Another good Night with 69 Species of Moth and Several firsts for the year - Dusky Sallow, Strawberry Tortix, Small Blood Vein, Diplaurina Lacaustra, Udea Prunealis, Eudonia truncicolella, Oak Eggar, Bulrush Wainscot, smoky Wainscot, Common Rustic, Small Phoenix, currant Pug, European Corn Borer, Celphya Striana, and the tiny Argyresthia Brockeela.

Argyresthia Brockeela

Slightly overwhelmed - 576 moths of 79 species - almost too many to deal with !! New species to me here were Maiden's Blush (kindly confirmed by Robin) ,Catoptria pinella & Ypsolopha sequella, and one micro to be identified. Other nice firsts for the year were Brussels Lace, Marbled Beauty, Coronet & Chilo phragmitella. Nearly 200 Garden Grass Veneers, but only 1 (very worn) Heart & Dart. They really seem to be finished, at least for the time being.

Far and away the best night of the year, with 365 moths of 80 species new for the year were Swallow Prominent, Herald, orchard Ermine, Six Striped Rustic, Eudonia Delunella, Grey dagger - (a fairly loose ID, it was this or dark dagger), Double Square Spot, Apple Ermine, Ringed China Mark, Trachycera advenella, Carcina quercana, Agapeta hamana, Twin Spotted Clay, Garden Rose Tortrix, Coronet, lesser yellow underwing and Snout.

Herald

Carcina Quercana

This was one of 13 Jersey Tiger moths which Malcolm Cotterill took on 26th - 27th July.

Robin Clatworthy, Mike RIdge and Peter Austin trapped at Crook Peak on 22nd. 550 individuals of 64 species identified.

14 Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli 1
874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
1302 Crambus perlella 1
1313 Catoptria pinella 5
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 1
1344 Eudonia mercurella 1
1362 Pyrausta purpuralis 3
1376 Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata 1
1405 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis 4
1640 Drinker Euthrix potatoria 5
1646 Oak Hook-tip Watsonalla binaria 2
1651 Chinese Character Cilix glaucata 1
1652 Peach Blossom Thyatira batis 1
1653 Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides 14
1690 Small Blood-vein Scopula imitaria 1
1702 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata 6
1713 Riband Wave Idaea aversata 5
1715 Plain Wave Idaea straminata 1
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia 4
1759 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata 3
1769 Spruce Carpet Thera britannica 1
1777 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata 1
1804 Barred Rivulet Perizoma bifaciata 1
1830 Wormwood Pug Eupithecia absinthiata 1
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 2
1917 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria 5
1931 Peppered Moth Biston betularia 4
1937 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria 4
2008 Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina 4
2030 Yellow-tail Euproctis similis 1
2037 Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata 1
2044 Dingy Footman Eilema griseola 3
2047 Scarce Footman Eilema complana 6
2050 Common Footman Eilema lurideola 8
2051 Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra 1
2057 Garden Tiger Arctia caja 1
2064 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa 2
2089 Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis 20
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta 1
2102 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 66
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes 15
2110 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata 8
2128 Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum 5
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea 3
2176 Antler Moth Cerapteryx graminis 2
2193 Clay Mythimna ferrago 53
2198 Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura 5
2278 Poplar Grey Acronicta megacephala 1
2284x Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger Acronicta tridens/psi 1
2289 Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis 2
2318 Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina 2
2321 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha 171
2322 Light Arches Apamea lithoxylaea 2
2342 Rosy Minor Mesoligia literosa 1
2360 Ear Moth Amphipoea oculea 1
2381 Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines 27
2382 Rustic Hoplodrina blanda 18
2387 Mottled Rustic Caradrina morpheus 2
2343x Common Rustic agg. Mesapamea secalis agg. 31
2421 Scarce Silver-lines Bena bicolorana 1
2423 Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana 1
2441 Silver Y Autographa gamma 1
2474 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis 1

Plenty of moths here in my Weston trap but little of any rarity value. There have been tell tale signs of the recent predominant northerly winds with a northern f.aethiops Dark Arches which puzzled me for some time and an inland form of White-line Dart which looks nothing like the local coastal forms. 

