Weston moth list now coasting steadily over the 300 mark for the year. There have been many highlights in the last month summarised below:

• Argyresthia cupressella and Larch Pug - Garden 25th May
• Coleophora adjunctella - Garden 2nd June
• Rannoch Looper - Garden 8th June
• Coleophora deauratella - Garden 25th June
• Grapholita funebrana - Garden 25th June
• Small Marbled - Garden 27th June
• And from Brean Down on 26th June:
• Ostrinia nubilalis
• Thyme Pug
• L-album Wainscot
• Mullein Wave

What a difference in a few degrees of nightime temperature. On Sunday and Monday night I caught 438 and 453 individuals from 55 different species on each occasion when the weather was warm. A chilly clear night last night produced just 55 moths from 13 different species. Heart and Darts are still dominating the numbers but are now being challenged by Dark Arches.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 14 degrees

Last night we had a great result trapping in our local wood with over 70 species. The wood is only 200 yds away from our garden but it is amazing how many different species appear there. For example last nights catch in the wood included Blomers Rivulet (2) and Tawny barred Angle var nigrofulvata. We also had firsts for the year in July High-flyer, both Cloaked Carpet and Sharp-angled Carpet, V Pug, Maple Prominent, Riband Wave with the riband (the plain version ab. remutata has been flying for some time) Barred Straw and Brussels Lace. The reported catch of migrant moths at Portland looks promising.

Unprecedented numbers of moths on the wing here in Midsomer Norton last night with one of the largest catches I have had in the garden - and most of the moths did not end up in the trap if the fair amount of time I spent watching them is any indication.  Highlights were Varied Coronet (for the second successive year) and Reddish Light Arches.

A Vestal Moth seen earlier this evening at Double Hill near Peasedown, ST720572.

Since 4th May when I caught a Silver Y I have not had a single migrant here in South Somerset. Therefore it was a nice suprise last night to catch 2 more Silver Ys and 3 Small Mottled Willows. Other recent interesting catches include a Blackneck, Large Emerald and just the wings of a Leopard Moth. Neither of these species are annual here and the Leopard Moth would have been only the second in 6 years.

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Stoke Camp yesterday, nectaring on some of the abundant kidney vetch on the reserve.

Another busy night - 386 moths - 54 species. I always have to take two days to count my catch, as usually about 100 escape into the spare room where I open the traps, and I have to round them up when they come out of their hidey-holes at dusk, and try to getout through the sky-light !! After all that, there were a few new -for-the-year records, including the first V-pug since 2006, and the first adult Vapourer since I moved here in 2005 - I've only noted larvae up to now. Three Beautiful Golden-Y, and a fresh-looking Reddish Light Arches (of which I have previously only had records in 2006 & 2008). There were 120 Chrysoteuchia culmella, and "only" 93 Heart & Darts - competition at last.

A good night for moths with over 40 species in my actinic trap. A couple of unusual ones were Four-dotted Footman and an L-Album Wainscot. Presumably the latter was an immigrant.

Whitefield, Wivelscombe - Min Temp 12 degrees - tho it warmed up before dawn.

58 species and only 84 Heart and Darts! New for the year were Dunbar, Common Emerald, Clouded Brindle, Buff Footman, Bordered Pug, and Swallowtailed Moth.  It is great to see many new contributors to "Latest Sightings" but do tell us where you are trapping.  Somerset is a big county!

An Excellent night with 58 species, firsts for the year were:

- Common Emerald

- Beautiful hook Tip

- Drinker

- Fan Foot

- Garden Pebble

- Barred Straw

- beautiful Golden Y

- Clay

- Elephant Hawk Moth

- Mother of Pearl

- Double Square Spot

- Heart and Club

- Lobster

- Common Footman

- Lilac Beauty

- Light Arches

Best Night of the year so far with 46 species firsts for the year were: Plain Golden Y, Peach Blossom, Eyed Hawk Moth, scarce footman, Green oak tortix, foxglove pug, Phlyctaenia stachydalis, Amblytilla Punctidactyla, Pyrausta Despicata, Willow Beauty, small Scallop, Scorched Wing, Shark, July Highflier, Light Emerald.

