Robin Clatworthy very kindly phoned to ask if I would like to see the Dusky-lemon Sallow that came to his garden trap yesterday. This is obviously where all the interesting moths are heading - he'd also got a Dark Spectacle!

Trapping results are getting poorer and poorer here. Last night produced 25 moths of 10 species - more like late October than September. The one consolation was FFY Sallow. Lunar Underwing is still top scorer here, with 11. Interestingly I've trapped 145 so fat this year, compared to 79 in all of 2013. Large YU numbers have tailed right off but that's probably to be expected since they peaked earlier this year.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 10.6 degrees

17 species including another second brood - a Smoky Wainscot.

Spruce Carpet was the only first for the year last night with a Treble Brown Spot adding to the run of unusual second brood species being recorded this year. A Vestal was the only migrant.
The Lunar Underwing recovery has not yet reached here. Their numbers peaked in 2005 and 2006 when I recorded over 500 in each year but then steadily collapsed over the next few years with my only seeing 20 in 2012 and 30 in 2013. This year is marginally better but I don't anticipate seeing more than 70-80. Normally moth numbers seem to fluctuate fairly uniformly around the region so I cannot explain why they appear to be doing so much better only a few miles from here.

A warm damp night- 90 months of 23 species, Lunar UW by far the commonest -38, followed by Large YUW -17, 2 Silver Y but no other migrants, 1 Beautiful Hook-tip,1 Spectacle,3 Straw Dots, 1 Least and 1 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. FFYs Black Rustic, Beaded Chestnut, Barred Sallow, also more Centre-barred Sallow. A few micros Agon. alstromeriana has reappeared, probably after disturbing the wood pile.

T Min 15°C. 33 moths of 13 species. Red Underwing was FFG & Black Rustic FFY.

I had thought that the colder night would reduce the numbers - not so !!  133 moths, but only 19 species.  Lunar Underwings (78) and Large Yellow Underwings (19) were the most numerous, and there were no FFY this time.  One surprise was a second generation Yellow-tail - three weeks later than the only other time this has occurred here, in 2006 - clearly a warmer dry Summer suits them as it seems to have done with many other species.  55 small black beetles, more than a dozen assorted Caddises, and 2 Ichneumon Wasps, but only 2 Craneflies made up the catch.

Stigmella tiliae is a leaf-miner I do not come across too often.  This one is feeding on a 'green island' in a fallen leaf, found today at Lower Woods east of Frome.

Ran a 125w MV Skinner at Netherclay until 01.15h this morning. 172 moths of 26 species. Common Marbled Carpet (45) & Snout (27) were the most numerous and Acleris sparsana & Eudonia pallida were site firsts.

A decent catch last night with Common Marbled Carpet outnumbering all the other species put together.  Good to find Brown-spot Pinion, Brindled Green and Frosted Orange in the trap - Brindled Green is I think new to the garden and Frosted Orange certainly is - I haven't recorded one in any of my gardens since 2007.

A strangely quiet night given the weather conditions (not below 14C, still, often cloudy ) and the surroundings of mixed woodland, meadow and scrub; 26 Macro sp. (67 moths), 4 Micros sp. (7 moths).

Singles of Black Rustic, Beautiful Hooktip, Brindled Green, Chestnut, Flounced Chestnut, Oak Hooktip, Sallow, Orange Sallow, Red Green Carpet and Riband Wave. Most numerous; Light Emerald(11), Common Marbled Carpet(10), Snout(6), Pink Sallow(5) and 4 each of Canary and Dusky Thorns and Willow Beauty.  Only one of each of LYU and Square-spot Rustic and no Lunar Underwings at all!

Micros; Large Fruit-tree Tortrix(2), Ypsolopha parenthesella(1), Acleris emargana(3), and Agonopterix arenella(1)

Driving back, not a single moth was seen in the headlights until south of Taunton. Robin had put his trap out at home in Merriott that same night and recorded 57 moths of 20 sp. from a single MV light as opposed to the 3 MV and 2 actinic lights at Langford. Perhaps there was a difference in conditions that only the moths could detect!