A big female Oak Eggar was in the trap this morning my first since July 2007. The only other highlight was my 6th Small Ranunculus. This species is said to like both wild and cultivated lettuce (UKmoths) so living just 270 metres from an allotments could be the reason for the good count.

On the micro front, only Bilberry Tortrix and Teleiodes luculella were new for the garden. The former needed confirming by dissection as it has no confirmed records for the Bristol Region (Moths of the Bristol Region).

A good night last night wioth 500 Macros from 64 species. However a big disapointment was for the 501st moth that flew away as I was attempting to pot it for confirmation of its Id. It was a noctuid that I didn't recognise but think that it was probably a Small Ranunculus. I have been looking out for this species because of messages on this site but cannot be certain and have possibly missed out on a first ever for the garden. I'm now going to look up Prickly Lettuce to see what it looks like in case we have any growing around here.

Spurred on by Peter's report of a Bedstraw Hawk and other migrant records from Portland I put the trap out by the back wall of the house last night - it's white lias stone so is a good reflector. Nothing outstanding - and no migrants - but surprisingly the birds didn't get there before me!
Cochylis roseana - a Teasel-feeding Tortricoid - is new for my garden and there were a couple of other micros which I need to photograph and get verified.
So far there are 79 species which is excellent for my garden this year.

161 Leopard Moth Zeuzera pyrina 1
658 Carcina quercana 1
937 Agapeta hamana 1
962 Cochylis roseana 1
998 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana 5
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 1
1063 Celypha striana 1
1261 Codling Moth Cydia pomonella 5
1293 Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella 17
1302 Crambus perlella 1
1305 Agriphila tristella 1
1309 Agriphila geniculea 1
1329 Donacaula forficella 1
1392 Udea olivalis 1
1405 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis 1
1413 Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis 1
1428 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella 1
1640 Drinker Euthrix potatoria 1
1651 Chinese Character Cilix glaucata 1
1690 Small Blood-vein Scopula imitaria 1
1705 Dwarf Cream Wave Idaea fuscovenosa 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata 1
1711 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata 3
1713 Riband Wave Idaea aversata 5
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia 3
1725 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata 1
1728 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata 1
1732 Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata 1
1738 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata 5
1742 Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata 2
1758 Barred Straw Eulithis pyraliata 1
1825 Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata 1
1832 Currant Pug Eupithecia assimilata 1
1888 Scorched Carpet Ligdia adustata 2
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 3
1917 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria 2
1921 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria 3
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria 3
1931 Peppered Moth Biston betularia 1
1937 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria 2
1945 Brussels Lace Cleorodes lichenaria 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi 1
1997 Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula 1
2003 Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac 3
2007 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula 2
2011 Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina 1
2030 Yellow-tail Euproctis similis 8
2037 Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata 1
2038 Muslin Footman Nudaria mundana 1
2044 Dingy Footman Eilema griseola 3
2047 Scarce Footman Eilema complana 1
2050 Common Footman Eilema lurideola 5
2061 Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum 1
2064 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa 9
2067 Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria 3
2089 Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis 5
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta 6
2102 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 3
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes 1
2110 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata 2
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe 3
2128 Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum 1
2154 Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae 1
2159 Dog's Tooth Lacanobia suasa 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea 1
2193 Clay Mythimna ferrago 1
2216 Shark Cucullia umbratica 1
2289 Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis 1
2293 Marbled beauty Cryphia domestica 1
2295 Marbled Green Cryphia muralis 1
2321 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha 9
2343x Common Rustic agg. Mesapamea secalis agg. 25
2352 Dusky Sallow Eremobia ochroleuca 3
2382 Rustic Hoplodrina blanda 5
2384 Vine's Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua 1
2425 Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli 2
2434 Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis 1
2474 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis 2

A Good Night with 52 species and several firsts for the year - Small Wainscot, Bird Cherry Ermine, Spindle Ermine, Knot Grass, Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing, pebble hook tip, straw underwing, broad bordered yellow underwing, flame carpet, chequered fruit tree tortix, large emerald and triple spotted pug. one of the 5 Scalloped Oaks I also caught appeared to be abberant, halfway between the melanic and normal forms.