A Battered Individual!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 11 degrees

The first night for some time when we had very little wind and no rain. 46 species and 201 moths half of which were Heart and Darts.  There was one first for the year which I am always delighted to see - a Lilac Beauty

Humming-bird Hawk-moth feeding on Red Valerian today at 1330 hrs.

Despite the heavy rain last night I still had a fairly good number of moths in the trap.  Mostly H&D's, Light & Dark Arches.  The only other ones of interest were a Lackey and a Gold Spot which I've not seen in my garden before.

Overall a poor night, the first Garden Tiger and the second Silver Y, one moth doing well at home is the Cinnabar the trap numbers averaging 5/6 but during the day all over the garden, last year we had a number of Ragwort plants in the garden while the field next door was covered with them, alas now all gone they are building houses.

Another average night weatherwise with just an average moth catch. The only one of interest for me was a Broad-barred White.

Thanks very much for the replies on the atlas records - I look forward to contributing

Being a new member, I'm probably just not familiar with the run of things but I was wondering how to contribute to atlas records and the distribution maps on the website. I have a wood tiger record that might be of interest...

However, moth trapping has taken a turn for the better recently.highlights have included several firsts for the year - - 2 cream spot tigers - burnished brass - figure of eighty - small magpie - ingrailed clay - thistle ermine - flame - common marbled carpet - straw dot - common wainscot - common spectacle - small angle shades - dark strawberry tortix - tawny shears - blood vein - large yellow underwing - dark arches - small square spot - dark spectacle - common white wave - bramble shoot moth - green pug - mottled beauty

I think that the huge numbers of Heart and Darts is slightly disguising a poor run in my garden at the moment. Last Tuesday I had 422 Macros from 53 species but over half were H and Ds. The only new for the years I've had recently have been Fern, Scalloped Oak, Cypress Carpet, Fanfoot, Uncertain and Yellow Shell. Not a migrant in sight with only 1 Silver Y so far this year, not a sighting of a Humming Bird Hawk Moth and I seem to have missed the Rannoch Looper boat.

Wow !! What a difference a drop of rain makes. After Saturday's total of 21, Tuesday's total was 462, from 54 species. Admittedly, 262 of these were Heart & Darts - aren't they having a good year ? Even so, there were "new for the year" records for 21 species, including a very fresh Privet Hawk, and my first Shark for 3 years.

Nigel Spring (Butterfly Conservation) trapped at Mount Fancy on 4th June. A good catch including 2 more Rannoch Loopers.

