Out on the Brean Down this morning I found 8 Silver Y, 1 Rush Veneer and 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths. There were also several micro's one of which was Mompha miscella.

Two Hummingbird Hawks at Roughmoor today. One ovipositing on Lady's Bedstraw, t'other nectaring on Buddleia.

Martin Evans and I went dusking last night on the dunes behind the church. The moon was full and clear and the temperature was dropping so we didn't think we would have a long session. As it turned out, the temperature stayed up around 13oC on the dunes but was down to 10-11oC just that bit further back on the golf course and inland. We ended up staying for 3 hrs from 9-12.

41 species found including 3 Small Scallop, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Dwarf Cream Wave, Magpie, many Chilo phragmitella, Muslin Footman, Angle-barred Pug, Crescent, many Smoky Wainscot, Common Pug, Rosy Rustic, a stunning Herald, Brown-line Bright-eye, Southern Wainscot, Silver Y and a Diamond-back.

A nice selection and a nice change from light trapping.

Very quite night, just 55 moths of 29 species and nothing really worth noting. Shaded Broad-bar and Antler found this afternoon in Black Rock LNR, Cheddar Gorge.

A chilly night, but at least the wind dropped. Down to 22spp, mainly Common Rustic agg and Uncertain agg. A smattering of YUWs mainly Small Broad-bordered, Drinker. Chinese Character, a nice FFY second brood Purple Thorn and Donacaula forficella.

A disappointing night for trapping, with 66 moths of 23 species. FFY were Oak Eggar and Chinese Character.

Monday night was frustratingly wetter than the (dry) forecast suggested but yielded 230 moths of 43 species. 83 were Common Rustic, my highest total to date.  I was pleased to get only my second Pine Carpet and Least Yellow Underwing, not least to improve my picture library as both previous examples were in poorer condition. Three other FFYs were: Small Emerald, Beautiful Golden Y (2) and Magpie. The biggest surprise was what looks like a Saltern Ear but, inevitably, needs dissection to be sure – any offers? I have promised myself a microscope and dissection kit when funds (and wife) allow but if anyone knows of any second hand equipment available I would be very interested.  I also had a Bryotropha terrella NFG but (again) needs dissection to be completely sure.

Breezy, cold with heavy rain at the start of the night so a low return of 58 moths of 31 species was not a great surprise. Golden Plusia (2), female August Thorn and Currant Pug best of macros. Honeysuckle Moth (Ypsolopha dentella) best of the micros. Case-bearing Clothes Moth (Tinea pellionella) still regularly seen inside.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 12.0 degrees

140 moths of 35 species including a first of the second brood of the Purple Thorn.

A blustery night didn't promise much and the first few egg boxes examined showed only moderate numbers of routine moths. However clustered together in a corner of one of the boxes were a Convolvulus Hawk Moth and a Ni Moth. These were the only migrants in the trap and were a huge surprise.

Not much to report except a nice Eucosma obumbratana (NFG). Other NFYs: Maple Pug, Currant Pug, Eudonia delunella and a fresh female Oak Eggar perched on the shed earlier tonight.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe -Min temp 10.8 degrees and very wet.

240 moths of 40 species including FFY - P.pyrausta.

151 moths of 48 species. FFY Shuttle-shaped Dart and Chinese Character. A probable Wood Carpet would have been good but flew before a decent photo was obtained. Not many micros, Flax Tortrix and a possible Trachycera suavella were the only notables.

Robin and me trapped in Cockercombe in the hope of Birch Mocha - but alas none were seen. As soon as the lights went on at about 9.30, it began to rain. After about an hour of this I was thinking of packing up but Robin was more optimistic (and good moths were coming in!). Luckily the rain stopped at about 11. We were confidently expecting an influx of noctuids but a chill had set in and things became quiet and the moths settled (unfortunately mostly in the undergrowth!). between 3 MV traps we had no Dark Arches and only 10 LYUs. However we got a good range of 'Footmen' with including Rosy(15), Buff(12), Scarce(1), and Muslin(1). Highlights were Garden Tiger(1), Common Lutestring(18!) with several almost black in colour, Clay Triple-lines(4), Purple Clay(3), Triple -spotted Clay(1), Slender Brindle(4), Small Clouded Brindle(1) Clouded Brindle (3), Green and Grey Arches (2 and 1), Pinion-streaked Snout(2), Beautiful Snout(3), Beautiful Carpet(1), Sharp-angled Carpet(1), Engrailed(8), Dingy Shell(6, Photo), Bloomers Rivulet(6), Clouded Magpie(6, photo), Gold Swift(1, photo), Dotted Carpet(1). July Highflyer(33) in many colours including blackish ones, gave the highest amount of individuals. 90 macro sp. and hopefully a 734 Argolamprotes micella among the micros.

Friday night produced a ladened trap, mainly grass moths, Dark Arches, Uncertain and Common Rustic agg. Also lots of Rosy Footmen, Ruby Tigers, Yellow-tails, Several Oak and Beautiful Hook-tips and some FFG micros Eucosma howenwartiana, Aethes rubigana and Cydia fagiglandana....I think!