Another indifferent trapping session last night - more like late October than late September - with 32 moths of 11 species. FFY were a second generation Lilac Beauty and a Beaded Chestnut. Also of interest were a Black Rustic and Burnished Brass. Lunar Underwing is still top scorer (12).

A Brown-spot Pinion was yet another first for my garden last night. Another surprise was a 2nd brood Alder Moth.

Similar results to the last few nights - 96 moths of 19 species, including 45 Lunar Underwings.  FFY were Vestal, Sallow and Barred Sallow.  Also second generaton Vine's Rustic (quite a small individual), Straw Dot (2) and Light Emerald (2), and a single late Crambus perlella.  Still gettiing lots of small black beetles and Crane Flies, with a couple of Ichneumon Wasps as well, quite a varied catch !!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11.3 degrees

18 species the only one worth reporting being a second brood Buff Arches which I have never previously taken as late as this.

Two traps run in mixed woodland, with kind permission of the estate manager - species as follows:

Large Yellow Underwing (9), Copper Underwing (7), Snout (4), Common Marbled Carpet (2), Lunar Underwing (2), singles of Beaded Chestnut, Black Rustic, Brown-spot Pinion, Barred Sallow, Green-brindled Crescent, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Rush Veneer.

When over half the species are new to the 10km square, including Lunar Underwing, you know you are in an area no-one has bothered to record in at this time of year before...

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 10.4 degrees

24 species including FFY - Black Rustic and Beaded Chestnut and like Paul we had a mass of small black beetles.

No large black beetles this time (see yesterday's blog), but 43 small ones !  As far as moths go, there were 86 of 22 species.  The only FFY was a Shaded Broad-bar, which is only the second record here, the other being in 2005. Also a surprisingly late Dingy Footman, nearly 3 weeks later than any I have recorded here previously.

Contrary to what many encountered last night, I had my best night for a little while with 41 species from only 106 moths. Six new for my garden (only two years here) and three NFY. The best being: Large Ranunculus, Brindled Green x2, Blair’s Shoulder Knot, Beaded Chestnut x4, Cypress Pug x2, Barred Sallow x5, Orthopygia glaucinalis, Eudonia pallida, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix x2, Acleris sparsana, Ypsolopha sequella, Crocidosema plebejana, and Cedestis subfasciella that James McGill kindly confirmed for me. I had also second brood Small Emerald, Knot Grass, Straw Dot and Treble Brown Spot.

Clearly mixed results around the county! Last night, with conditions seemingly good, produced just 28 moths of 10 species here. Highest scorer was Lunar Underwing with 7.

Sue - it looks right - have you sent photo to John B. &/or David A ?  They should be able to confirm or not.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - 14.6 degrees and wet.

The cloudier night was better for moths with 22 species ( instead of a miserable 7 with the temperature at 7.8.) One nice FFY - a Delicate.

A milder damp night produced almost 100 moths, of 21 species.  Lunar Underwing again the most numerous (27), and there were FFY Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (first here since 2011) and Beaded Chestnut.  Also another Scrobipalpa costella - odd how seven years have passed since my previous record, and now two in two days !! 

However, quite the most spectacular visitor to the MV trap was a Great Silver Water Beetle (Hydrophilus piceus) - what a magnificent beetle !!  This is actually the second time I've had one in the moth trap, the other one being April 2007).  Good to know that they are still in the area.

A paltry 14 moths of seven species including one Heart & Dart; the first time I have had a second brood individual here. (Found single Wax Moth & Willow Beauty this afternoon so now 16 moths of nine species Wow!).

Any experts on SW France? .....possible Dumeril's Rustic?

Some nice leaf miners around Midsomer Norton at the weekend.  The old coal-tips in the area often have quantities of birch on them and have been producing interesting leaf miners not often recorded in VC6 - Stigmella continuella is a good example.

I have only just begun searching for the mines of Mompha raschkiella on rosebay willowherb, but they are very pretty and very easy to find.

A couple of Ectoedemia albifasciella larvae.

I had Centre-barred Sallow and Large Ranunculus among a small catch at actinic light in the garden last night, only the second garden record I have had for each.