0003 Micropterix aureatella
0014 Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli)
0016 Gold Swift (Hepialus hecta)
0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)
0018 Map-winged Swift (Hepialus fusconebulosa)
0397 Glyphipterix thrasonella
0886 Mompha ochraceella
0937 Agapeta hamana
0945 Aethes cnicana
0969 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis corylana)
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana
1033 Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana)
1082 Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana)
1083 Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana)
1092 Apotomis turbidana
1132 Epinotia subocellana
1133 Epinotia bilunana
1168 Gypsonoma sociana
1175 Bramble Shoot Moth (Epiblema uddmanniana)
1301 Crambus lathoniellus
1392 Udea olivalis
1652 Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis)
1676 Mocha (Cyclophora annularia)
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae)
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata)
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata alternata)
1752 Purple Bar (Cosmorhoe ocellata)
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)
1768 Grey Pine Carpet (Thera obeliscata)
1773 Broken-barred Carpet (Electrophaes corylata)
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)
1802 Rivulet (Perizoma affinitata)
1817 Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata)
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)
1870 Chimney Sweeper (Odezia atrata)
1876 Small Yellow Wave (Hydrelia flammeolaria)
1883 Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata)
1896 Rannoch Looper (Itame brunneata)
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata)
1904 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria)
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata)
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)
1941 Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata repandata)
1955 Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria)
1956 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata)
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata)
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)
1980 Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellata)
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)
1999 Lobster Moth (Stauropus fagi)
2000 Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)
2008 Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina)
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)
2014 Marbled Brown (Drymonia dodonaea)
2015 Lunar Marbled Brown (Drymonia ruficornis)
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda)
2040 Four-dotted Footman (Cybosia mesomella)
2049 Buff Footman (Eilema depressa)
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)
2091 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)
2120 Ingrailed Clay (Diarsia mendica mendica)
2122 Purple Clay (Diarsia brunnea)
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)
2138 Green Arches (Anaplectoides prasina)
2147 Shears (Hada nana)
2150 Grey Arches (Polia nebulosa)
2158 Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina)
2205 Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma)
2281 Alder Moth (Acronicta alni)
2284 Grey Dagger (Acronicta psi)
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)
2305 Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara)
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata)
2330 Dusky Brocade (Apamea remissa)
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)
2337 Marbled Minor (Oligia strigilis)
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica)
2442 Beautiful Golden Y (Autographa pulchrina)
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis)
2477 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)

Robin Clatworthy, Mike Ridge and CLive Sawyer trapped on Wessex Water land adjacent to BC MOunt Fancy reserve on 4th June; catch included 4 Rannoch Loopers!

17 Common Swift Hepialus lupulinus
18 Map-winged Swift Hepialus fusconebulosa
972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana
977 Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana
1082 Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana
1094 Apotomis capreana
1234 Pammene regiana
1329 Donacaula forficella
1329 Donacaula forficella
1344 Eudonia mercurella
1392 Udea olivalis
1638 Fox Moth Macrothylacia rubi
1652 Peach Blossom Thyatira batis
1654 Figure of Eighty Tethea ocularis
1681 Clay Triple-lines Cyclophora linearia
1722 Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata
1727 Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
1738 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata
1751 Devon Carpet Lampropteryx otregiata
1752 Purple Bar Cosmorhoe ocellata
1759 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
1764 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata
1767 Pine Carpet Thera firmata
1769 Spruce Carpet Thera britannica
1776 Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria
1777 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata
1778 May Highflyer Hydriomena impluviata
1802 Rivulet Perizoma affinitata
1803 Small Rivulet Perizoma alchemillata
1808 Sandy Carpet Perizoma flavofasciata
1817 Foxglove Pug Eupithecia pulchellata
1819 Mottled Pug Eupithecia exiguata
1825 Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata
1834 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata
1837 Grey Pug Eupithecia subfuscata
1856 Larch Pug Eupithecia lariciata
1890 Sharp-angled Peacock Macaria alternata
1893 Tawny-barred Angle Macaria liturata
1896 Rannoch Looper Itame brunneata
1902 Brown Silver-line Petrophora chlorosata
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata
1920 Scalloped Hazel Odontopera bidentata
1931 Peppered Moth Biston betularia
1941 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata
1955 Common White Wave Cabera pusaria
1956 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata
1957 White-pinion Spotted Lomographa bimaculata
1958 Clouded Silver Lomographa temerata
1961 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor
1999 Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi
2003 Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac
2011 Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina
2028 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda
2039 Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis
2060 White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda
2089 Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis
2098 Flame Axylia putris
2102 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta
2107 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba
2120 Ingrailed Clay Diarsia mendica
2122 Purple Clay Diarsia brunnea
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum
2138 Green Arches Anaplectoides prasina
2158 Pale-shouldered Brocade Lacanobia thalassina
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea
2305 Small Angle Shades Euplexia lucipara
2306 Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle Apamea crenata
2338 Rufous Minor Oligia versicolor
2340 Middle-barred Minor Oligia fasciuncula
2410 Marbled White Spot Protodeltote pygarga
2422 Green Silver-lines Pseudoips prasinana
2442 Beautiful Golden Y Autographa pulchrina
2450 Spectacle Abrostola tripartita
2474 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis
2476 Beautiful Snout Hypena crassalis
2477 Snout Hypena proboscidalis
2492 Small Fan-foot Herminia grisealis

Laura Gosset has emailed me to say that the survey data can now be sent online:

The survey results can now be sent via an online survey found at: http://edu.surveygizmo.com/s3/563890/The-Leaf-Miner-Hunt , which should make it a little easier.

