Archives:
December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006
current posts
| |
New Devon Moth Group website
Richard Fox has asked me to publicise the new Devon Moth Group website. I have changed the link on our 'links' page. A super website which is well worth a look! Manor Road, Taunton
Another disappointing night. Despite increased overnight temperature and an
overcast night with some light rain just four moths in the trap. The only
recompense is that three of them are new for the year.
Skinner 40W actinic. Min. temp. 7.6°C
1728 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata - 1 FFY,
1769 Spruce Carpet Thera britannica - 1 FFY,
1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata - 1 FFY,
2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi - 1. Butleigh
Still pretty grim only 5 species in small numbers, but FFY Swallow Prominent last night. 
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 7 degrees - a miserable very wet night.
Ian, my massive catch of six moths consisted of one species the Hebrew Character !
A massive 6 moths of 5 species including first Brimstone of the year.
I thought it couldn't get any worse than 2 moths in the trap but last night produced just a single Early Grey. I also had an unused trap blown over and a corner broken off it whilst the trap I was using had its bulb cracked by the heavy rain.
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 5 degrees and heavy rain
Only six moths of four species but they included two FFY - Red Chestnut and Light-brown Apple Moth. Clevedon 23/04/12
A Mullein sitting on the outside of my trap this morning was a very welcome change from the rather poor catches of late. East Lydford 23/4/12
Apart from yesterday morning's Brindled Beauty (see below) another poor night - again only 9 moths in total - 8 Hebrew Characters and one Clouded Drab. Marginally warmer nights forecast, so let's hope better things to come. Moth Group meeting at Withiel Florey Cancelled
Mike Ridge has asked to let everyone know that the proposed meeting at Castle Hill Farm, Withiel Florey this coming Friday, 27th April, has been cancelled. East Lydford 23/4/12
Happy St.Seorge's Day to all. One male Brindled Beauty in the house this morning - must have been dodging the showers yesterday - aren't they beautiful moths ?
10 moths from 5 species is an improvement but still not what is expected at this time of year. A Red Chestnut was the highlight. With me getting excited by that moth and John getting excited by his Silver Y it shows what a dull time we're having at the moment! East Lydford 21/4/12
Promises of a less cold night, and a new moon - must be good for moths, yes ? No !! We still hsd a slight ground frost, (min 33F) and only 9 moths in two traps. 7 Hebrew Characters, 1 Early Grey and 1 Clouded Drab. Ho hum. Garden Moth Scheme Langport, VC6, 20-21 April 2012
Like John I wouldn't have bothered to put out the trap except for GMS night! Ground frost, min temp 1˚C, but 3 moths - Pebble Prominent, Hebrew Character and - a real surprise - a Silver Y. Manor Road, Taunton 20/4/12 Min. temp. -0.6°C
Quite a heavy frost this morning and I probably wouldn't have trapped except that I'm doing the GMS. Caught exactly the same as Ian. Singles of Hebrew Character and Early Grey.
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 2 degrees
I agree with Ian, with the cold nights April has been very disappointing moth-wise. Last night we had only eight moths of five species but they included FFY two Swallow Prominents.
After having such a dire catch last night I sought comfort today from previous years records. This time last year I was up to about 65 species compared to only 28 this year. It was surprising to find that last year was the exception and that for 5 out of the last 9 years I have only had between 25 and 31 species by this time. Looking for good omens it can be remembered that last year started extremely well before fizzling out in the summer whilst my next best start to a year was in 2007 which has gone down as the worst year for moths for a very long time.
It's like trapping in January here at the moment. Just an Early Grey and a Hebrew Character last night. Newly-emerged Angle-shades moth
I hadn't ever considered what an Angle-shades looked like when it had just finished 'drying' its wings.but found this one on the wall at home. It was several hours before it assumed the 'normal' wing configuration. A common species, but quite beautiful.  Angle-shades moth soon after emergence and several hours later.
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe- Min Temp 1 degree
With the colder night only 14 moths of 5 species but one was FFY - a Purple Thorn
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 5 degrees
33 moths of 7 species including FFY an Angle Shades. 13th April. Bishop's Hull
Twin 30w actinic Robinson. Min. temp. 3.0
Only single Chocolate-tip and LBAM here last night.

GMS 13 April 2012, Langport, VC6
Had it not been GMS night I wouldn't have bothered to trap. Cold (3 deg. C) and only 7 moths of 5 species - but Muslin and Pebble prominent were ffy. The rest were hebrew Character (2), Powdered Quaker (2), CLouded Drab (1). GMS 13 April Manor Road, Taunton
Fairly cold here last night and just five moths most of which I suspect were in the trap before midnight.Two of
these moths were first for this year in my garden which is a small compensation.
