I trapped again at Sand Point a couple of nights ago and still little sign of any noctuids. Lychnis, Light Brocade, Flame Shoulder, Rustic Shoulder-knot and Treble Lines did come to light so it is picking up a little. Silver Y and Diamond-backed Moth have turned up at Sand Point in the last few days probably as a result from the depression from the east. By day Epinotia immundana, Pyrausta ostrinalis and a new moth for me Pammene rhediella. It was flitting about on an apple tree and evaded all efforts to get it in the net. Despite this I think it can be confirmed from the photo and there aren't any real confusion species that are likely to occur that I can see.

Pammene rhediella

I shall be running a moth trapping event at Shapwick NNR, a week on Saturday, June 8th. If anyone is available and would like to add a light or two to the proceedings, please contact me to arrange.

I had a second look at what I had originally thought was yet another White-shouldered Housemoth, and realised that I was too hasty. In fact it was a Pseudoswammerdamia combinella, only the second time seen here, the first being in 2007. Pretty little creature - pity the name's about 10 times longer than the moth itself !!

P.P.S.  A FFY Common Marbled Carpet appeared later in the day.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe- Min temp 9 degrees

17 moths of 12 species including FFY - Small White Wave, Brown Silver-line, Small Square-spot and Common Pug.

Still getting very few moths, in spite of the warmer nights.  Only 13 in total, with FFY Bright-line Brown-eye and Small Waved Umber (both quite badly worn) and a Celypha lacunana. Otherwise 4 Red Twin-spot Carpets and various common singletons, plus the first May Bug (Cockchafer) of the year (almost a June Bug !!)

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 10 degrees

A warmer night at last produced a better catch with 24 moths of sixteen species including FFY - White Ermine, Waved Umber, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Chinese Character, Yellow-barred Brindle, Common White-wave and one wing of a Pale Tussock - presumably the result of bat predation.

Norton Sub Hamdon.

59 macros from 26 species last night here. Lots of firsts for the year including Treble lines, Lime Speck, Oak-tree and V-Pug. Regarding the lack of Noctuids that has been commented on earlier in the month it was quite unusual to have only 12 Noctuids out of the 59 moths.

Were there any butterflies seen last weekend at the Mount Fancy get together? More especially were there any Wood Whites or Small Pearl bordered seen?

Leader Nigel Spring & Moth list collated by Liz Marsden. Cold clear night min 2.8'C, full moon. 3 Traps Wessex Water Land until Midnight: Barred Umber 1, Brimstone 1, Brown Silver-lines, 16, Early Thorn 1, Great Prominent 1, Scalloped Hazel 1. 5 Traps Mount Fancy 2 until midnight, 3 overnight: Barred Umber 1, Brindled Beauty 1, Brown Silver-lines 2, Chestnut 1, Clouded Drab 1, Early Thorn 1, Engrailed 2, Flame Carpet 1, Great Prominent 2, Hebrew Character 10, Lesser Swallow Prominent 3, Lunar Marbled Brown 1, Muslin Moth 3, Nut Tree Tussock 1, Pebble Prominent 2, Puss Moth 1, Scalloped Hazel 1, unidentified Pug 1 By day: Adella reamurella at mount Fancy Farm, Cydia ulicetana on gorse at Ruttersleigh Total of 60 moths, of 21 species.

Butterflies- no Wood Whites or Small Pearl-bordered seen.

Belated news for 23rd May.

Metriotes lutarea sat on flowers of Stellaria holostea (Greater Stitchwort) along Sparkhayes Lane, Porlock. Also, 1 Pammene rhediella.

The alder-feeding micro Phyllonorycter kleemannella

Same here, just 4 Muslin, but FFY Green Carpet, Spectacle and Poplar H.M.and a Common Pug disturbed in the garden yesterday.

Another cold night, a full moon, and yet another poor catch.  This time only 3 moths, but at least they were all FFY - 1 each Poplar Hawk, Flame Shoulder, and Chinese Character (makes a change from Hebrews). I nearly missed the last, as it was lurking near the bottom of the trap and not in the egg-trays.