Mike Ridge & John Connolly trapped at Lime Ridge Wood on 3rd and took a Netted Pug and a Rannoch looper.

1676 Mocha Cyclophora annularia
1768 Grey Pine Carpet Thera obeliscata
2089 Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis
2120 Ingrailed Clay Diarsia mendica
1961 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata
1979 Lime Hawk-moth Mimas tiliae
1999 Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi
2337 Marbled Minor Oligia strigilis
2422 Green Silver-lines Pseudoips prasinana
2340 Middle-barred Minor Oligia fasciuncula
1765 Barred Yellow Cidaria fulvata
1941 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata
1819 Mottled Pug Eupithecia exiguata
1823 Netted Pug Eupithecia venosata
2410 Marbled White Spot Protodeltote pygarga
1902 Brown Silver-line Petrophora chlorosata
1924 Orange Moth Angerona prunaria
1693 Cream Wave Scopula floslactata
2321 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha
17 Common Swift Hepialus lupulinus
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor
2281 Alder Moth Acronicta alni
1958 Clouded Silver Lomographa temerata
1776 Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata
1682 Blood-vein Timandra comae
1748 Beautiful Carpet Mesoleuca albicillata
1903 Barred Umber Plagodis pulveraria
2098 Flame Axylia putris
2102 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta
1764 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata
1893 Tawny-barred Angle Macaria liturata
1782 Fern Horisme tersata
1392 Udea olivalis
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata
1094 Apotomis capreana
1033 Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana
1013 Olindia schumacherana
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana
993 Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana
972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana
971 Pandemis cinnamomeana
771 Carpatolechia alburnella
1937 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
2060 White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda
1711 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata
1920 Scalloped Hazel Odontopera bidentata
2028 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda
1652 Peach Blossom Thyatira batis
1931 Peppered Moth Biston betularia
1784 Pretty Chalk Carpet Melanthia procellata
1896 Rannoch Looper Itame brunneata
2380 Treble Lines Charanyca trigrammica
1709 Satin Wave Idaea subsericeata
2011 Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum
1727 Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
1759 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
2123 Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi
2477 Snout Hypena proboscidalis
2474 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis
2338 Rufous Minor Oligia versicolor

Your'e lucky Peter, the rain arrived here later than with you, but the cold night before the rain meant that I only got 21 moths in total - 1 Dark Arches & 20 H & D.  Ho hum

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 5 degrees

A First for the year - real heavy rain! - it started at 4 am and shows no sign of stopping. However we had 93 moths of 16 species (75 were Heart and Dart) and the only new one for the year was a Shark.

Another large catch from Robin Clatworthy, Mike Ridge and Peter Austin who trapped in Orchard Wood on 3rd June. 2 125W Robinson traps. Fine, muggy night.