Whitefield Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 13 .0 degrees and very very wet.!

Over 215 moths of 56 species including FFY - Four-spotted Footman and Oak Hook-tip.

Martin Evans and myself trapped last night up on the point. The Met Office 'promised' that the due rain wouldn't come in until the early hours so of course it started at 11pm. Do they ever get it right? Anyway, we put a couple of traps out at 9.40, in perfect trapping conditions, cloudy and still and the moths started pouring in. We had about 60 species before the rain started to set in and we packed up at 11.40. We attracted loads of Dark Arches, 2 Reddish Light Arches, 2 White-spotted Pugs, Brussels Lace, Ruby Tiger, Galium Carpet, Latticed Heath, Dusky Sallow, Rosy Minor, Pyraustas despicata and ostrinalis, Delplanqueria dilutella and oddly for downland, Bulrush Wainscot and July Belle. A few more hours would have been great as we didn't even get to the best part of the mothing night.

A belated report form Tuesday evening's trapping - 211 moths of 46 species. FFY were Eucosma cana, Bud Moth, Wood Carpet, Rosy Footman, Dingy Footman (2) and Smoky Wainscot ( I seem to get one a year). I'm still getting good numbers of Elephant Hawk-Moths - 42 this year compared to 28 last year and 26 in 2013. Dark Arches has also been good, with double the number in previous years.

I'm trapping with a Skinner and Heath trap roughly once a month at a friend's rural garden in the village of Lullington just north of Frome. The other night, I had, for me, a bumber crop of moths there. The actinic Heath trap pulled in 72 moths of 24 species including one female Brown-tail and a couple of beautiful micros, Acleris forsskaleana (photo) and Pammene aurita (photo). Many thanks to Paul Wilkins for confirmation on the last one. Most numerous moth was Chrysoteuchia culmella with 22, none of the others got into double figures.

The MV Skinner trap as usual was more successful both in numbers of moths and species with 307 moths of 61 species. Highlights for me were Yellow-tail (4), Black Arches (4), Rosy Footman (3), Buff Arches (1), Dusky Sallow (1), Barred Straw (1), Early Thorn (2), Brussels Lace (1) and some lovely micros, another 4 Pammene Aurita, Pammene Regiana (2), Catoptria pinella (1), Euzophera pinguis (1) and Eucosma cana (1). Most numerous macro was Common Rustic (51).

Again many thanks to Paul Wilkins for confirmation on a couple of the micros.

Chris Thanks for mentioning your A. selasella sightings in east Somerset.

Not especially scientific but some numbers for the last decade (visit closest to 20 July, the date I visited this year).

2006 - 2
2007 - 1
2008 - 1
2009 - 10
2010 - 2
2011 - 1
2012 - nil
2013 - 6
2014 - 4
2015 - 2

That said, I do have the feeling that numbers are lower this year (and that this is true for the Narrow-bordered Burnet too).

Jenny - I had a couple of A. selasella not too far from you last year, but the records haven't yet made their way onto the maps, so it's not impossible.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 9.3 degrees

120 moths of 40 species including FFY - Garden Tiger and Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Under-wing. John, great news about the Waved Black. I see that Waring and Townsend mention a post 1980 Somerset record.

Simon Phelps took the first Somerset record of 72.066 (B&F 2475) Waved Black Parascotia fuliginaria in his garden at Middlezoy on the night of 21st July.

Is this a migrant or is there an undetected population in the area?
I used to find this moth in Surrey - it rarely came to light but there was a thriving population in a shed where we deliberately kept rotting Beech wood after the 1987 storm.
So, if you have a neglected woodpile with fungi (especially Turkey Tail Trametes versicolor) it would be worth taking a net and disturbing the woodpile!

Atropos Flight Arrivals page is reporting Somerset's first Waved Black; trapped at Middlezoy on Tuesday night.

http://www.atropos.info/flightarrivals/

Wednesday was another good night, FFG, a Sycamore, FFY Marbled Green, Second brood early Thorn, Tawny-barred Angle, also Poplar and Privet HMs and another batch of fresh Elephant HMs with 9 in the trap. Rosy, Muslin, Buff, Common & Dingy Footmen, Pale Mottled willow, Small Yellow Wave, Yellow Shell, Drinker and lots of Black Arches. Micro FFYs- Euzophera pinguis, Eudonia delunella, Agriphila straminella, also several Small China-Marks and Rush Veneers, Gold Triangle and Hypsopyrgia glaucinalis and a very fresh Endothenia gentianaeana.

