix calthella Linn.

Iron Prominent Lunar Marbled Brown

Bright-line Brown-eye Angle Shades

Brimstone Moth Maiden’s Blush

Grey Pug Common Pug

Monday 16 April 2007

Weather: Warm, misty, hazy sky, still.

Day 16… Another seemingly good night but after last night I’m keeping the hopes set low.

Holidays over: First inspection at about 06:50 when I went out to switch off the light. (Note to self: Get a timer that works.) Returned to report exciting news to anyone who was interested that there might be something worth seeing this morning…

I think I should point out that I’m not a "twicher" and am genuinely interested in all the moths that arrive at the trap. Part of the reason to want to do this is a desire to see for myself how true the reports of dramatically declining moth populations really are. But it’s difficult not to get excited by the sight of a Lobster Moth sitting on the light-mounting of the trap and then to notice that inside there’s a Great Prominent quietly settled down on an egg-box - great stuff!

The trap was also full of various (and too many and tricky to count) tiny micros (if thats not a tautology…) as well as a pair of great big Sexton Beatles - Nicrophorus humator I think, anyway, the catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Early Tooth-striped Trichopterix carpinata Borkh.
• 4 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata Steph.

Arctiidae

• 1 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica Cl.

Notodontidae

• 1 Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi Linn.
• 1 Great Prominent Peridea anceps Goeze

Noctuidae

• 1 The Chestnut Conistra vaccinii Linn.
• 3 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 5 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 2 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 11 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 5 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 3 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Twin Spot Quaker O. munda D & S.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Alucitidae

• 2 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla Linn.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.

Tortricidae

• 5 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Micropterigidae

• 4 Micropterix calthella Linn.

Lobster Moth Great Prominent

Sunday 15 April 2007

Weather: Started very warm but cooled considerably overnight, misty, hazy sky, still.

Day 15… Probably pretty good conditions though it did seem quite cool even at 08:00.

Phoebe and Lucas assisting this morning, and on first inspection the trap seemed to be fairly well populated. I think we were given some sort of sign of the need for getting out a bit earlier (or at least before the birds) by the sight of a single fore-wing of a Brimstone Moth lying on the grass near the trap.

Another disappointment really, plenty of moths but nothing we haven’t seen before, there was one pug that few away before being identified - another reason to get out earlier when the moths are still torpid in the cooler air - it wasn’t a Brindled Pug though, as it had a reddish-pink hue to the wings though the markings were similar. Catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 3 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata Steph.
• 1 ? Pug Eupithecia ?

Arctiidae

• 1 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica Cl.

Noctuidae

• 2 The Chestnut Conistra vaccinii Linn.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 4 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 7 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 12 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 5 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 1 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Twin Spot Quaker O. munda D & S.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Alucitidae

• 1 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla Linn.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.

The Chestnut

Saturday 14 April 2007

Weather: Very mild, misty, hazy sky, still.

Day 14… Surely as close to perfect conditions as could be hoped for at this time of year.

Out with the lark this morning - the larks were, like us, late up this morning - it wasn’t until 08:45 that Lucas and I managed to get outside - The end of the holidays will be a real shock to the system for all of us!

Hmmm… Lots and lots of moths but nothing new except for a single Shuttle-shaped Dart and two Twenty-plume Moths. One noticeable trend is the decline in numbers of Small Quakers and increase in Powdered Quakers, it’ll be interesting to see if that continues.

One of the hazards of leaving it as late as we did this morning (especially when the weather’s as warm as it is at the moment) is that many moths will take to the wing as soon as they’re disturbed which is a tad irritating if they haven’t been identified. I’m pretty sure it was another Brindled Pug though… Catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Early Tooth-striped Trichopterix carpinata Borkh.
• 2 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata Steph.

Noctuidae

• 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Hb.
• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 20 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 9 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 9 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 10 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 1 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Twin Spot Quaker O. munda D & S.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Alucitidae

• 3 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla Linn.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.

Tortricidae

• 3 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Shuttle-shaped Dart Twenty-plume Moth

Friday 13 April 2007

Weather: Mild, slightly misty, still.