Just managed to get the traps in this morning as it was starting to rain (not forecast !!).  71 moths of 16 species only in total, but lots of caddis flies, black beetles (not as many as last time) and a few craneflies.  FFY were Black Rustic and a late Bryotropha affinis, plus the first Scrobipalpa costella since 2007.  A slight surprise was a very late (?second generation?) Mottled Rustic.  There does seem to be a greater number of second generations here this year.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 8.2 degrees

16 species including FFY - Pine Carpet and a Brindled Green.

With it being clear and cold there were very few moths last night but I did get 3 firsts for the year, Beaded Chestnut, Pale Eggar and Brindled Green. The Pale Eggar was the first since 2010 and I have had less than 10 records of Brindled Green so both were a bit of a surprise.

Having read the list of species Robin Clatworthy had recorded last month in his garden I had another look at what I initially identified as just a small Common Wainscot. Robin has now confirmed that it is a Small Wainscot which is a first for me. I have now had 9 new moths this year which is well above average.
The most macros I've ever recorded was 285 different species in 2006 when we had some fantastic migrants to boost the numbers. This year, with very little migration, I am set to beat that number easily. I don't know why this should be as I am getting the impression that most of the common moths are having poor years. A little migration would be welcome especially something like that Clifden Nonpareil that was caught elsewhere a few days ago.

An equally quiet night here, with 43 moths of 15 species, 20 of which were Lunar Underwings.

Cold night, few moths.  Only 49, of which 38 were Lunar Underwings, and only 7 species.  No FFY, but a Grey Pine Carpet (surprisingly very washed out, but just about identifiable) is a FFG. 

8.15 p.m.  Just found a Canary-shouldered Thorn, which had escaped from this morning's trap-opening.  Otherwise no change.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 7.1 degrees

Colder and only 13 species including FFY - a Turnip Moth. We also had another Flame which Mapmate queries as late though Waring and Townsend say a second generation is becoming more frequent.

This is for the last time

where's the picture?  I give up..or have one more go perhaps

This is a new one for me..always welcome

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 11.4 degrees

28 species including a site first in 14 years an Annulet.  Also FFY - Willow Beauty (3). Unusually we had a Red Admiral in the trap. We also had another second brood White Ermine.

Its a really good week for immigrant moths... yesterday we had a lovely marked vestle and today we have a scarce bordered straw, a beautiful silver y and a Catocala fraxini (Clifden Nonpareil) I will try and update this post with pictures later but put your traps on tonight!!!

David we've just been on holiday near Lulworth and found a Short-cloaked moth near the trap.  I see in Waring & Townsend that they were recorded in Sept after the hot summer of 2006.  And in the SMG Atlas there shows there have been a very few then too.  Are they on the increase perhaps?

Lucky you Tara and Roscoe with the Clifden Nonpareil!

Last night's cloudy and muggy conditions produced 183 moths of 27 species. FFY were Small Blood-vein (my first September record), Pine Carpet, September Thorn and Black Rustic (all singles). It's still largely the 'Underwing' show, with 53 Lunar Underwings (more than double my previous highest count) and 76 Large Yellow (now my second highest count). Others of interest were my first September Single-dotted Wave and latest Ruby Tiger.

A Silver Y was on the wall nearby. It's been a poor year here for them, with only 8 recorded. Yet many other species have done well, considering all of the late records I've been getting. The year to date has produced 261 species, compared to 289 for the same period last year. It would be nice to have more immigrants pushed this way!

Its a really good week for immigrant moths... yesterday we had a lovely marked vestle and today we have a scarce bordered straw, a beautiful silver y and a Catocala fraxini (Clifden Nonpareil) I will try and update this post with pictures later but put your traps on tonight!!!

The last two nights there has been in my trap in Weston-super-Mare a specimen of Nola cucullatella Short-cloaked moth. I can find no record in the literature of a second brood of this species.

This, seemingly, dyed Frosted Orange was clinging to the outside of my trap on the 18th September. In the torchlight at 5am it was quite an alarming sight. I wondered if it was part of a dispersal experiment as the green dye is almost unnaturally bright and continues onto the underside and legs. Can anyone shed any light on this?

A further 12 escapees rounded up - total now 119, of 19 species - still nothing exciting.

Due to weather this meeting, due to happen tonight, has unfortunately been cancelled.