A massive amount of moths; 500 of 106 sp. (including 29 micro sp.).  Common Footman(38), Lesser Common Rustic agg(36), Heart & Dart(33), LYU(28), Rustic(21), Garden Grass Veneer(35) and Agriphila straminella (20) acounted for a good part. It was while returning in an attempt (not very sucessfull - they kept leaving!) to get to grips with the 'grass veneers' , that I spotted one that I'd missed; a NFG Small Rufous (photo). As there were also three Calamotropha paludella, another wetland moth, it may be they are travelling between the large ponds around here. Also NFY were July Highflyer (1), Marbled Green (1), Flounced Rustic (1), Least YU (1), Lesser Broad-bordered YU (4), Lesser YU (2), Black Arches (1), and Ruby Tiger (5) and Wormwood Pug (1). Also another Olive - I just hope it is not the same one!.

The Berrow event was abandoned (not even started) due to high winds.

Goodly numbers of FFY Gatekeeper butterflies around today, dodging the occasional showers.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 13.5 degrees

240 moths of 60 species including FFY - Black Arches, Marbled Green and a Rosy Rustic.

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth ovipositing on our Lady's Bedstraw in the afternoon. The Besdtraw is surrounded by nectar plants.

A much better night with 220 moths of 65 species so far. Fern, Rosy Footman, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Peach Blossom, Ruby Tiger and V-Pug. Micros including Teleiodes vulgella, Carcina quercana, Pandemis heparana, Agriphila straminella and Blastobasis adustella.

A belated report for Monday night! 157 moths of 43 species. FFY were Small Emerald, Small Fan-footed Wave, July Highflyer, Scalloped Oak and Flounced Rustic.

Still good numbers of Chrysoteuchia culmella (30) and Heart and Dart (32). So far I've trapped 216 of the former (2014 was my previous best year for the species, with 89 trapped). Similarly, with Heart & Dart, I've trapped 578 so far this year, compared to 384 last year.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 12.1 degrees

160 moths of 48 species including one FFY- the very attractive Pretty Chalk Carpet.

A further 61 moths rounded up last night, including two more FFY - Pandemis heparana and Acleris forsskaleana.  Total moths 294, species surprisingly only 45.

Seeing John's comment about Six-spot Burnets, I had a feeling that numbers are down this year, but put that down to me not being very observant. However, looking at last year's records, I had between 5 & 8 adults at a time on several dates in June, plus 12 pupal cases, whereas this year I have only seen 2 adults on one occasion and 1 on another.  Looks like there may have been a crash, but why, I have no idea.  The patch of land where I found them last year had been under a good 6 inches of water the previous Winter, so perhaps they need to be wet whilst hibernating !!

I've been in France (rural central Normandy) for almost two weeks. I trapped on three occasions with an underwhelming total of about 100 macro species - the best being: Orache, Goat, Latin, Dewick's Plusia, Festoon, Lappet, Orange and a few non-migratory European species. Noticeably fewer migrants than I get at home and hardly more than ten of any macro species. For comparison I trapped when we got home last Friday and had over 90 species with plenty of the common migrants. Two new macros were Marbled Green and FOUR Double-lobed (strangely all resting in the same egg-tray cup). James McGill kindly identified the ‘occasional and local’ Eucosma hohenwartiana (pic) along with more NFG micros: Phycita roborella, Spilonota ocellana, Batia lunaris, Blastobasis adustella, Trachycera advenella, Prays ruficeps. To my great surprise I just found a Large Tabby resting on the kitchen wall.

Pretty quiet night, 115 moths of 42 species, no macros of great note. Micros included Tinea semifulvella and Tinea pellionella - the latter found inside the house.

Some nice moths this morning, FFYs Fern, July Highflyer, Shaded Broad-bar, and micros, Donacaula forficella, a FFG too, the very distinctive Monochroa palustrellus, an Nb species, rare in Somerset.

Mixed fortunes trapping last night in Frome. At home with the Heath trap I had 22 moths of 11 species with nothing of note. I had moved the trap to a different position in the garden to try something new. I think I'll revert back to my usual area in future!

At my Mum's garden, also in Frome I fared a bit better using the MV Skinner trap with 98 moths of 29 species including Black Arches (photo) which is always a thrill to see, my first Tawny-barred Angle and a lovely micro Dichomeris marginella (Juniper Webber) (photo).

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 12.4 degrees

244 moths of 59 species including FFY - Rosy Footman, Cabbage Moth (2) and we had a a second brood Engrailed.

Margaret Hare from the Glebelands Group at Doulting has been in touch asking about Six-spot Burnet numbers - apparently the numbers have crashed on their site. Has anyone else noticed a signoificant reduction in numbers this year? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I have been trying (unsuccessfully so far) to improve on my photos of Elephant Hawk nectaring on our Honeysuckle flowers. However there have been several Shark Moth (Cucullia umbratica) on the flowers.

Shark Moth (Cucullia umbratica) nectaring on Honeysuckle

Shark Moth (Cucullia umbratica) approaching Honeysuckle flowers

Rosie Clegg, volunteer Large Blue warden at Collard Hill, photographed this specimen of Mecyna flavalis at the site on 27 June. There appear to be only two previous Somerset records (the others were in 1980 (Bristol Moth Group) and 1994 (Folly Farm, Avon).

Thanks to Paul Wilkins for confirming Rosie's initial ID.