0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus) 29
0972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) 50 (est.)
0977 Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana) 6
1033 Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana) 200 (est.)
1377 Perinephela lancealis 1
1392 Udea olivalis 200 (est.)
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1652 Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis) 1
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis) 1
1657 Common Lutestring (Ochropacha duplaris) 1
1667 Blotched Emerald (Comibaena bajularia) 2
1674 Little Emerald (Jodis lactearia) 2
1676 Mocha (Cyclophora annularia) 28
1681 Clay Triple-lines (Cyclophora linearia) 4
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae) 4
1693 Cream Wave (Scopula floslactata) 2
1711 Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata) 2
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 27
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1748 Beautiful Carpet (Mesoleuca albicillata) 2
1752 Purple Bar (Cosmorhoe ocellata) 2
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 9
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 10
1765 Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata) 8
1767 Pine Carpet (Thera firmata) 1
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 1
1773 Broken-barred Carpet (Electrophaes corylata) 3
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 15
1784 Pretty Chalk Carpet (Melanthia procellata) 4
1813 Haworth's Pug (Eupithecia haworthiata) 8
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 17
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 24
1837 Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 1
1856 Larch Pug (Eupithecia lariciata) 6
1857 Dwarf Pug (Eupithecia tantillaria) 2
1859 Sloe Pug (Pasiphila chloerata) 2
1867 Treble-bar (Aplocera plagiata) 1
1872 Blomer's Rivulet (Discoloxia blomeri) 11
1875 Small White Wave (Asthena albulata) 5
1888 Scorched Carpet (Ligdia adustata) 4
1893 Tawny-barred Angle (Macaria liturata) 15
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 1
1904 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 4
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 3
1941 Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata) 19
1956 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata) 4
1957 White-pinion Spotted (Lomographa bimaculata) 2
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 15
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) 10
1979 Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 1
1992 Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus) 1
1999 Lobster Moth (Stauropus fagi) 18
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 3
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 17
2039 Red-necked Footman (Atolmis rubricollis) 7
2043 Orange Footman (Eilema sororcula) 2
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 17
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 1
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 76
2098 Flame (Axylia putris) 5
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 9
2120 Ingrailed Clay (Diarsia mendica) 73
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 1
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum) 1
2138 Green Arches (Anaplectoides prasina) 4
2150 Grey Arches (Polia nebulosa) 3
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 1
2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala) 1
2284x Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi) 1
2291 Coronet (Craniophora ligustri) 1
2305 Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara) 2
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 7
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 2
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata) 1
2330 Dusky Brocade (Apamea remissa) 1
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps) 21
2337 Marbled Minor (Oligia strigilis) 14
2338 Rufous Minor (Oligia versicolor) 5
2340 Middle-barred Minor (Oligia fasciuncula) 8
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 18
2391 Silky Wainscot (Chilodes maritimus) 1
2410 Marbled White Spot (Protodeltote pygarga) 2
2422 Green Silver-lines (Pseudoips prasinana) 3
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) 1
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) 16
2477 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 6
2492 Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis) 3

HORSE-CHESTNUT LEAF-MINER HUNT - appeal for help from Laura Gosset If you can help please contact Laura: 09003053@glam.ac.uk

My name is Laura, I am an MSc student from the University of Glamorgan in South Wales and am conducting my research project on the invasive Horse-Chestnut Leaf-Miner (Camararia ohridella). The caterpillars of this moth live inside the leaves of the Horse-Chestnut tree.   LEAF-MINER HUNT - Saturday the 25th of June 2011

I need help in collecting data about the distribution of the Moth in the UK and wondered if you might be able to pass this message onto your local moth groups to see if they are interested in getting involved in leaf-miner hunting.

Everyone would need to find their nearest Horse-Chestnut tree on the 25th of June and have a look at the middle 'finger' (leaflet) of 10 different leaves from a single tree. I need to know how many 'mines' there are in each of these leaflets (these are small brown circles or lines on the leaf, easiest to see when the leaf is held up to the light) and the location of the tree (post code, town etc.), even if there are no mines.

This information will then be put into a map to show the geographic distribution, this will help with my research project into the distribution of the moth and it's parasites. More information can be found on My Blog http://leafminer.wordpress.com if anyone is interested. I will keep it updated as we approach the big day, with information on how to send your results. Thank you so much for your help

Laura

Robin Clatworthy trapped at Hurlstone Point on 2nd June; 2 x 125W MV, 1 x 80W actinic, 1 x 6W actininic
528 individuals of 91 species.