I was hoping for a large number of moths, as it was mild & muggy, with a waning moon.  However, only just over 100 turned up, of only 18 species, and no FFY. However, I expect to add to the total later, as there are a few escapees to be rounded up this evening at dusk. There were assorted other insects, including several crane flies in cop, 2 shield bugs, a scorpion fly, 2 ichneumon wasps, a wood wasp, several dung flies, and 68 small black beetles Maybe the moths couldn't get a look in !!

3 MV traps run until 1am at Crook Peak last night recording 65 species including some nice micro's. Highlights included:

• 1 Parectopa ononidis
• 3 Depressaria badiella
• 2 Lunar Underwing
• 1 Archips podana
• 3 Autumnal Rustic
• 1 Blastobasis lacticolella
• 3 Oak Hook-tip
• 1 Black Rustic
• 1 Galium Carpet
• 6 Feathered Gothic
• 2 Treble-bar
• 2 Pyrausta cingulata
• 2 Paraswammerdamia albicapitella
• 1 Mompha miscella
• 1 Acleris laterana
• 1 Ancylis comptana

Depressaria badiella (Gen Det)

Parectopa ononidis

With good conditions last night (minimum 16.8C) I was hoping for something special. Unfortunately this did not happen but I trapped 129 moths of 26 species. No FFY but of interest were my latest ever dates for The Spectacle and Clay Triple-lines. Otherwise the usual suspects for the time of year!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe. Min Temp 15.1 degrees

32 species of moths and lots of Daddy-long legs ! FFY Autumnal Rustic and Sallow (2)

Still nothing much happening here - 64 moths, but only 14 species, and no FFY.  Ho hum.

Many thanks Liz - you learn something new every day, don't you ??  (If you're paying attention, that is !)

It's name is Mecyna asinalis and as you say it is a coastal species of the south and west coasts of England and Wales with wild Madder as a larval food plant. It's status is Nb. (Info. from Christ Manley's british Moths and Butterflies a Photographic guide).

Liz - could you please clarify for me the scientific name for the "Pearl Madder" moth you recorded and photographed at Hurlestone ?  It's not a moth I'm familiar with (presumably it's a coastal species), and I can find no trace of the name in my moth books.  I'd love to know what it is please.

Temperature held at 16C minimum last night but it was still a quiet night, with 84 moths of 21 species. Only FFY was Cabbage Moth. There's a number of second or later generation moths around, including Garden and Green Carpets, Purple Bar and Flame Shoulder.

Just to clarify. I had 2 Lunar Underwings, not Lunar Yellow Underwings as I stated below. It was a written error rather than ID error! I've corrected it now.  Thanks Paul for letting me know! :)

Robin Clatworthy's list of species trapped in his Merriot garden in August during 11 nights trapping;

Blood-vein, Bordered Pug, Single-dotted Wave, Poplar Hawk-moth, Jersey Tiger, Ruby Tiger, Common Footman, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, Pebble Hook-tip, Black Arches, Pebble Prominent, Heart and Dart, Flame Shoulder, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Common Rustic, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Marbled Green, Silver Y, Spectacle, Straw Dot, Dog's Tooth, Ghost Moth, Magpie Moth, Riband Wave, Plain Wave, Purple Thorn, Brimstone Moth, Common Carpet, Small Phoenix, Bordered Beauty, Swallow Prominent, Clouded Border, Dark Arches, Uncertain, Cabbage Moth, Six-striped Rustic, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Nut-tree Tussock, Marbled Beauty, Maiden's Blush, Maple Pug, Small Rufous, Herald, Gold Spot, Burnished Brass, Dun-bar, Sharp-angled Peacock, Willow Beauty, Dusky Thorn, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Common Wave, Common White Wave, Mocha,

Buff Ermine, Pale Prominent, Iron Prominent, Large Yellow Underwing, Small Wainscot, Small Rivulet, Rivulet, Yellow-barred Brindle, Flame Carpet, Garden Carpet, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Purple Bar, Double-striped Pug, Lime-speck Pug, Orange Swift, Elephant Hawk-moth, Small Square-spot, Lychnis, Vine's Rustic, Dark / Grey Dagger, Light Emerald, Early Thorn, Square-spot Rustic, Red Underwing, Rosy Rustic, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Angle Shades, Smoky Wainscot, Chinese Character, Green Carpet, Sharp-angled Carpet, September Thorn, Cypress Pug, Yellow Shell, Bulrush Wainscot, Pale Mottled Willow, Snout, Twin-spotted Wainscot, Brown-veined Wainscot.