Large Emerald

Halfway melanic Scalloped Oak

I don't really like trapping two nights in a row but put out the trap last night having seen the Bedstraw Hawk Moth reports from Portland. Peter, I am very jealous!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 11 degrees

In the last few days we have seen a number of firsts for the year - including Rosy and Muslin Footman, Lesser Yellow Under-wing, Spindle Ermine, Rosy Rustic, Light Arches, Dusky Thorn and Small Blood-vein. Last night the highlight -almost of the year for us - was a Bedstraw Hawk-moth which has not been recorded in Somerset since 2003. Then I had one at Haddon Hill in August when trapping with the Somerset Moth Group and our President Keith Brown had one in September.  This year several have recently been reported from the Portland Bill observatory trap..

Two productive nights in a row here resulted in several new firsts for the year, These included Shaded Broad-bar for the first time since 2006 and Bordered Pug for the first time since 2002.
It was interesting to see Currant Pug being caught at Danesfield School. My garden trap is no more than 30 yards from a 25 acre Blackcurrant field and within a mile of another 100 acres of currants. I am yet to see a Currant Pug this year or any moth connected wsith Currant Bushes Except a solitary Magpie Moth. Annually the numbers have decreased since a change in management at the farm several years ago. It makes you wonder what is sprayed on the currants that go to make Ribena.

Jeff Holmes, Ginny and I trapped at the Danesfield school on a damp evening. Although we had to give up just after midnight we did manage 102 moths of 41 species. Acleris forsskaleana - 1 Agapeta hamana - 5 Agonopterix sp. - 1 Bee Moth - 1 Brimstone Moth - 1 Brussels Lace - 1 Chrysoteuchia culmella - 12 Common Carpet - 1 Common Emerald - 3 Common Footman - 7 Common Rustic -1 Crambus lathoniellus - 15 Currant Pug - 1 Dark Arches - 1 Dark Fruit tree Tortrix - 1 Dingy Footman - 3 Dot Moth - 1 Double Square-spot - 4 Dun-bar - 5 Early Thorn - 1 Fan-foot - 1 Flame Shoulder - 1 Heart and Dart - 1 Large Yellow Underwing - 1 Marbled Minor agg. - 1 Middle-barred Minor - 1 Mother of Pearl - 1 Muslin Footman - 4 Phoenix - 2 Riband Wave - 4 Rush Veneer - 1 Scalloped Oak - 2 Shuttle-shaped Dart - 1 Small Fan-footed Wave - 4 Small Magpie - 3 Snout - 2 Swallow-tailed Moth - 1 Tachystola acroxantha - 1 Twenty Plume Moth - 1 Udea prunalis - 1 Yellow-tail - 2

Thanks to Pat Owen for helping with the id. on the following morning

228 moths of 41 species from MV and Actinic traps combined. Amazing the difference a week makes. Heart & Darts down from well over 100 to 10, and Common Rustics up from from 17 to 61. New for the year were Single-dotted Wave, Ruby Tiger,Catoptria falsella, and Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, and new to me here Brown-line Bright-eye and Carcina quercana (what a pretty one this is).

Macro catches in the trap are fairly poor at the moment but there have been a few nice micros. Phyllonorycter trifasciella was new for my garden.