Much more manageable numbers than on 14th, thank goodness, but still quite busy. So far 245 moths of 38 species.  FFG was a Blackneck, and only two FFY, a Ruby Tiger and an Anania (Phlyctaenia) coronata. Common Footman was the most numerous species, with 61.  There will no doubt be more this evening with the round-up of strays.

A good night with 157 moths of 57 species. Subject to a couple of confirmations highlights included Pale Mottled Willow, Sharp-angled Peacock, Middle-barred Minor, Sycamore, Small Fan-foot and Yellow Shell. Micros included Yponomeuta malinellus, Epiblema uddmanniana, Hedya nubiferana, Pyrausta aurata, Hypsopygia costalis and Euzophera pinguis.

Willow Ermine, Mocha and Brown-tail were all FFG.

I'd appreciate opinions on this micro please. It was trapped in my garden in Frome on 14th July. It appears to tick several boxes for Agriphila selasella. Long white longitudinal streak, square termen and row of black dots behind the fringe. When I checked on the distribution maps on here, it appears there are no records in my part of the county and the habitat (suburban garden) hardly seems right. Is this species under-recorded or the status map out of date? Thanks.

A much quieter night, a few Silver Ys and Rush Veneers, FFY, Reddish Light Arches, Square-spot Rustic, Lobesia abscisana , Water Veneers and a very fresh Garden Tiger.

Plenty of common moths but not too many unusual ones - the best being Ypsolopha sequella which is new to me and not often recorded in this part of the county. 

My pond has been colonised by Small China-mark, which have sensibly shown no interest in the moth-trap as yet but flutter around near the water by day.

No large catches here (thank goodness!).

14th July. Water Veneer and a rather late Brown Silver-line were FFG.

17th July. Brussels Lace and Rosy Minor both FFG.

Quiet night with 102 moths of 33 species. Silky Wainscot would seem to be a good record for here otherwise nothing overly noteworthy - Smoky Wainscot, Small Fan-footed Wave and July Highflyer. Only three micros Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Celypha mercurella (3) and Celypha lacunana.

Here is my photo of Paul Newman's Green Arches.

It seemed to be a perfect night for trapping last night so I took 2 traps to a friend's Mill house on the outskirts of Frome. It is adjacent to the River Frome and Rodden Nature Reserve at Asda.

So far (a few IDs to confirm) the 15W actinic Heath trap produced 73 moths of 22 species including a Reddish Light Arches and a White Satin Moth (photos), most numerous moth (after Chrysoteuchia culmella)(18) was Dark Arches (14)

The MV Skinner trap produced 184 moths of 49 species (again a few to ID yet) including Beautiful China-mark (2) (photo), 3 species of Hawkmoth, Elephant (1), Small Elephant (1) and Poplar (2), Rosy Footman (3), Small Fan-foot (1). Most numerous moth (after Chrysoteuchia culmella) (56) was Small Magpie (14).

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 16.3 degrees

Over 300 moths of 63 species including FFY - Scalloped Oak, Sharp-angled Carpet, Blue-bordered Carpet, Small White Wave and Flounced Rustic. Totals swelled by Large Yellow Under-wings 77 and Dark Arches 44.

Another superb night here, lots more FFYs, Leopard, Black Arches, Scalloped Oak, a trio of Broad-bordered, Lesser Broad-bordered & Lesser YUWs, Muslin & Buff Footman, Small Blood-vein, Wormwood Pug, Fern. Best of all a pristine Kent Black Arches and an beautifully marked Eudonia pallida. Sundry other micros yet to ID....exhausted!

Just finished the second tranche of the round-up of strays from 14th. - a further 166 moths, and an additional 14 species.  Totals now 675 of 89. Far and away the largest totals ever here, and far too many for comfort !!  An additonal FFG was a faded Green Arches, confirmed by John Bebbington, and 4 more FFY - Lesser (2) & Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Yellow Shell and Wormwood Pug.  The most numerous species were C.culmella 144, Large Y.U. 84, Heart & Dart 66. All I can say is that I'm glad that nights like this one don't happen very often - it's very taxing.

Thanks Liz..you are absolutely right...a first for me.

Also quite a few FFY and better still - a couple of FFG! FFY were Broad -bordered Yellow Underwing, Muslin Footman, Rosy Footman, Scalloped Oak, Dusky Sallow, and FFG were The Shark and The Olive (photo), both of which I was very chuffed with! More than made up for the wasp sting I got under the arm when going through the trap! Sue I was wondering if your odd looking Dogs Tooth could be an odd looking Dingy Shears.

A busy night in the garden, FFYs Yellow-tail, Magpie, Rosy Footman, Small Rivulet, Poplar Grey, Dunbar, Short-cloaked Moth, Gold Triangle, Hypsogyra glaucinalis. Mother of Pearl. An odd what I assume is a Dog's Tooth- ID confirmation appreciated. Migrants -a Male Four-spotted Footman, 2 Small Mottled Willow and Silver Ys

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 12.7 degrees

200 moths of 46 species including FFY - Dun-bar, Ruby Tiger, White Point and Grey Pine carpet. Unusually we had 9 Buff Tips.