Day 13… Slightly more promising overnight conditions than last night although the sky cleared completely just before sunset allowing the temperature to drop.

Lucas and I were out inspecting at 07:45 this morning and to be perfectly honest we were a little disappointed by what we found, another night of nothing new - the one good thing though was the Puss Moth had decided he had better things to do than spend another night in a wooden box. (Unless of course he had an unfortunate meeting with a bat - though I’m not sure we get any bats big enough round here. A few nights of bat detecting last summer revealed Pipistrelles which are midge feeders and Daubenton's Bats feeding over the river which I suppose might be big enough to be a Puss Moth predator.) Hopefully he was just off doing what Puss Moths should be doing.

I also have to say I’m hugely grateful to Sam Bayley - the chairman of The Sussex Moth Group - partly for the correct identification of what I thought to be Spring Ushers, it turns out they are Early Tooth-striped - but mostly for actually reading this stuff!!. Catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Early Tooth-striped Trichopterix carpinata Borkh.

Noctuidae

• 10 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D & S
• 2 Small Quaker O. cruda D & S
• 5 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 8 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 2 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 2 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Tortricidae

• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Thursday 12 April 2007

Weather: Cool, hazy, clear skies, still.

Day 12… A cooler night last night though by no means frosty, nonetheless it doesn’t seem like it’s been an ideal night.

No, as I suspected, not much to report today, the poor Puss Moth turned up yet again (assuming, that is, it’s the same one). Nothing new to report either, just fewer of the usuals and some absentees. Catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Oak Beauty Biston strataria Hufn.

Notodontidae

• 1 Puss Moth Cerura vinula Linn.

Noctuidae

• 4 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D & S
• 5 Small Quaker O. cruda D & S
• 2 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 2 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Wednesday 11 April 2007

Weather: Mild, thin cloud cover, still.

Day 11… The nights are getting milder now it would seem. Last night started almost completely clear but cloud cover developed overnight keeping a minimum temperature of about 7° C.

Got a good feeling about this morning, Phoebe finding the Puss Moth was a real surprise, who knows what might be next? On first viewing, the trap looked to be fairly well populated. The Puss Moth had been recaptured, but the only new (macro) species was a Nut-Tree Tussock there was also two plume moths the smaller of which, I believe, was Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla though I am in no way sure, the photo isn’t clear enough for proper identification and the moth its self flew off before I could re-shoot. Anyway the catch was as follows:

Geometridae

• 2 Oak Beauty Biston strataria Hufn.
• 2 Early Tooth-striped Trichopterix carpinata Borkh.

Notodontidae

• 1 Puss Moth Cerura vinula Linn.

Noctuidae

• 1 Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Linn.
• 13 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D & S
• 4 Small Quaker O. cruda D & S
• 4 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 3 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 2 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 2 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.
• 1 Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla Scopoli

Nut-Tree Tussock Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla

Tuesday 10 April 2007

Weather: Mild, overcast, still.

Day 10… Last Night started clear and cool but cloud cover developed keeping the temperature from falling too much.

Trap inspection at 08:00. Jo & Lucas came to view this morning expectation was high it having been the mildest night for some days.

First sight seemed to suggest the possibility of a good haul. A Shoulder Stripe resting on one of the perspex covers flew away as soon as it was disturbed which was pretty frustrating - it would be nice if they could at least hang around until I’d had a chance to photograph them - the frustration was short lived though when I spotted another (and more sedentary) one on the side of the trap. Other new species this morning were an Early Thorn and a Early Tooth-striped. The Quaker conundrum still continues but I think I’m getting that nailed now. Oh, and thanks to Adrian Thomas from the Sussex Branch of Butterfly Conservation for the I.D. on the unknown Tortrix - it was a Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana and there was another one today.

Afternoon update… Pheobe spotted the Puss Moth (below) sitting on the fence about 2 metres away from the trap, presumably attracted by the light, though not lured inside.

Catch (including the Puss Moth) as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria Fabr.
• 2 Shoulder Stripe Anticlea badiata D. & S.
• 1 Early Tooth-striped Trichopterix carpinata Borkh.
• 1 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata Steph.