Still waiting for the nights to warm up before I run the trap again but there is an increasing amount of moth activity by day. Today at Sand Point I recorded Glyphipterix simpliciella, Common Carpet plus I don't know how but an Angle Shades was clinging to my camera. Perhaps it was when I leaned over to photograph something? Looking for Glanville Fritillary drew a blank but whilst there I managed to net a Burnet Companion. This is a new site record as far as I can tell and from a species that seems to be restricted to the east side of the Bristol Region. Yesterday I had the larvae of Magpie, Lackey and many Winter Moth plus Agonopterix heracliana.

Burnet Companion

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 4 degrees

Another poor GMS night with only three moths in the trap, 1 Common Quaker and 2 Hebrew Character.

Moths have started to emerge from some of the leaf-mines I collected last autumn - these couple have emerged from hazel leaves.  Although familiar with the mines (both these species are common ones), this is the first time I have seen the adults.

Parornix devoniella

Phyllonorycter coryli

Norton Sub Hamdon
I didn't trap last night but the previous night I recorded only 15 moths but of 12 different species of which 7 were firsts for the year. These included some unusual bedfellows who are not normally seen flying together like Streamer and Eyed Hawk Moth. Other firsts were Poplar Hawk Moth, Small Black Arches, Scorched Carpet, Common Pug and Red Green Carpet. The latter was the 27th record for my garden but the first Spring record. The Poplar Hawk Moth may have been a bit of a cheat as it looked very similar to the one that I had released the previous morning after it had hatched after overwintering in my garage.
These records took me to 53 macro species for the year, a figure I normally reach in the first few days of May.
Last week I went to Thurlbear and although there were a number of Grizzled and Dingy Skippers I didn't see a Duke of Burgundy or hear a Nightingale. Any news of their appearance there would be welcome.

The moth drought continues in my garden - strong north-easterlies on Tuesday night brought another poor catch.
Mocha 1, Garden Carpet 1, Green Carpet 1, Scorched Carpet 1, Waved Umber 2, Brimstone 3, Flame Shoulder 3, Shears 1.

I have masses of Red Campion in flower but nothing at all nectaring on it - in previous years I have seen Large and Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Striped Hawk-moth (magic moment) and Silver Y. I have a camera & flashguns at the ready, but need a warm still night!

A couple of casual observations - a Six-spot Burnet larva found while searching for Bee Orchids in a local field and masses of Micropteryx calthella feeding on the pollen of Pendulous Sedge (Carex pendula by the lake at Wych Lodge.


Larva of Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae, Langport (VC6)


Micropteryx calthella feeding on Carex pendula pollen Wych Lodge (VC5).

Hi Everyone

Just a quick post to say there is a moth and butterfly event running at Mount Fancy Farm on the Blackdown Hills this weekend. We will be running moth traps Saturday night (and looking out for Bats & Nightjar) and inspecting the catches Sunday morning. There will be a butterfly and botany walk, plus a search for Wood Whites & Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary later in the afternoon.

For anyone who might be interested in finding out more about butterfly transects there will also be an opportunity to walk a transect and record butterflies along the way with a regular transect walker. More information is available on the events page of the Blackdown Hills AONB website; http://www.blackdownhillsaonb.org.uk/ or you can give me a ring on 07557 358587.

The event is open to everyone so it would be great if any of you can come along. Come and say hello as it would be good to put a face to names!

All the best, Adam Gale

A friendly visitor at the window this evening:

Norton Sub Hamdon
not a bad night. 62 moths os 21 species including 20 Brimstones and 5 waved Umber. New for the year were Pebble Hook Tip, Pale Prominent, Small Waved Umber and Spectacle. Nothing as pretty as Paul's Netted Pug.

I put the moth trap out last night and was so excited at the new (for me!) moths appearing that I stayed up far too late.  And even better, in the 'pale light of dawn' was a Puss Moth on the wall, along with 2 Swallow Prominents and a Choclate Tip in the trap.  Also among the moths that I hoped, but did not really expect to see here, was a Scorched Carpet.  Also Green Carpet 4, Red Twin spotted Carpet, Garden Carpet 2, Grey Pine Carpet, Purple Bar, Brimstone 2, Common Pug, V-Pug, Early Grey, Clouded Drab 3, Muslin Moth, Coronet, Peeble Prominent, Pale Prominent, and 2 Celypha lacunana (at least I think so until further study) and a Bee Moth. I think I may have the Cider apple growers to thank, Poplar is used extensively as a windbreak tree around here and seems to be the larval foodplant of some of these moths.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 10 degrees

At last a better nights mothing with eighteen moths of 16 species including FFY - Flame Carpet, Small Phoenix, Green Carpet, Clouded Bordered Brindled, Ruby Tiger, Rivulet, Currant Pug and Oak tree Pug.