430 Yponomeuta plumbella (one of the Spindle-feeding Ermines)

361 Phyllonorycter trifasciella

After a few nights lacking in species a respite came at last, with 58 species, the second best night of the year so far. Firsts for this year were dun bar, Oak Hook Tip, Dark Barred Twin Spot Carpet, Catoptria Pinella - the Id of that was fairly tenuous and a photo is below and an early Rosy Rustic. Footman Numbers around the trap are building up nicely, as the buddleias come into flower and I scored 7 Dingy Footman, 33 Common Footman, 1 Scarce Footman, 2 Rosy Footman and 1 Musln Footman. I also noted that several moths were being parasited by the red mites (possibly Trombidium breei) common on grassland butterflies such as the marbled whites and blues on the poldens. 1 July Highflier had 2 whilst a Fan Foot had one on its eye...  Despite the grisly note though it was a good nigh and I enjoyed 2 Swallow - Tailed Moths though not my first this year, these are always a highlight.

July Highflier with red mites

Catoptria Pinella?

Robin and Peter trapped at Holford Glen (Quantocks) on 13th July. 281 individuals of 61 species.
688 Agonopterix heracliana 1
1092 Apotomis turbidana 2
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 4
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 3
1390 Udea prunalis 6
1638 Fox Moth Macrothylacia rubi 1
1640 Drinker Euthrix potatoria 2
1645 Scalloped Hook-tip Falcaria lacertinaria 2
1652 Peach Blossom Thyatira batis 1
1666 Large Emerald Geometra papilionaria 10
1669 Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria 1
1674 Little Emerald Jodis lactearia 1
1702 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata 3
1713 Riband Wave Idaea aversata 5
1756 Northern Spinach Eulithis populata 34
1762 Dark Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta citrata 2
1777 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata 25
1809 Twin-spot Carpet Perizoma didymata 4
1861 Bilberry Pug Pasiphila debiliata 1
1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 1
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 1
1917 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria 1
1921 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria 22
1931 Peppered Moth Biston betularia 3
1937 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria 1
1940 Satin Beauty Deileptenia ribeata 4
1941 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata 17
1945 Brussels Lace Cleorodes lichenaria 2
1947 Engrailed Ectropis bistortata 5
1948 Small Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia 1
1955 Common White Wave Cabera pusaria 9
1956 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata 4
1961 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata 5
1994 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala 6
2000 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromedarius 1
2008 Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina 1
2037 Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata 3
2040 Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesomella 1
2044 Dingy Footman Eilema griseola 1
2049 Buff Footman Eilema depressa 13
2050 Common Footman Eilema lurideola 1
2061 Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum 4
2089 Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis 1
2102 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 1
2118 True Lover's Knot Lycophotia porphyrea 3
2122 Purple Clay Diarsia brunnea 5
2123 Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi 1
2127 Triple-spotted Clay Xestia ditrapezium 38
2150 Grey Arches Polia nebulosa 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea 2
2191 Double Line Mythimna turca 2
2302 Brown Rustic Rusina ferruginea 6
2305 Small Angle Shades Euplexia lucipara 1
2318 Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina 1
2343 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis 1
2381 Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines 5
2382 Rustic Hoplodrina blanda 1
2477 Snout Hypena proboscidalis 1

Robin, Mike and Peter trapped at King's Cliff wood on 10th July. 352 individuals of 69 species.