Notodontidae

• 1 Puss Moth Cerura vinula Linn.

Noctuidae

• 8 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 8 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 4 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 2 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 2 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Twin Spot Quaker O. munda D & S

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.

Tortricidae

• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Early Tooth-striped Shoulder Stripe

Puss Moth Loopi

Monday 09 April 2007

Weather: No Frost - just, clear skies, still.

Day 9… After last night’s haul I’m keeping my expectation levels low…

Trap inspection at 07:45. Had the pleasure of Jo’s company again this morning. Disappointing catch, though not as much as yesterday’s. I’m beginning to suffer a crisis of confidence on the identification front, notably the Quakers (actually Orthosia in general). The first problem came with a very pale specimen which I, at first, assumed to be a Common Quaker but on further investigation proved to be a Clouded Drab. This enquiry also found me wondering how many of the specimens I have identified as Common Quakers are in fact Powdered Quakers? Forget the pale versions of the Clouded Drab - they’re easy to spot it’s Powdered Quakers that are the real problem. Anyway, here’s last night’s catch (Powdered Quaker included):

Geometridae

• 1 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata Steph.

Noctuidae

• 2 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 2 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 7 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Powdered Quaker O. gracilis D. & S.
• 1 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Twin Spot Quaker O. munda D & S

Easter Sunday 08 April 2007

Weather: Ground frost, clear skies, light winds.

Day 8… Cooler and windier day yesterday and an overnight frost has knocked expectation back a bit but who knows what might turn up?

Trap inspection at 08:45. As it was so late I quickly checked the contents on my own and well, I’m kind of glad I did - last night’s up-turn has not exactly been replicated…

Noctuidae

• 1 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda D. & S.
• 6 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.

Saturday 07 April 2007

Weather: Cool, clear skies, still.

Day 7… After yesterday's fine and warm weather I’m sure thing should start picking up soon.

Trap inspection at 08:30. Jo’s curiosity (and also a well considered expectation of something more interesting than the usual S.B.J.’s (small brown jobs)) got the better of her and she accompanied Lucas and me on today's trap inspection.

Maybe the optimism really is beginning to be well founded. A beautiful and fresh Purple Thorn and a male Muslin Moth complemented the usual selection of Quakers and Hebrew Characters. Catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Purple Thorn Selenia tetralunaria Hufn.

Arctiidae

• 1 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica Cl.

Noctuidae

• 4 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 12 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 8 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Purple Thorn Muslin Moth 

Friday 06 April 2007

Weather: Cool, clear skies, still.

Day 6… Hoping, though not expecting, better tonight. My impatient side is thinking it's high time something new, (and without wishing to denigrate Quakers etc.) more interesting came along. The fine forecast for the next few days brings a degree of optimism with it.

Trap inspection at 08:30. No company this morning - Maybe P & L are having similar thoughts about the desire for some more interesting (or even just different) species to turn up.

Lightweight catch - only Noctuids this morning:

Noctuidae

• 3 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 3 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 4 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Wednesday 04 & Thursday 05 April 2007

Trap not set - bad weather - cold and windy and very frosty Thursday night.

Tuesday 03 April 2007

Weather: Cool, clear skies, windy.

Day 5… Recent weather has been very poor for mothing, rain was forecast for the end of last week (which although it might be good for moths isn’t too good for the trap’s electrics). Since then the skies have been clear and it’s been incessantly windy. No change in these conditions last night but I put the trap out anyway.

Trap inspection at 08:15. Only had Lucas for company this morning - Phoebe was not to keen to get dressed this early on what is after all only her second day of the Easter holidays.

Very disappointing though not surprising haul this morning - only seven moths including one yet to be identified micro and one mosquito (which was probably sheltering from the wind rather than having been attracted to the light). Catch as follows:

Noctuidae

• 1 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 5 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.

Tortricidae

• 1 Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker

Small Quaker Light Brown Apple Moth

Friday 30 March to Monday 03 April 2007

Trap not set - bad weather.

Thursday 29 March 2007

Weather: Cool, cloudy and misty showery am, still.