Into double figures for only the third time this year, but only just !!  A total of 10 moths, of 7 species, including 4 FFY - Brimstone Moth (3), Red Twin-spot Carpet (1), and Buff & White Ermine (1 each). 

I think you're right, Paul - ground-pupating/hibernating species have almost certainly been hit, not only by the extended cold, but I suspect also many have been victims of waterlogged ground over much of the County throughout the Autumn & Winter. In my case, the land around here was saturated or under water for much of the time between October and January. Let's hope for some sort of recovery later this year. Ever the optimist !!

Adam - welcome to the blog.

A blanket of layered cloud and light winds with a slightly muggy feel made me think it was worth trying for some moths. During the day Stigmella aurella, Nettle-tap, Elachista rufocinerea, Incurvaria masculella, Aspylapterix tringipennella, Dichrorampha acuminatana were on the wing plus Scarlet Tiger and Oak Eggar larva found . However the evenings session was surprisingly bad. Several geometers came to light and only one noctuid. In light of these observations it struck me as a possibility that all the ground pupating species have not emerged because of the extended cold weather. The garden trap however did somewhat better for noctuids but towns are warmer than the countryside. The battery ran out after an hour so I decided not to continue with the spare in the car so the total ended with just 13 species with the highlight being a Netted Pug.

Netted Pug Sand Point

Seven moths of six species in the trap this morning: two Shuttle-shaped Dart and single Brimstone, Spectacle, Flame Shoulder, Bright-line Brown-eye and Common Pug.

1 Telechrysis tripuncta flying in the garden at Luckbarrow, West Luccombe today.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 5 degrees

Only six moths of five species but they included FFY - Lesser Swallow Prominent, Flame-shoulder and Spectacle.

In the moth trap on Saturday morning were;

Early Grey - 1, Silver Y - 1, Hebrew Character - 5, Swallow Prominent - 1, Muslin moth- 1, Brimstone - 3, Waved Umber - 1, and a Cockchafer, first of the year.

During the day what I'm fairly certain was a Small Yellow Underwing spent a few moments on some daisies on the lawn. I had pretty good close views, but it disappeared by the time my good lady came back with the camera. I saw a Small Yellow Underwing of the slopes near the giant at Cerne Abbas last weekend. I have ruled out Pyrausta aurata, but I wondered if there were any other possible confusion species, and should I be that surprised to find one in the garden?

Sunday morning produced a similar list, with an extra Early Grey (down from a peak count of 33 on 19/4/), Chocolate-tip - 1, Spectacle - 1, Mullein - 1, Flame Shoulder - 1, Shuttle Shaped Dart - 1,

Things slowly improving, but I'm guessing numbers well down on what you might be expecting at this time of year considering what felt like a couple of much milder nights?

I also thought conditions looked promising, so got the trap out. The result was 8 moths - 4 Hebrew Characters and single Brimstone Moth, Early Thorn, Water Carpet and Muslin Moth!

Only 1 Hebrew Character and 1 male Muslin in the Actinic, zilch in the MV, and 1 White-shouldered House-moth in the loo.  How exciting is that ? (Answer - not very)

T min 9.2C. Despite promising conditions last night only single Iron Prominent, Pebble Prominent and Brimstone in the trap this morning; the Pebble Prominent was FFG.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 5 degrees

Nine moths of five species including one FFY - a Brimstone Moth.

After no moths Thurs.night and 3s and 2s for the last week there were 5 last night! 2Hebrew Character,2Muslin Moth and 1Dotted Chestnut-first one seen in over 2months. I was a bit encouraged as i had my 1st Maybug too. Where has the spraying been happening?

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 4 degrees

Another dull GMS night with only five moths of five species including two FFY - Least Black Arches and Red Twin-spot Carpet. Also in the trap FFY two May Bugs!

At last some moths! After a totally blank trapping session with Malcolm Cotterill at Apex Park in Burnham on Thursday night (we did see Serotine and Piistrelle bats though) last night was better.