Skinner 40W actinic. Min. temp. -0.3°C.
Bright-line Brown-eye - 1 FFY,
Common Quaker - 1,
Hebrew Character - 1,
Early Grey - 1,
Nut-tree Tussock - 1 FFY.
Having seen a Clouded Yellow yesterday down on the Dorset coast I hoped for a more interesting catch last night. however it was just as before with only a handful of moths from only a few species. Last year I had caught 50 different species by the middle of April. This year I am only on 28.
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 1 degree
Despite the cold 17 moths of six species including FFY a Brindled Beauty. East Lydford 12/4/12
Me again. Another poor night - just 5 Hebrew Characters - must be the cold (we had a hailstorm 5 minutes after the traps went out, and a light frost later in the night). Apart from that, it shouldn't have been too bad, but it was !! Never mind, keep trying. East Lydford 10/4/12
A very poor night - only 3 moths. 2 Early Greys and 1 Parsnip Moth (Depressaria heraclei, my first ever record here). I suspect the others had heard the weather forecast, and stayed at home. I can't say I blame them. East Lydford 8/4/12
The moon is still keeping numbers low, only 16 moths of 7 species, including firsts this year Double-striped Pug and Brindled Beauty. The only remarkable thng was that there were no White-shouldered Housemoths in the rainwater butts, only a Wood Mouse, sadly deceased. Ypsolopha mucronella from Langport (VC6)
Although trap catches have been very poor recently (I have only put the trap out on Friday nights for the Garden Moth Scheme) I found a micro on the kitchen window last week - I ignored it initially as it looked like a Crambid but then realised that it was the wrong time of year. It turned out to be Ypsolopha mucronella, a Spindle feeder which hibernates as an adult. A new species for my garden.  451 Ypsolopha mucronella (apologies for the 'perch' - totally uncooperative specimen!). MOTH NIGHTS 2012 - results
I have put a list of the results from Robin Clatworthy & Mike Ridge's moth nights on a new page, title as above. Rather late, I'm afraid, here are some images from the Middleroom Wood catch.  Blossom Underwing Orthosia miniosa  Two specimens of Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti Yellow Horned Achyla flavicornis Close-up detail of Yellow Horned showing 'horns' Butleigh
Thought I would have another go Saturday night as weather deteriorating. Pretty dismal trawl, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Com Quaker, 1 March Moth, 2 Clouded Drab, but first Nut-tree Tussock- displaying beautifully. 
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 9 degrees
The warmest night for some time but very wet. Only twelve moths of four species but one was FFY Red Twin-spot Carpet. New link to the Yorkshire Moth Group
Terry Box of the Yorkshire Moth Group has asked me to set up a link which I've now done; from our welcome page go to the link page and click on 'Yorkshire Moth Group'. Butleigh
I was hopeful for last night but then the moon appeared-only 2 Heb Charac, 1 Twin-spotted Quaker,1 Clouded Drab, but first Muslin   and an Early Tooth-striped (sadly dead).  Slow in Spaxton
6th.April.
Streamer 2,Early Grey 9,Hebrew Character 1,March Moth 1. East Lydford 6/4/12
Like Ian, I've not bothered to do any trapping due to the inclement weather (since 28th.March), so I thought I'd have another go, as it was a bit milder last night. However, the full moon had much the same effect on moth numbers as the cold - only 5 Hebrew Characters, 1 Common Quaker, 1 Powdered Quaker, and 1 Muslin Moth, the first this year.
p.s. Still finding White-shouldered House Moths in the rainwater butts virtually every day, even with the covers on - where are they all coming from ? I had 10 at one time last week, and usually 2 or more at a time.
I put the trap out for the first time for a few nights last night. I haven't been bothering because the clear cold nights didn't seem promising. I think I would have been wasting my time as last night only produced about 15 moths with the only annual first being Nut-tree Tussock.
Whitefield Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 5 degrees
22 moths of nine species including FFY a Streamer.
A humming-bird Hawkmoth was observed in Weston-super-Mare today ST347623. Lead-coloured Drab
Hi to all
I have been catching several Lead-coloured Drabs around Blagdon Lake in the last few days. I understand there is one other recent record of this species in VC6, caught by John Martin. There were no records published in the Moths of the Bristol Region. It appears that the moth may be using Grey Poplars that have been planted at various points around the lake and which are mature stands now. So far, I've found them beside the spillway at ST5060 and at Hellfire Corner ST5258. I caught an Early Grey last night too, which brings the site total up to 300 spp. in just over the year (and includes a handful of old records from Dixie Dean in 1996 and David Gibbs that I haven't managed to duplicate yet).
Kind regards,
Nige Milbourne
|