Withycombe Wood

Maple prominent and Epagoge grotiana

Just back from foreign parts: tales of swimming caterpillars and a trapping session to horrify any DEFRA inspector to follow.  In the garden on my return I found a number of what I imagine are Lychnis larvae snuggled up inside the seed-pods of red campion. 

An excellent night with 252 moths of 53 species. FFG were Crambus pascuella and Small Mottled Willow (the latter at last!). FFY were Small Rivulet, Wormwood Pug, Poplar Grey and Marbled Green (2). A few micros remain to be identified. Star performer was Chryosteuchia culmella with 60, followed by Heart and Dart (35). I also had my second Dark Sword-grass of the year.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 16.5 degrees

250 moths of over 80 species including FFY - Privet Hawk=moth (2), V-Pug, Slender Brindle, Cream Wave and Dingy Footman. We also had 2 Small Mottled Willow.

It took over 3 hours this morning to unload the traps, and I'm knackered !!  So far, 509 moths of 75 species, with I suspect plenty more to be rounded up this evening.  One FFG, a Buff Footman (kindly confirmed by John Bebbington), and 20 FFYs, viz:- macros Marbled Green (2), Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (2), Garden Tiger, Shark, Lilac Beauty, Common Ermine, V-Pug, Rosy Footman, Muslin Footman, an early Flounced Rustic, Buff-tip, Clay (2), Double Square-spot (2), Fan-foot (2), Coronet, and Small Mottled WIllow (2),(first since 2006), (confirmed by JB), and micros Yponomeuta malinella (2), Eucosma cana, Agriphela tristella (2), & Euzophera pinguis.  The most numerous common species were Chrysoteuchia culmelle (114), & Large Yellow Underwing (59, of which 53 were in the actinic trap !). These totals are subject to increase this evening.

Peppered Moth, Pine Carpet, May Highflyer, Broken-barred Carpet, Spruce Carpet, Light Emerald, Common Marbled Carpet, Scorched Wing, Treble Brown Spot, Common Pug, Ghost Moth , Eyed Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Cinnabar, Scarlet Tiger, Pale Tussock, Buff-tip, Buff Ermine, Poplar Grey, Alder Moth, Flame Shoulder, Flame, Heart and Dart, Heart and Club, Bright-line Brown-eye, Ingrailed Clay, Large Yellow Underwing, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Marbled Minor, Rustic, Uncertain, Mottled Rustic, Vine's Rustic, Pale Mottled Willow, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Cabbage Moth, Middle-barred Minor, Blackneck, Bordered Straw, Ni Moth, Silver Y, Burnished Brass, Spectacle, Snout, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Silver-ground Carpet, White Ermine, Brussels Lace, Clouded Border, Larch Pug, Willow Beauty, Treble Lines, Small Square-spot, Small Blood-vein, Blood-vein, Common White Wave, Common Wave, Small Dusty Wave, Straw Dot, Dark Arches, Lychnis, Sycamore, Common Footman, Swallow Prominent, Iron Prominent, Pebble Prominent, Knot Grass, Dingy Shell, Purple Bar, Brown Silver-line, Green Carpet, Riband Wave, Clouded Silver, Orange Footman, Rosy Footman, Scarce Footman, Small Mottled Willow, Plain Golden Y, Beautiful Golden Y, Fan-foot, Small Fan-foot, Figure of Eighty, Buff Arches, Peach Blossom, Golden-rod Pug, Foxglove Pug, Garden Carpet, Poplar Hawk-moth, Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Double Square-spot, Shark, Shears, Flame Carpet, Green Silver-lines, Common Wainscot, Smoky Wainscot Small Fan-footed Wave Dusky Brocade, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Grey Dagger, Dog's Tooth, Common Rustic, Miller, Common Emerald, Large Emerald, Double-striped Pug, Blue-bordered Carpet, Marbled Green, Beautiful Hook-tip, Barred Yellow, Rivulet, Clouded Brindle, Rufous Minor, Lime Hawk-moth, Small Angle Shades, Angle Shades, Herald, Lilac Beauty, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Green Arches, Light Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, Swallow-tailed Moth, Dot Moth, Coronet, Cypress Carpet, Privet Hawk-moth, Garden Tiger, Slender Pug, Yellow Shell, Scorched Carpet, Sharp-angled Peacock, Phoenix, Lackey, Sallow Kitten, Dun-bar Clay, Lappet, Common Swift, Satin Beauty, Dingy Shears, Scalloped Oak, Drinker, Sandy Carpet, Oak Nycteoline, Wormwood Pug, Small Seraphim, Early Thorn, Single-dotted Wave, Barred Red, Bleached Pug,

Small Argent and Sable(by day at Exford), Humming Bird Hawk Moth(by day),

Dusty dot Pearl, Rush Veneer, Small Magpie, Mother of Pearl, Udea Olivalis, Udea Prunalis, Garden Peeble, Bee Moth, Dioryctria abietella, Thistle Ermine, Phlyctainia coronata, Ebulea crocealis, Ringed China-mark, Brown China-mark Catoptria pinella, Crambus perella.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 15.8 degrees.

