Shopping in Taunton today - a single Chestnut Conistra vaccinii on a shop window in the town centre.

Hi Sue,

That Macaria is a nice moth - I wouldn't mind a few of those in the trap next year.  Not sure about the pyralid though as I am hoping to grow beetroot in the garden this year.

Keep on mothin' in the free world!

Weather freezing but at least no floods, hardly any butterflies but we do have moths, with lovely names, Spotted Beet Webworm Moth and Southern Chocolate Angle moth!

Thank you Sue..enjoying pug site….it's brilliant Thank you

Rather optimistically ran the trap last night; said optimism was unfounded and the grand total was zero moths.

Not a lot to report - nothing in either trap last night, but 2 A.heracliana came to the kitchen window in the evening - better than nowt.

I have copied this from the IOW site, Dave Evans shared it: Pugs of Lancashire  for those of you who haven't already come across it- its a great guide to Pug ID.

An introduction to moth genitalia dissection 11.00am – 4.00pm, Sunday 9 February 2014, Activities Room, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Queen’s Road, Bristol BS8 1RL Mike Bailey and Ray Barnett will lead this session which will show you how to go about dissecting moths to verify identification by reference to their genitalia.  Prior booking is required so that we can ensure we have sufficient stereoscopic microscopes and resources to give all attendees an opportunity to have a go.  We shall be borrowing microscopes from the university but if you can bring your own, if you have one, that would be very helpful and probably preferable in terms of being familiar with the equipment you will use at home.

To book your place please e-mail ray.barnett@bristol.gov.uk or ring on 0117-3525896 or Mike on 01761 471000

Please can anyone advise our new member Steve Chapple on moth-trap electrics. This is something I'm not competent at!

If you can help please contact Steve: steve.chapple@talk21.com

Thanks in advance.

Hi Paul

Found this one hibernating in an outside toilet at Elm Farm, Burnett on Wednesday morning.

688 Agonopterix heracliana

I actually caught a moth last night - 1 Agonopterix heracliana in the MV trap.

A single Common Plume was my moth total for last night, also an earwig and a Ladybird.
Paul W - A belated thanks for the Apple Leaf Skeletonizer photos and info. Collecting and raising the Larva looks to be a good way of getting the ID right!

Nothing here in Bishop's Hull either.

Well, it was mild, dry (for a change) and very little wind, so maybe a reasonable night for moths ?  Apparently not - nothing in either trap this morning. I suspect they're all a bit shell-shocked.

3Winter Moth,and 1Mottled Umber this morning in trap.

The first moths of the year here - 2 male Decembers, both looking a bit frayed around the edges, but it's nice to start the year off with a positive result, even so.

Five December Moths in the trap at midnight plus many mosquitos and one ladybird. Nothing seen on the wing though. Happy Mothing in 2014. Best wishes Pam