Highlights of the autumn Hurlstone trip were as follows; Anomalous(5), Autumnal Rustic(2), Large Ear (1), Feathered Gothic(1), Flounced Chestnut(2), Galium Carpet(5), Grass Emerald(1), Heath Rustic(1), Hedge Rustic(6), L-album Wainscot(1), Mullein Wave(5), Northern Rustic(1), Oak Hook-tip(1), Pinion-streaked Snout(2), September Thorn(1), Madder Pearl(15). Altogether 51 species (incl. 5 Micro sp) from 4 125w MV traps, of which Square-spot Rustic(57) and Willow Beauty(29) were the most common. Robin was concerned that we did not see any Black-banded which have previously been recorded at Hurlestone at this time of year.

As expected, I had an increase in species of moths at my Mum's garden in Frome. It's a more open garden than my rather overgrown one so I presume the light is more obvious from farther away, therefore drawing more moths in. I had 51 moths of 16 species as follows: LYU 14 Lesser YU 8 Lunar Underwing 2 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1 Brimstone 4 Burnished Brass Common Marbled Carpet 6 Garden Carpet 2 Square-spot Rustic 3 Flounced Rustic 1 Setaceous Hewbew Character 1 Oak Hooktip 2 Pale Mottled Willow 1 Micros: Common Plume 1 LBAM 3 Anania coronata 1

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 12.2 degrees

24 species including FFY - a Vestal.

3 traps run at Draycott Sleights last week on 11th till 11pm recording 47 species the best being 2 specimens of Stenoptilia zophodactyla.  Also recorded:

• 3 Hedge Rustic
• c.10 Feathered Gothic
• 1 Treble Bar
• 1 Annulet
• 1 Lunar Underwing
• 1 Dusky Thorn
• 1 Autumnal Rustic
• 1 Depressaria heraclei
• 1 Agonopterix nervosa
• 2 Acleris rhombana

Stenoptilia zophodactyla

Definitely an Autumnal chill last night, and only 47 moths and 15 species.  There were 2 FFY - Lunar Underwing (4) and Frosted Orange.  Brimstones in abundance (well, 7 anyway).

T Min 10.5°C & foggy. Just 23 moths of 12 spp. Centre-barred Sallow was FFY.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 12.9 degrees

26 species including, as I put out the trap, an FFY- a Humming bird Hawk moth nectaring on Buddleia. In the trap a great surprise a Shark! Mapmate thinks this is late and so do I.  We had two at the start of July.

Reasonable numbers last night considering the cloudless skies. Highlights were 2 Small Blood Veins. These are normally recorded annually here but after missing out on the first generation I thought I was going to fail to record them this year.

The mystery micro from a few days ago has been determined as Lobesia abscisana by David Agassiz, to whom my thanks.  This is only the second record here, in spite of the larval food plant being creeping thistle, of which I have quite a lot growing in the orchard and field. One would expect it to be more frequent !!

Kind of a 'beige' night last night in my garden in Frome and with few moths (29) or species (11) as follows: LYU 7, Lesser YU 3, Square-spot Rustic 5, Vine's Rustic 1, Common Marbled Carpet 5, Garden Carpet 1, Pale Mottled Willow 1, Snout 1.  Micros LBAM males 3, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix male 1 and Celypha Lacunana 1.

I've put the trap out in my Mum's garden in Frome tonight hoping for a more varied catch tomorrow.

Minimum of 14C last night produced 109 moths of 23 species. No FFY. Single Purple Bar, Willow Beauty and The Flame were my latest records for those species.There was also a nice pristine Green Carpet

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11.7 degrees

32 species including FFY - Cypress Pug.

44 moths of 19 spp. A Cypress Pug & several Horse Chestnut Leaf-miners were FFY and 450 Scythropia crataegella (Hawthorn Moth) FFG.