Day 4… No frost this morning and the night was overcast so hopefully a good catch today.

Trap inspection at 07:30. P & L, could only find a couple of Small Quakers in the grass. Inside the trap there appeared to be quite a few specimens though. The final tally was 37 ( and 3 micros - of wich I think I’ve managed to identify 2 - the third flew off before I could photograph it and therefore not listed), no new species to report though. A much cleaner Brindled Pug too.

When emptying the trap I had the horrible realisation that I seem to have unwittingly opened up a fast food restaurant for (in particular) blackbirds. As soon as I had thrown the moths out a male blackbird swooped onto the flower-bed where they were and started feasting. I’ll have to review procedures…

Night’s catch as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 March Moth Alsophila aescularia D. & S.
• 1 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata Steph.

Noctuidae

• 12 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 14 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 7 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Oecophoridae

• 1 Diurnea fagella D. & S.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.

Diurnea fagella Emmelina monodactyla

Wednesday 28 March 2007

Weather: Ground frost, clear skies, misty, still.

Day 3… Weather agaian more or less the same, though by morning a very thin veil of mist had decended. The day-time weather has been fine and warm for the past few days so hopefully this will tempt a few more species to emerge.

Trap inspection at 07:30. Trusty helpers P & L, in charge of spotting moths that have settled in the grass surrounding the trap - I think we’ve managed to avoid treading on any. Another new species but three absent this time (the Oak Beauties, Clouded Drab and Early Grey). The new species is I believe a Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata. The specimen seemed a little worn and the markings indistinct but as far as I can tell the Brindled Pug is the only Pug that fits the description and flies this early.

Geometridae

• 1 March Moth Alsophila aescularia D. & S.
• 1 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata Steph.

Noctuidae

• 8 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 13 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 2 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Twin Spot Quaker O. munda D & S

Brindled Pug Twin Spot Quaker

Tuesday 27 March 2007

Weather: Ground frost, clear skies, still.

Day 2… Overnight weather more or less identical to last night’s. Forecast was for 4° C with a touch of ground frost. Last night’s catch seemed cause for more optimism, I was working on the assumption that below a certain temperature nothing would fly but then reasoned that if these moths are flying at this time of year then their metabolisms are adapted to these conditions. At dusk yesterday I watched the Oak Beauty priming it's flight muscles for some time after having spent the day on the trunk of an apple tree.

Trap inspection at 07:30. Accompanied by (still enthusiastic) P & L, we found 27 specimens in and around the trap. Two new species and last night’s Twin Spot Quaker absent. (The wasp reappeared - looks very much like Ophion luteus but according the text that shouldn’t be around until July - more research needed.)

Geometridae

• 2 March Moth Alsophila aescularia D. & S.
• 2 Oak Beauty Biston strataria Hufn.

Noctuidae

• 6 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D. & S.
• 11 Small Quaker O. cruda D. & S.
• 4 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Clouded Drab O. incerta Hufn.
• 1 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Clouded Drab March Moth

Hebrew Character Common Quaker

Monday 26 March 2007

Weather: Ground frost, clear skies, slight breeze.

Day 1… The night started cloudy and relatively mild - forecast was for a minimum temp of about 5° C but awoke to find there had been a mild frost so expectation was very low.

Trap inspection at 07:30. Accompanied by very enthusiastic P & L, we found 19 individuals inside, the most impressive being a male Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) - see photo below (also 2 micros - one of which was a species of plume and an ichneumon or brachonid wasp of some sort). Not much variety but somewhat better than I was expecting. The full list for the night's catch is as follows:

Geometridae

• 1 Oak Beauty Biston strataria Hufn.

Noctuidae

• 8 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi D & S
• 1 Small Quaker O. cruda D & S
• 6 Hebrew Character O. gothica Linn.
• 1 Twin Spot Quaker O. munda D & S
• 2 Early Grey Xylocampa areola Esp.

Pterophoridae

• 1 Emmelina monodactyla Linn.

Oak Beauty  Early Grey

2007:
December | November | October | September | August | July | June | May | March / April | 

2008:
Back to most recent entry. | January | February | March | April | May → Dorset | June | July | August | September | October