658 Carcina quercana 1
1020 Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana 1
1082 Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana 1
1175 Bramble Shoot Moth Epiblema uddmanniana 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella 1
1329 Donacaula forficella 1
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 8
1362 Pyrausta purpuralis 1
1392 Udea olivalis 3
1640 Drinker Euthrix potatoria 5
1652 Peach Blossom Thyatira batis 1
1653 Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides 11
1702 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata 10
1708 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata 7
1777 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata 35
1803 Small Rivulet Perizoma alchemillata 2
1809 Twin-spot Carpet Perizoma didymata 4
1817 Foxglove Pug Eupithecia pulchellata hebudium 1
1873 Welsh Wave Venusia cambrica 1
1887 Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata 34
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 2
1917 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria 6
1921 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria 7
1931 Peppered Moth Biston betularia 7
1937 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria 3
1940 Satin Beauty Deileptenia ribeata 9
1941 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata 43
1945 Brussels Lace Cleorodes lichenaria 2
1947 Engrailed Ectropis bistortata 2
1955 Common White Wave Cabera pusaria 4
1956 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata 4
1961 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata 4
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi 2
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor 1
1994 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala 2
2000 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromedarius 2
2003 Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac 1
2008 Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina 3
2030 Yellow-tail Euproctis similis 2
2049 Buff Footman Eilema depressa 20
2061 Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum 11
2064 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa 1
2089 Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis 12
2107 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 6
2122 Purple Clay Diarsia brunnea 1
2128 Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum 8
2150 Grey Arches Polia nebulosa 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea 2
2173 Lychnis Hadena bicruris 1
2193 Clay Mythimna ferrago 1
2198 Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura 2
2199 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens 5
2305 Small Angle Shades Euplexia lucipara 1
2318 Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina 2
2321 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha 9
2335 Slender Brindle Apamea scolopacina 1
2337 Marbled Minor Oligia strigilis 1
2338 Rufous Minor Oligia versicolor 2
2343 Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis 3
2381 Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines 23
2382 Rustic Hoplodrina blanda 4
2387 Mottled Rustic Caradrina morpheus 1
2425 Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli 4
2434 Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis 1
2442 Beautiful Golden Y Autographa pulchrina 2
2450 Spectacle Abrostola tripartita 2
2473 Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula 1
2477 Snout Hypena proboscidalis 3
2482 White-line Snout Schrankia taenialis 1

Robin Clatworthy took part in a BioBlitz at Bishop's Hull on 1st -2nd July. A BioBlitz is a race to record as many wildlife species as possible during a 24-hour period. His catch was 171 individuals of 33 species

1376 Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata 2
1390 Udea prunalis 1
1392 Udea olivalis 1
1653 Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides 1
1711 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata 1
1713 Riband Wave Idaea aversata 5
1771a Cypress Carpet Thera cupressata 1
1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 1
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 1
1921 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria 3
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria 1
1937 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi 2
2061 Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum 1
2087 Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum 1
2088 Heart and Club Agrotis clavis 23
2089 Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis 40
2098 Flame Axylia putris 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 2
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum 3
2128 Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum 2
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea 6
2198 Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura 2
2199 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens 1
2321 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha 38
2322 Light Arches Apamea lithoxylaea 3
2338 Rufous Minor Oligia versicolor 5
2381 Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines 3
2382 Rustic Hoplodrina blanda 12
2489 Fan-foot Zanclognatha tarsipennalis 1

Sorry this is a bit late but I'm just catching up after being away!

Robin Clatworthy, Mike Ridge & Peter Austin trapped at Langford Heathfield on 1st July; 3 Robinson, 1 Skinner, 1 actinic trap. 467 individuals of 86 species.