Slightly better last night - 102 moths of 21species, but no FFY or anything exciting.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11.4 degrees

29 Species including FFY - Oak Hook Tip and Lunar Underwing.

A cool, clear night and not much happening so I packed up at midnight. Only 80 moths of 18 spp. Square-spot rustic (21), Snout (19) & Brimstone (10) were the most numerous. Centre-barred Sallow (3) was FFS and 228 Monopis weaverella (1) and 1042 Aclreis rhombana (2) the only micros.

Last night produced 23 species, top of the numbers Square-spot Rustic-31, followed by Brimstone-20, second generation Oak Hook Tip, Burnished Brass, Peach Blossom, Riband Wave and yet more Chinese Characters. Centre-barred Sallow-4, few micros but one FFG Eudonia pallida was a nice surprise.

Cloudy with a minimum of 13C last night, producing 140 moths of 23 species. The only FFY was Small Dusty Wave (first for 3 years). Of the others, Pale Mottled Willow and The Snout produced my highest counts of these species (4 and 5 respectively) and Large Yellow Underwing produced my second biggest count (72). Also of interest were 3 second-generation Burnished Brass and yet another Chinese Character. I've trapped more of the latter this year than in any previous year. Micros are in short supply.

55 moths of 24 spp. No fewer than three of these were FFG: Pale Eggar, Barred Hook-tip & Frosted Orange.

These cold nights are not good for numbers.  68 moths, 20 species only.  A second-generation Oak Hook-tip was the first here since 2011, otherwise same commonplace old stuff, although there is one micro to be sorted in due course.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe- Min temp 9.5 degrees

98 moths (including 68 LYU's) and one FFY - a Pink-barred Sallow.

Little in the trap last night as expected on a cool clear night. Only surprises were a Dingy Footman over a month since the last one and 2 very fresh Ruby Tigers that I presume were 3rd generation. It is over a month since the last of the 2nd generation.

Quite cold and clear, with a full moon - doesn't make for lots of moths !  Only 30 altogether, of 8 species, and nothing new.

T Min 10°C last night and 32 moths of 13 species. Small Dusty Wave was FFG & Lunar Underwing FFY.

Two traps, on Saturday and Monday nights, with respective totals of 117 moths of 28 species and 87 moths of 19 species. The only FFY were Agonopterix alstromeriana and Lunar Underwing.

I agree with Paul about Pale Mottled Willow. I had two of them in the trap last night.

Chris - I thnk the first one is most likely a Pale Mottled Willow.  Other than that, I can't help much !!  Did you by any chance keep the specimens ?  If so, you could try John Bebbington in his role as Recorder.  Good luck.

Hi Chris

I think your Geometridae is a Tissue (Triphosa dubitata) they appear to be quite variable and the illustration in Waring and Townsend is not necessarily typical, but the scalloped edge of the hindwing seems to be constant as is the 'notch' in the outer central cross line which are both evident in your specimen. Check out the variations on the internet for the Tissue. The flight season is OK too.

Paul

I ran the trap at Ammerdown Park last Friday, with kind permission from the estate owners.  Some nice moths in and among the hordes of Large Yellow Underwings, but these three below have me puzzled. 

This small noctuid fits in terms of size, though not really markings, with Light Feathered Rustic, although I cannot imagine that it actually is.

As the photo shows, this large geometrid is bigger than the November Moths that it somewhat resembles - what is it?

I think this little tortricid might be an Acleris, but cannot get any further with it than that.  Can anyone help?

Must have been quite chilly last night, as there were only 48 moths of 17 species in two traps.  No FFY, but second generation Lilac Beauty and Garden Carpet were a bit of a surprise, both having been absent for about 3 months.

Over 300 moths last night but only Grey Pine Carpet being a year first. There was a 2nd generation Peach Blossom and a pristine Elephant Hawk Moth. I presume this is also a second generation and the first I have ever recorded. 2 Vestals were the only migrants

Caught this last week. Not sure of identification and the picture is not very sharp. Could it be 1247 Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana?

Trapped last night and got my best catch of the year but still only 108 moths. 53 Large Yellow Underwing was by far my highest count of the year as up until last week the most I'd caught in one night was two. Old lady, Flounced Rustic, Svenssons Copper Underwing and Bryotropha affinis were firsts for the year.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 13.4 degrees

39 species including FFY - Orange Swift and a first second brood Purple Bar.  With 119 Large Yellow Underwing we reached our first century of the year!