1292 Calamotropha paludella 1
1397 Mecyna asinalis 6
1638 Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi) 5
1652 Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis) 3
1665 Grass Emerald (Pseudoterpna pruinata) 4
1669 Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria) 1
1689 Mullein Wave (Scopula marginepunctata) 5
1690 Small Blood-vein (Scopula imitaria) 2
1707 Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata) 1
1709 Satin Wave (Idaea subsericeata) 2
1711 Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata) 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 1
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 1
1733 Lead Belle (Scotopteryx mucronata) 4
1735 Ruddy Carpet (Catarhoe rubidata) 3
1742 Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) 1
1756 Northern Spinach (Eulithis populata) 4
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 4
1765 Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata) 6
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 3
1817 Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata) 2
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 3
1823 Netted Pug (Eupithecia venosata) 1
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 6
1837 Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 6
1843 Thyme Pug (Eupithecia distinctaria) 3
1846 Narrow-winged Pug (Eupithecia nanata) 2
1856 Larch Pug (Eupithecia lariciata) 1
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 3
1872 Blomer's Rivulet (Discoloxia blomeri) 1
1876 Small Yellow Wave (Hydrelia flammeolaria) 1
1890 Sharp-angled Peacock (Macaria alternata) 1
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 14
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 2
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) 2
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 18
1941 Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata) 42
1955 Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 5
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) 3
1976 Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 2
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 2
1992 Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus) 39
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 2
1995 Puss Moth (Cerura vinula) 1
2000 Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) 1
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 2
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 3
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 34
2090 Crescent Dart (Agrotis trux) 3
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2098 Flame (Axylia putris) 3
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 1
2118 True Lover's Knot (Lycophotia porphyrea) 6
2120 Ingrailed Clay (Diarsia mendica mendica) 37
2122 Purple Clay (Diarsia brunnea) 1
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 1
2147 Shears (Hada plebeja) 21
2163 Broom Moth (Melanchra pisi) 1
2164 Broad-barred White (Hecatera bicolorata) 1
2167 Tawny Shears (Hadena perplexa) 5
2169 Barrett's Marbled Coronet (Hadena luteago) 9
2171 Marbled Coronet (Hadena confusa) 74
2191 Double Line (Mythimna turca) 1
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 4
2205 Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma) 17
2250 Dark Brocade (Blepharita adusta) 1
2289 Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis) 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 7
2305 Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara) 17
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 6
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 1
2330 Dusky Brocade (Apamea remissa) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 1
2337 Marbled Minor (Oligia strigilis) 9
2338 Rufous Minor (Oligia versicolor) 1
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 4
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 2
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 2
2389 Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis) 1
2391 Silky Wainscot (Chilodes maritimus) 1
2410 Marbled White Spot (Protodeltote pygarga) 1
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) 2
2477 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 3
2492 Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis) 2

Manor Road, Taunton.

I've been puzzling over a moth since last Saturday when I emptied my trap and just emailed James McGill who confirmed it was another Rannoch Looper. I'd discounted that because Manley says it only occurs in Scotland but I should have checked the entries on this site as they seem to be all over the place.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11 degrees and windy

Remarkable ! On 5 June 2010 I caught a lifetime first, a Rannoch Looper and now last night, 7 June 2011 a second came to our garden trap.

A few more images from the Mount Fancy meeting; full catch details to follow.

Attendees at lunchtime

1092 Apotomis turbidana

1168 Gypsonoma sociana

1748 Beautiful Carpet Mesoleuca albicillata

1924 Orange Moth Angerona prunaria

2040 Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesomella

2049 Buff Footman Eilema depressa Larva

2391 Silky Wainscot Chilodes maritimus

2442 Beautiful Golden Y Autographa pulchrina

What a difference a cold night makes. only 24 moths in Actinic & MV traps combined (14 Heart & Darts included not surprisingly). Nothing special, but one of the 2 Buff Ermines had only 2 tiny spots on either wing - almost completely plain - very pretty. I'm still getting Small & Common Quakers (only ones or twos) which I think must be amongst the latest possible, and one sadly deceased early Light Emerald, first for the year. Yesterday also found a Vapourer caterpillar on one of our very small birch trees (I moved it to a much bigger tree in fairness to the tree !) & saw 3 Meadow Browns in the field - first ones this year.