460 Ypsolopha parenthesella 1
972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana 2
977 Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana 3
980 Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana 2
993 Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana 1
998 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana 4
1032 Aleimma loeflingiana 1
1033 Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana 2
1092 Apotomis turbidana 1
1093 Apotomis betuletana 1
1175 Bramble Shoot Moth Epiblema uddmanniana 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella 4
1294 Crambus pascuella 6
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 1
1336 Eudonia pallida 1
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 5
1376 Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata 1
1390 Udea prunalis 1
1392 Udea olivalis 10
1405 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis 1
1634 Lackey Malacosoma neustria 25
1640 Drinker Euthrix potatoria 2
1652 Peach Blossom Thyatira batis 1
1653 Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides 12
1666 Large Emerald Geometra papilionaria 5
1667 Blotched Emerald Comibaena bajularia 1
1669 Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria 2
1682 Blood-vein Timandra comae 1
1702 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata 5
1708 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata 1
1713 Riband Wave Idaea aversata 2
1738 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata 1
1754 Phoenix Eulithis prunata 1
1758 Barred Straw Eulithis pyraliata 4
1764 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata 1
1777 July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata 41
1789 Scallop Shell Rheumaptera undulata 2
1808 Sandy Carpet Perizoma flavofasciata 2
1858 V-Pug Chloroclystis v-ata 3
1860 Green Pug Pasiphila rectangulata 1
1887 Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata 13
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 10
1921 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria 7
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria 1
1931 Peppered Moth Biston betularia 9
1937 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria 8
1940 Satin Beauty Deileptenia ribeata 1
1941 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata 14
1945 Brussels Lace Cleorodes lichenaria 8
1947 Engrailed Ectropis bistortata 7
1948 Small Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia 7
1955 Common White Wave Cabera pusaria 7
1956 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata 2
1961 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata 15
1976 Privet Hawk-moth Sphinx ligustri 1
1994 Buff-tip Phalera bucephala 2
1999 Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi 1
2003 Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac 4
2007 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula 1
2037 Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata 2
2061 Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum 5
2089 Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis 15
2107 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 18
2120 Ingrailed Clay Diarsia mendica 2
2122 Purple Clay Diarsia brunnea 2
2128 Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum 12
2138 Green Arches Anaplectoides prasina 1
2191 Double Line Mythimna turca 22
2196 Striped Wainscot Mythimna pudorina 1
2198 Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura 2
2199 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens 2
2225 Minor Shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis 65
2291 Coronet Craniophora ligustri 3
2305 Small Angle Shades Euplexia lucipara 1
2318 Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina 1
2321 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha 12
2327 Clouded Brindle Apamea epomidion 1
2338 Rufous Minor Oligia versicolor 1
2345 Small Dotted Buff Photedes minima 1
2381 Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines 6
2382 Rustic Hoplodrina blanda 3
2410 Marbled White Spot Protodeltote pygarga 1
2434 Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis 4
2473 Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula 2
2477 Snout Hypena proboscidalis 1
2482 White-line Snout Schrankia taenialis 1

Trapping has been very ordinary recently with only the usual suspects and not that many of those. However there was a nice surprise this morning in the form of a Bordered Straw in the trap
.
2403 Bordered Strawa Heliothis peltigera

Our grandson found a Twenty-plume Moth inside the window of our sun lounge today. Aren't they beautiful ?

Only my fourth record here.

A Poor Night for this time of year with 25 Species, firsts for the year were Clouded Border, Chinese Character and Light Brocade. Also of note were the numbers of heart and Darts in the garden my peak count so far this year has been 60 whilst today it was 7. Overall numbers for them this year haven't been too high for me.

Clouded Border

Very light NNE winds on Monday night (11th) seemed an ideal opportunity to run a moth trap in an exposed location so I decided to try my luck at Crook Peak. I ran 2 traps until mid-night when the wind started to pick up. A total of 57 species recorded in total including highlights of Dark Umber (2), The Olive and Mere Wainscot. I can only find 3 previous records for Mere Wainscot; Clevedon 1957, Weston 1960 and Stoke Trister 1991.

Batty Piece is a small meadow ownd by a syndicate and maintained as a private reserve. My wife and I ran a session there for the SWT and found a few moths - mainly common Crambids (grass veneers) but also two Shark resting on fence posts. There were good numbers of Five-spot Burnet and Pyrausta despicata

Five-spot Burnet Zygaena trifolii

1365 Pyrausta despicata

I returned to the SWT's Fivehead Arable Fields Reserve to look for Celypha rosaceana which I discovered there last year and found good numbers. There were also good numbers of 939 Aethes tesserana (thanks to James McGill for confirming my ID) and of 965 Cochylis hybridella both of whose larva feeds in the seedheads of Prickly Ox-tongue. Thaks again to James who identified a very dark grey small Tortricid as 1257 Cydia nigricana (Pea Moth) from my photograph.