Jenny - looks about right to me - well done.

I got my new 125W MV Skinner moth trap Thursday morning so set it up in my Mum's garden that night. I got 24 species as follows: 45 LgYU 6 Lesser YU 1 Lesser Broad-bordered YU 7 Brimstone 5 Orange Swift (all males, I have yet to ever see a female!) 3 Setaceous Hewbrew Character 3 Snout 1 Angle Shades 1 Blood-vein 5 Common Marbled Carpet 1 Garden Carpet 1 Double-striped Pug 1 Flounced Rustic 5 Square-spot Rustic 1 Common Wainscot 2 Dusky Thorn 1 Spectacle 1 Willow Beauty

Micros 5 Common plume 14 LBAM (4 male 10 female) 1 Agriphila tristella 2 Agriphila genicula 1 Eudonia pallida - query (hopefully, there is a photo of this micro below, it's my first time trying to add a photo. I'd be grateful if anyone could confirm the id, thanks)

Deleted, double post.

A session at home on Tuesday night with the borrowed Skinner trap. 19 species.  Lg Yellow Underwing dominated with 33 individuals, the rest in single figures of Lesser YU, LBbYU, Flame Shoulder, Orange Swift (male), Sq-spot Rustic, Common Rustic and Vine's Rustic, a lovely fresh Green Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Garden Carpet, Sm Sq spot, Setaceous Hewbrew Character and Pale Mottled Willow.

Micros of 1 agriphila tristella, 1 Beautiful Plume and LBAM 6 male and 3 female.

Moderate numbers again - 97 of 23 species.  FFY were Bordered Beauty (first since 2011), Agriphila geniculea, & Centre-barred Sallow, and a FFG Bud Moth (Spilonota ocellana) This moth seems to be quite sparsely distributed across the County, surprisingly so considering its varied larval foodplants. The fact that I haven't encountered it before is a bit of a mystery, given that we have all it needs here - maybe I've been a bit unlucky.

Still catching up after a bumper crop. Like Ian an unusual number of Chinese Characters- 9,lots of the usual suspects, FFYs, Small Dusty Wave, Purple Bar, Lime-speck Pug, Oak Hook-Tips, also 3 Nephopterix angustella, 2 Rusty-dot Pearl and a first Ebulea crocealis.

Not huge numbers but a first Small Wainscot, and Copper Underwings, Pretty. Chalk Carpet, Engrailed, Pale Eggars, Maiden's Blush, Grey Pine Carpet and Pinion-streaked Snout..

Not an especially huge catch for the time of year, but I don't think I've ever had one in which Brimstone Moth was the most common species before!  Followed in by Large Yellow Underwing.

One species living up to its name here is the leaf-miner Ectoedemia septembrella whose mines are very prominent at the moment on my ornamental Hypericum - worth keeping an eye open for if you have this plant.

Nice to see a few records of Heath Rustic from around the county lately.  I recorded one last year on the Exmoor mires and when checking through the database it appeared to be the first for quite a while, so it is good to know it is about elsewhere.

A much milder night than expected produced the most moths since the end of July with 417 macros of 44 species. Easily the most numerous was Large Yellow Underwing with 156 followed by 49 Square-spot Rustics. Amongst the others 13 Chinese Characters was the most I've ever recorded in one night and a White Point was the first since 2010.

With a minimum temperature of 17C overnight I was expecting good numbers. It turned out to be quite reasonable, with 150 moths of 27 species. FFY were Rusty Dot Pearl (first for three years), Rush Veneer and Centre-barred Sallow (2 of each). Also of interest were second generation Green Carpets and Chinese Characters. The biggest numbers are still Flame Shoulder (20) and Large Yellow Underwing (57).  I'm now beginning to get several worn specimens that defy identification!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 13.2 degrees

25 species including FFY - Frosted Orange and Spindle Ermine.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11.9

Only 22 species including FFY - Centre-barred Sallow and second broods of Dark Arches, Light Emerald and Spruce Carpet.