220 moths of 57 species including FFY - Buff Footman and Brindled Plume.

Two FFY species in the garden yesterday and today - Beautiful Plume and Shaded Broad-bar. I also had a nice Broad-barred White on the wall today (first was in June). Hummingbird Hawk-moth sightings are almost daily now.

A large number of moths last night with Scarce Bordered Straw, Leopard Moth and Dunbar being the best of the catch.

I had a White Satin Moth in the garden - quite likely a migrant (photo).

The Purple Hairstreak hatched on Sunday (5th July) and when released flew straight up into the tree-tops.

Robin Clatworthy put in some effort to get permission to trap here and finally got permission for friday - it was nearly a washout - As soon as I had set up, rain, thunder and lightning began and it looked like the only result would be sodden equipment. However the rain stopped and conditions were good before the sky cleared and a chill set in. Highlights from the night were: Map-winged Swift(1), Common Lutestring(1), Beautiful Carpet(1), Welsh Wave(15, photo), Small Seraphim(4), Lobster Moth (10), Scarce Footman, (1), Garden Tiger(1), Purple Clay(8), Green Arches(8), Grey Arches(1), Double Line(1), Alder Moth(1), Double Lobed(1), Beautiful Snout(3). Altogether 82 macro sp. and only 6 micro sp.

A postscript to yesterday's posting - 2 additional FFY species, Gypsonoma dealbana and Mother of Pearl. This year's list now up to 209 species, compared to 160 at the same time last year.

Another Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden today, my 8th sighting this year.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 14.7 degrees

200 moths of 67 species including FFY - Lesser Yellow Underwing and a White Plume. As others have reported Elephant Hawk-moths continue to thrive. We had 14 last night.

A really fresh Ruby Tiger, 2 Magpies and a Swallow-tailed Moth - all amazing colours.

Highlights from trapping at Sycamore Drive, Frome last night were Small Ranunculus (1), Small Elephant Hawkmoth (1)(my first), Rosy Footman (1) (it escaped before I could get a photo unfortunately) and Eudonia delunella (1)

A good night, with 206 moths of 58 species, the highest species count of the year so far. FFY were Eudonia truncicolella, Common Emerald, Yellow Shell and The Coronet. Also of interest were my highest ever counts of Elephant Hawk-moth (9), The Sycamore (3) and Dark Arches (25). I still have a couple of micros to check out.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 12.1 degrees

190 moths of 66 species including FFY - Marbled Green, Light Arches, Turnip Moth and P.lancealis.

The busiest night of the year so far with 431 macros of 64 species. The majority of the catch was made up of 101 Heart and Darts, 58 Large Yellow Underwings and 57 Dark Arches.
Hawk Moths were numerous with 17 Elephant, 4 Poplar and 3 Privet.
Best of the night was my first ever Orange Moth. I see that Liz regularly records it a few miles away in South Petherton so I was always hopeful. It really is a beautiful moth.
Best of the rest were my first Brown Tail since 2007 and another Haworths Pug following my first last year.

Was delighted to find an example of Small Marbled in the garden trap this morning. It nearly got away, a good job I had a net within easy reach.

Another good haul (I think). 200 moths of 65 species with a couple of micros as usual outstanding. Silver Y (2), Single-dotted Wave, Coronet, Common White Wave, Barred Straw, Lychnis (2), Phoenix, Marbled Minor agg., Marbled Beauty (2), Grey/Dark Dagger, Common Marbled Carpet, Large Emerald, Lilac Beauty, Miller, Blue-bordered Carpet (2) and Currant Pug. Micros including Archips podana, Lozoatenia fosterana (2), Pandemis cerasana and Scythropia crataegella.

A footnote to my posting yesterday - additional species on Wednesday night were FFY Toadflax Pug and Scalloped Shell.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 10.5 degrees

150 moths of 44 species including FFY - July High-flyer, Double-lobed and a first second-brood Early Thorn.

Philip White, Chief Executive of the Hestercombe Gardens Trust, has contacted me with the following request:

"The Hestercombe Gardens Trust is looking to apply for a Countryside Stewardship grant in the latest call for applications from Natural England, which has identified the Mistletoe Marble moth as a priority species for our target area of North Taunton.  However, although we have a great deal of mistletoe at Hestercombe and have had moth surveys undertaken in the past we do not appear to have recorded the Mistletoe Marble. Before submitting our application we would like to check whether this moth can be found at Hestercombe and wonder whether the Somerset Moth Group might be interested in doing any trapping in the next few weeks which I understand is when the moths are flying. I appreciate this might be too short notice for your group but would greatly appreciate any help you were able to give. The biggest problem for moths at Hestercombe is the rather large number of resident bats!"