Temperature was still 9˚C at midnight but fell away to 5˚C later.

13 moths of 8 species:
Brimstone 3
Waved Umber 2
Chocolate Tip 1
Muslin 1
Least Black Arches 1
Flame Shoulder 1
Hebrew Character 3
Nut-tree Tussock 1

I have been watching a pupa in the garden. The imago must have emerged overnight- but was found dead with wings partly expanded just below it---too cold overnight?

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

Seven moths of five species with one FFY - a Swallow Prominent

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

Singles of five species including two late FFY - Red Chestnut and Powdered Quaker. Also a caterpillar we found on an Azalea in the conservatory which pupated three weeks ago emerged - a Common Marbled Carpet!

Just one Hebrew Character in the trap last night- how desperate is that!

Norton sub Hamdon
Just two moths here again last night. Where have all the moths gone is a very good question which will be closely followed by where have all the songbirds gone etc. It seems amazing that during this really concerning period of insect decline that the Forestry commission can spray an SSSI in order to eliminate moths and admitting that Purple Emperors and White Admirals will also be killed. Are Oak Processionarys really that dangerous? They occurr all over mainland Europe and other Europeans seem to be able to cope without panicking. I know I am speaking through ignorance but can anyone explain the justification?

I drove back from Bridgwater to Langport soon after dusk last night and didn't see a single moth in the headlights! A real cause for concern in mid-May.

Malcolm Cotterill and I will be trapping at Apex Wildlife Park in Burnham-on-Sea this evening - let's hope for some decent results.

NortonSub Hamdon
Mid May and just two moths, a Waved Umber and an Early Thorn and the BBC long range forecast is for cool weather until the middle of next month.

Same old same old - only 5 moths in total.  The only FFY was a Spectacle .

That's all folks !!

In desperation I ran the trap last night and got three moths, two Hebrew Characters in the trap and an Angle Shades on the front door!

Same here- only 5 moths 3 Heb.Ch, a Muslin and a Mullein.

I have had a request from Zoë Randle at BC HQ for Ghost Moth Lek sites. Does anyone know of any in VCs 5 or 6? If so I'd be grateful if you could let me know - if you don't want to publicise them please use my email (john.bebbingtonfrps@btinternet.com).

Another poor night here; T min 7˚ and only 5 moths.
Flame Shoulder 2, Mullein 1, Hebrew Character 1, Powdered Quaker 1.

I hope that someone switches the light at the end of the tunnel on soon!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

A miserable night for GMS, cold, wet, windy, a broken thermometer and, unusually for May, no moths.

An interesting article in 'The Independent' about the greater Wax Moth Galleria melonella yesterday. Follow this link:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-moth-that-made-mobile-phone-companies-sit-up-and-listen-insect-with-sharpest-hearing-in-the-world-could-revolutionise-technology-8608308.html 

Terry Box has asked me to update our external link to the Dorset Moth Group which has a new website. This can be accessed by our links page or from here http://www.dorsetmothgroup.info .

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - wet and windy

Only seven moths of five species including FFY three male Muslin Moths. The females do not come to the trap and we have only once had one flying in sunshine.

Pam and Peter's posts are, as far as I'm concerned, dreamtime - another poor night last night although there was a single Diamond-back Plutella xylostella in the trap, so there is some sort of migration going on! The rest of the catch was very ordinary - Yellow-barred Brindle 1, Brimstone 2, Muslin 1, Shuttle-shaped Dart 1, Hebrew Character 3, Common Quaker 2, Early Grey 1.


The Yellow-barred Brindle was beautifully camouflaged on the alga-covered shed by the trap and I didn't see it until late afternoon.

I had my 1st Nut Tree Tussock on the 2nd May and 1st Muslin Moth on the 6th. Last night i had 30moths of 17species incl. 6ffy. Although i covered the trap at 4.30am only the wings of an Iron Prominent were left. Other ffy were Lunar Marbled Brown,Flame Shoulder,Waved Umber,Red Twin Spot Carpet and a ?Scorched Carpet on a sarcococcus shrub-it flew off! Always saddens me to see the birds have been too close. Mind you the bats were busy at bedtime too but there were a lot of small flies and craneflies around too.