Where's this "mini heat wave" we were supposed to get this week ?  Another chilly night, and average numbers of moths - 93 of 23 species. including second generation Green and Common Marbled Carpets, a FFY Pale Eggar, and FFG Pyrausta purpuralis.  Good numbers of Brimstone Moth, but fewer Large Yellow U/W.

A good night with over 200 moths of 46 species. Sq.spot Rustic top at 48, Small sq. spot, 45. Lots of Thorns, 7 Canary, 4 August and 5 Dusky. 3 Rosy Rustics, 6 Vine's Rustics, 9 Flounced Rustics and The Rustic back. FFYs Pale Eggar, Centre-barred Sallow, Chinese Character, Pinion-streaked Snout, some nice micros, Cyclamen Tortrix, Codling Moth, Gold Triangle and FFG Water Veneer.

1 MV and 1 actinic run until mid-night on Black Down last night recording some nice moths. The best were Heath Rustic which hasn't been recorded on the Mendips for over 25 years. I also agonised over a micro for 2 hours which turned out to be a female Elachista canapennella. I didn't realise they looked so different from the males. Highlights from last night were:

• 5 Heath Rustic
• 11 Anomalous
• 2 Tissue
• 4 Chevron
• 1 Diamond-back Moth
• 6 Antler
• 8 Small Wainscot
• 3 Feathered Gothic
• 5 Autumnal Rustic
• 1 Broom Moth larva

Female Elachista canapennella

I've had an email from Nicola Hawkins at the Kingcombe Centre - for those of you who don't know the Centre it is very comfortable and the food is excellent!

She says:

I am wondering whether any of your Moth Group members would be interested to know that I have some last minute places available on our Autumn Moths Course at the Kingcombe Centre in Dorset on 10-14th October 2014.   I have a summer sale available of 15% discount from normal prices making the 5 day course only £315 pp including all accommodation, tuition and catering.   Full details are found here: http://www.kingcombe.org/autumn_moths.html   Hope this is of interest to your group.

Although not cold, moths were thin on the ground at Swell Wood. It was a windy night with occasional strong gusts and this undoubtedly had an effect.  As there were only 24 macro species and 7 Micro species, I thought I could fit the entire night’s moths on this page! (2 125 MV light used from about 8.30 till 11.30pm). A few micro sp. awaiting identification.

Black Arches-1
Brimstone Moth-17,
Burnished Brass-1,
Canary-shouldered Thorn-1,
Common Carpet-1,
Common Marbled Carpet-1,
Common Wave-1,
Copper Underwing-1,
Dun-bar-1,
Flame Shoulder-2,
Ingrailed Clay-1,
Large Yellow Underwing-4,
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing-7,
Light Emerald-3,
Magpie Moth-1,
Maiden's Blush-1,
Mocha-6,
Pale Eggar-1,
Peach Blossom-2,
Riband Wave-1,
Snout-5,
Small Square-spot-1,
Spectacle-1,
Square-spot Rustic-1,
Micros;
Mother of Pearl-3,
Honeysuckle Moth-1,
Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix -5,
Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix-2,
Eudonia mercurella-9
Agonopterix arenella-2,
Light Brown Apple Moth-1.

Minimum 14C last night, despite clear weather, with 102 moths of 17 species. The Large Yellow Underwing and Flame Shoulder show continues with 51 of the former and 18 of the latter! FFY were Angle Shades (surprisingly) and Flounced Rustic. The only others of note were a late Swallow Prominent (looking very pristine) and 2 Orange Swifty.

T Min 12°C. Only 49 moths of 18 species but was delighted to have trapped FFG Old Lady.

Still modest numbers, 86 moths of 19 species.  Large Yellow U/W finally becoming more numerous with 26 altogether in the two traps.  FFY were 2 Copper Underwings, last seen here two years ago.

A few interesting moths trapped around Weston the last couple of days. David Agassiz invited me round to view a Teleiopsis diffinis a first for me. Whilst walking the dog yesterday evening I noticed a Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring on Valerian in the middle of Weston. In the garden trap this morning I found Palpita vitrealis, Spruce Carpet and Feathered Ranunculus. So far I've had no Small Ranunculus.

Palpita vitrealis