If anyone is interested in trapping at Hestercombe in the near future please contact Mr. White:

Tel: 01823 413923  Email: philipwhite@hestercombe.com

Thanks for your help

John

A much quieter night than recently, with only 87 moths of 30 species.  The only FFY was a Yellow-tail. One oddity was a very late and very worn Small Square-spot, which gave me quite a bit of difficulty in identification.

11.am 10/7 Hummingbird H.M. on Valerian - first here for 4 years.

Sarah Hillier, Robin Clatworthy and me trapped on the Somerset side of this local wood last Saturday. Highlights from a vast amount of species (121 - incl. 21 micro sp.) were Red-necked Footman(6), Scallop Shell(2, photo), Barred Red(3), Privet Hawk(1), Dingy Shears(1), Green and Grey Arches(2+2), Blackneck(1), Minor Shoulder-knot(1, Photo) and Robin identified Sloe Pug(1) and Juniper Pugs (2).

A quieter night, with 86 moths of 32 species. FFY were Dwarf Cream Wave, The Clay and Common Rustic.

I've added an event to the 'events' page - (next friday -17th - at Berrow; Meet at Berrow Church on 'Coast Road' at Berrow at 8.30pm. (ST2943 5245)). If we need to cancel I'll put a post here by next friday afternoon.

141 moths of 52 species seems a decent total considering it was fairly cool overnight and breezy to start with. A couple of micros still outstanding. Brimstone Moth, Fan-foot (2), Light Emerald, Cinnabar, Shark (2), Green Pug, Double-striped Pug (2), Beautiful Hook-tip, Pine Carpet, Scorched Wing (2) and Cypress Carpet. Micros including Emmelina monodactyla (2), Evergestis forficalis, Lozotaenia forsterana, Epiblema rosaecolana and Scythropia crataegella.

I found three Humming-bird Hawk-moth larvae (two third instar, one fifth instar) on Lady's Bedstraw at Batty's Piece and there was a newly-emerged Painted Lady in Malcolm Cotterill's garden later in the day.

Hummer larvae are quite easy to find - they initially strip the terminal flowers and buds of the foodplant. The females lay on both Lady's and Hedge bedstraws. Striped Hawk also uses these plants - you might be lucky and find a larva!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 15.5 degrees

Trapping on July 6th we had 220 moths of 54 species including FFY - Gold Spot and a Miller.  We also had 13 Elephant Hawk-moths. They are having a very good year here.

In spite of the cooler temperature and a little bit of rain later on in the night, I still managed to catch just over 200 moths.  So far there are 40 * species, including FFY Lesser Common Rustic (a VERY small individual !!), Small Blood-vein, Knot-grass, Swallow-tailed Moth (2), Lunar-spotted Pinion (first since 2009), Bordered Beauty, Archips podana, Mother-of-pearl, Clepsis spectrana, & Eudonia delunella. There were also 6 Elephant Hawks, 51 Heart & Darts, 25 C.culmella and 28 Dark Arches.

* probably more to come after the evening round-up of stray escapees.

10.45 pm - A further 30 odd moths, with 5 more species.  Additional FFY were Scalloped Oak & Common Wave.  Also 9 more Heart & Darts.

Had a Least Carpet in the conservatory at the week-end. Are there more of these about this year?

A couple of us ran some traps at Haddon Hill on 1st July trapping 78 species the highlights being: 2 Beautiful Brocade, 3 Northern Spinach, 1 Smoky Wave (netted before dark), 7 Double Line, 3 Four-dotted Footman, 1 Pyla fusca, 1 Rhyacionia pinivorana, 4+ Coleophora pyrrhulipennella (day flying amongst sedge and in the traps - Gen Det) and Neofaculta ericetella (netted before dark).

Northern Spinach

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 9.3 degrees and very windy.

A hundred moths of 31 species including FFY - Small Dotted Buff.

Friday night was by far the warmest night trapped this year with a temperature of just under 19 degrees at 4.30am. Total moths caught was about double the previous best night with around 250 moths. Chrysoteucha culmella was by far the most numerous with 65 individuals excluding those that got away. Several FFy Limespeck Pug, Flame, Bright-line Brown-eye, Common Emerald, Dwarf Cream Wave and Common Footman. Common Lutestring was my first ever.

c. 128 moths of 53 species. Garden and Scarlet Tiger, Small Angle Shades (3), Muslin Footman, Sandy Carpet, Privet (2) and Small Elephant (3) Hawkmoth, Pebble Prominent, Foxglove Pug (10) and Broad-bordered White. Micros including Ancylis achatana and Marbled Orchard Tortrix.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11.1 degrees

150 moths of 40 species including FFY - Drinker, Barred Straw and Small Fan-footed Wave.

I'm afraid I find it burdensome to deal with large numbers of trapped moths, so I'm only partially jealous of the hundreds being caught elsewhere and I'm only trapping on cooler nights.  Last night being one such, I had 124 moths of 34 species - quite manageable !  Several FFY - Common Rustic(agg), Common Plume (E.monodactyla), Pale Mottled Willow (2), Smoky Wainscot (2), Rustic (4), Riband Wave (banded form), Drinker, Light Arches, Green Pug, and Syndemis musculana (first here since 2012). 