Following Ian's comments, here is some news from the eastern end of the County.  Last night my garden produced the usual suspects, plus Privet Hawkmoth and four new moths for the year - Miller, Mottled Rustic, Barred Yellow and my first-ever L-album Wainscot.  (Thanks to Paul Chapman for confirming the identification).

Glad that you finally made it Christine. The more contributers the better the site. Wherever you trap in Somerset it is possible to get interesting records. Peter Tennant who lives at the opposite end of the county to me catches moths that I can only dream of. Living between the two and by the coast as well we can expect regular surprises from your garden.
Having trapped on Saturday night I wanted to give the moths a rest last night and leave the MV light off. However the thought of catching a Rannoch Looper made me put out my actinic instead. No Loopers but I did catch a Marbled Coronet. The first for my garden and my 10km square ST41.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 12 degrees

Firsts for the year include Lead Belle, Figure of Eighty, Snout, Thistle Ermine, Barred Yellow, Phoenix, Willow Beauty and one that appears to be a West Somerset special - Double Line. We also had a first for the garden, tho we do get it in a local wood, Red-necked Footman.

This is my first ever addition to this page so here goes. I have been trapping in my garden for a couple of years now in Weston-super-Mare so I decided to trap at my mums garden for a change to see if there was anything different in her garden than mine. Despite it being fairly windy and cold I caught 239 individuals of 16 species, a record number for me!  188 of those were the inevitable Heart & Dart.  I also had a Lime Hawkmoth, first for this year for me and a Peppered Moth f. carbonaria. Also a first for me.  Plenty of Dark Arches, Light Arches, Marbled Minor and a Spectacle moth to name a few others.

Your wish is granted, Ian! Mike Ridge and Robin Clatworthy took 3 and Nigel Spring took 2 at Mount Fancy last night (Saturday). All 4 were pristine males. Loads more of interest - update to follow.
1896 Rannoch Looper Itame brunneata upperside ©John Bebbington FRPS 2011.
1896 Rannoch Looper Itame brunneata underside ©John Bebbington FRPS 2011.

Despite strong winds and heavy rain there were good numbers of moths about last night with 465 macros from 31 species. Most were Heart and Darts with over 300 but new for the year were Pale Shouldered Brocade and Green Silver-Lines. Of all the moths only 15 were not Noctuids.

I see from the Atropos website that there has been another influx of Rannoch Loopers including at least 6 in Dorset. It may be worth looking out for this moth of which at least 2 were recorded in Somerset in 2009.

Last night gave lower numbers with Swallow-tailed Moth, Barred Straw, Treble Brown Spot and European Corn-borer.

Thursday 02/06/11 was the first warm, still night for some time and coincided with my best catch of the year. Nearly 400 macros from 54 species. Over half were Heart and Darts with 205 being my highest count since 2006. Amongst the ten firsts for the year were May Highflyer, Dusky Brocade, Nutmeg, Miller and White Spotted Pug.

Michael Plaxton took a specimen of 225 Triaxomera fulvimitrella in the far east of VC5 - location undisclosed. He sent me this photo. Many thanks to James McGill and to David Agassiz for confirming my ID - I found an image on the UK Moths website. I was hesitant as the only recent record was for one which James took at Great Breach Wood in 2003.

225 Triaxomera fulvimitrella ©Michael Plaxton 2011

Today Friday 3rd one Humming-bird Hawk-moth on Valerion at 1400hrs in my garden, last night was the best for some time 40 species including 2 Common Rustics and 1 Cypress Carpet seemed a bit early?