939 Aethes tesserana

1257 Cydia nigricana (Pea Moth).

Whitefield, Wivelliscombe - Min Temp 10 degrees

Over the last few days we have had a number of firsts for the year in our garden trap- Dingy Footman, Common Wainscot, True Lovers Knot, Black Arches and only the third Poplar Kitten we have had since 1998. Also firsts of the second broods Ruby Tiger, Nut Tree Tussock and Purple Thorn. Last night we trapped in the local wood and among 60+ species were delighted to get the first Ruddy Carpet we have had since 1999.

Nearly 400 moths, 43 species in all. First ever here Tawny Shears, and second ever here Peach Blossom. A very early Rosy Rustic, and first for the year Rosy Footman ,Drinker (4), and Least Yellow Underwing (only my 4th record here). Down to 106 Heart & Darts - are they fading out ?

To add to David Agassiz posting, I have had two Small Mottled Willow (28 June and 4 July) and, at last, one Small Marbled (11 July) in my garden in Clevedon.

A much quieter night last night with less than 100 moths. However it did include two species that I did not see last year. These were Small Emerald and Wormwood Pug.

Last night I had in my trap in Weston a second Eublemma parva (Small Marbled) the first having been on 4th July. This must be the best year ever for this species.  Also on 4th July I had 2 Spodoptera exigua (Small mottled willow) and one Hecatera dysodea (Small Ranunculus).

Last night looked promising weather wise and resulted in the best night of the year so far with 513 macros from 69 different species. New for the year included Slender Pug, Lappet, Lobster Moth, Dark Umber, Gothic, Garden Tiger, Dusky Sallow, Magpie Moth, Small Dotted Buff alongside Rosy,Muslin and Scarce Footman.
These new moths put me past the 200 mark for the year. Things slowed down considerably in June so I was surprised to see I was about 2 weeks quicker than average getting to 200.
Last night was the first time since mid May that Heart and Darts wewere not the most common moth in my trap. On that occasion White Ermine beat them 15-11. Last night Dark Arches dominated by 139-100.
I also had a very small Dark Sword Grass which I assume is the offspring of the April migrants.

A Good Night totalling 48 species. New for the year were - Swallowtailed Moth, Peppered Moth, Dingy Footman, Rosy Footman, Muslin Footman, Cloaked Carpet.

One advantage of being at a standstill on the A303 due to the works at the South Petherton junction is that the verges can be surveyed from the safety of one's hide/car.  In addition to butterflies and bumblebees, today I made a number of records of moth larvae - Cinnabar and Mullein - as well as noting a couple of populations of Prickly Lettuce, perhaps worth checking out in a month or so for Small Ranunculus larvae.

Not one but two Small Ranunculus in the moth trap this morning here in Weston. The garden list has been given a big boost over the last few days. Most notable were Obscure Wainscot, Green Arches, Rhyacionia pinicolana/buoliana TBC, Grapholita janthinana, Cydia fagiglandana, third White Colon this year and 2 Small Mottled Willow.

Moth numbers are holding up well but mainly as a result of large numbers of Heart and Darts and Dark Arches. The number of different species here remains low with only Dunbar, Grey Arches and Green Arches new for the year in the first few days of July.

A night not of quantity but quality, Highlights were - Elephant Hawk Moth, Eyed Hawk Moth (very fresh), Poplar Hawk Moth (2), Buff Arches (2), Buff Tip, Scalloped Oak (7) and Sharp angled peacock as well as an early Early thorn.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 10 degrees

Delighted to get in the trap a very smart migrant - a Vestal and to see in a neigbour's garden a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

Catch up time during the week new for the year Plain Golden Y, Shoulder Striped Wainscot, The Gothic, Miller, Double Square Spot, The Olive, Sycamore, Dot, Cream Bordered Green Pea, Clay and a Small Tabby in the passage of our house, also 2 Dark Sword Grass on 25/6 and 1 on the 27/6 and a Humming-bird Hawk-Moth on the 29th