It gets worser and worser !!  Only 4 singletons, all common Orthosia family members.  So much for milder weather.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 9 degrees with rain from 3am.

18 moths of eight species including FFY Purple Thorn and Pebble Prominent

NORTON SUB HAMDON
Only a handful of moths in the last two nights but it did include a Pine Beauty.

Curry Rivel, VC5, 6 May
My wife and I did a quick recce for a Langport Botany Study Group meeting at Batty's Piece meadow. I searched the hedgerows thoroughly but found no larvae at all - I had expected Winter Moth larvae at least. I did however find a Chinese Character at rest on a leaf.


Langport, VC 6, 6-7 May
Another poor return from the moth trap on a cool night (t min 6˚C); Common Quaker 2, Brimstone 1, Depressaria daucella 1. An addition - David Agassiz has identified Caloptilia syringella from a photograph - sadly found dead in the bottom of the trap. This is new for my garden. Many thanks, David.

West Sedgemoor, VC 5, 7 May 2013
A walk along SOuth Drove below Fivehead yielded good numbers of Micropteryx calthella feeding on Carex pendula and Ranunculus repens pollen.


Also saw Brimstone, Orange-tip, Large, Small & Green-veined White and Peacock butterflies.

21 moths of 10 species last night, including FFY Brimstone, Muslin Moth and Bright-line Brown-eye. A surprisingly large total considering it was a clear, coolish, night!

Same old story - only 11 moths altogether, including 7 Hebrew Characters, and nowt else of interest.

Ho hum

Very poor yet again - only 9 moths of 6 species in total in two traps, including FFY Silver Y and a male Muslin Moth. Warmer nights to come ?  I hope so.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 4 degrees

14 moths of seven species including FFY a Frosted Green and our House Martins are back!

Not much moth news but saw a Painted Lady butterfly at Hardington Moor.

NORTON SUB HAMDON
72 moths of 19 species with 10 firsts for the year as well as a second and much fresher Dark Sword Grass. Year firsts were Water Carpet, Purple Thorn, Yellow Barred Brindle, Brindled Pug,Chinese Character, Pebble Prominent, Knot Grass, Flame Shoulder, Powdered Quaker and Nut-tree Tussock.

First trap of the year at this garden only 17 moths of 6 species including Brindled Beauty,Common Quaker,Clouded Drab,Hebrew Character, Small Quaker and 2 Pug species

Moths a dead loss here the last 2 nights, but Orange Tips in the garden at last.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 5 degrees and rain from 4am

Eleven moths of eight species including, as Paul will be interested to know, a FFY Chocolate Tip.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 4 degrees

20 moths of seven species including FFY Lunar Marbled Brown and A.yeatiana.

Still only a few moths, although it is still very cold in the night.  Only 12 in the traps last night, with only one FFY - a Chocolate Tip.  This is the first one I've seen here for 5 years, so very welcome.

We saw our first Orange Tips (2) on the wing yesterday, and a Small White two days ago - butterflies still thin on the ground, like the moths, and as yet no dragon- or damsel-flies.

p.s.  1.45 pm .  A male Azure damselfly appeared in the house - a nice surprise.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

If you Google - Mouse scared by Peacock Butterfly - you may enjoy tha result!

Norton Sub Hamdon

Easily the most productive night of the year so far with 51 macros of 9 species. This is more than half my April total and over 4 times the size of my March total.
Firsts for the year were a presumed migrant Dark Sword Grass, Brindled Beauty, Brimstone and Red Chestnut.
21 species for the year so far. In 2011 I had 77 by 1st May and even in the worst year I had recorded over 40 different species by now.

If you are not a Guardian reader you should read this article!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/29/bee-harming-pesticides-banned-europe

Mark Parsons of Butterfly Conservation has emailed me to say that he found 4 small Celypha woodiana mines on Mistletoe at Muchelney Abbey yesterday (30 April); 3 on apple trees, one on Hawthorn.

Mark would like to encourage survey effort for this species in a couple of weeks time when the mines should be bigger. Any mines with silk on the outside will not be woodiana.

There is a factsheet on the downloads page of the BC website at www.butterfly-conservation.org/files/mistletoe-marble-factsheet-psf.pdf

Please try to help in this important survey work - a good photo or photos of any mine(s) you find will be useful.