Sue - nice to see that the ladies are ganging up with each other - should we fellas be afraid ?

P.S.  The round-up of strays produced a further 39 moths and 7 more species .  FFY were Scorched Carpet, Acleris variegana, and Single-dotted Wave.

We held the first meeting of SMG ladies today at Worley Hill. 6 of us 'mothers' examined the contents of a good last nights trapping, looked for day-fliers and had a picnic lunch while observing pheromone lures. The results amazed us all. within seconds the API lure attracted Six-belted Clearings with a max of 12 at one time streaming downwind. It took a few minutes before the VES lure attracted a posse of Orange-tailed Clearwings, maximum 9, that stayed around for half an hour or so. This was a first experience of Clearwings for all of us and made our day!

Best night of the year for numbers, with 276 moths of 43+ species. FFY were Apple Ermine, Eudonia delunella, White Plume Moth, Buff Arches (2), Privet Hawk-moth (only 2nd record), Small Elephant Hawk-moth (only 3rd record), Setaceous Hebrew Character and Beautiful Hook-tip(2). Significant counts were 23 Chrysoteuchia culmella, 14 Dipleurina lacustrata, 22 Heart & Club (equals my highest count), 98 Heart & Dart (my highest count), 15 Dark Arches and 24 The Uncertain (again my highest count).

There's certainly a lot of moths out there at the moment!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 16.7 degrees

An extraordinary night with over 300 moths of 80 species including FFY - Willow Beauty, Dark Spectacle, Sandy Carpet, , Swallow-tailed Moth (3), and a Scallop Shell ( only the second we have had here in 17 years) and a lifetime first for me a Scarlet Tiger. FFY micros included Crescent Plume, Ringed China-mark, Bramble-shoot moth and C.cynosbatella.

All 25 micro species have now been identified from my 30th June session which realised 11 new micro and macro species for my garden. Many thanks (again) to James McGill who kindly confirmed some of the more difficult species. The highlights were: Grapholita janthinana (NFG), Epinotia biluana (NFG), Scoparia ambigualis (NFG), Cydia splendana (dark form), Pammene fasciana (NFG), Agapeta hamana, Pempelia formosa, Batia unitella (NFG), Euzophera pinguis, Coleophora mayrella, Phycitodes binaevella, and Epiblema costipunctana (NFG) which is described as 'Rare and very local'.


Epiblema costipunctana

I spotted a moth on the outside of a window last night, and it turned out to be Lozotaenia forsterana, only my second record here.

A couple of us trapped at Walton Moor on 19th June recording 117 species including: Lesser Cream Wave, Striped Wainscot, Double Dart, Coleophora alticolella, Coleophora mayrella, Elachista gangabella, Ectoedemia subbimaculella and Pammene obscurana. The P.obscurana has been recorded before at this site in 2011. We also recorded Tachydromia arrogans by torching tree trunks plus hemipteras: Dryophilocoris flavoquadrimaculatus and Stenotus binotatus and a nice little weevil Dorytomus taeniatus

Ectoedemia subbimaculella (Gen Det)

After a few too-warm-to-be-bothered (or hot-and-bothered) nights, I trapped last night when it was much cooler, and with a full moon as well. So, surprise, surprise, not many moths!!  In fact only 40, of 17 species, and nothing new for the year - serves me right.  The disappointed blackbird had to go elsewhere for his breakfast too.

I had my highest amount of species and moths I've ever had last night - 73 macro sp. and 22 micro sp. with 4 NFG micros: 1115 Ancylis achatana, 925 Phtheochroa rugasana (photo - which doesn't do it justice), 1183 Epiblema foenella and 441 Paraswammerdamia nebulella.

A remarkable number of Green Pugs; 40 plus, mostly settled on the walls, the closer I looked the more I saw! Moths that I usually only get one or two of a year turned up, some in numbers; Beautiful Hooktip(7), Small Yellow Wave(3) and Treble Brown-spot(3). Common Lutestring was my second ever record (first was the last time I trapped - a week ago), Barred Yellow, Orange Moth, Large Tabby, Little Emerald, Blue-bordered Carpet(2). Among the FFy were Common Rustic Agg. and Mother of Pearl.

Taking advantage of the extra warm tuesday night I went to Steart with Robin Clatworthy. Initially things weren't promising as the only things coming to the lights (in force!) were Caddis flies, beetles and Garden Grass veneers, but eventually other moths arrived.

Highlights were Dwarf Cream Wave(2), Satin Wave, Privet Hawk-moth, Sm. Elephant Hawk-moth(2), Garden(3) and Scarlet(1) Tigers, Brown-tail (12), Light Arches(12), Shark(2), Silky Wainscot(6), Obscure Wainscot(4), Southern Wainscot(1), Dusky Brocade (34), Dog's Tooth((40), Sand Dart(1), Crescent Striped(4), Bordered Sallow(1), Goldenrod Pug(1), White-line Dart(photo), 1290 Chilo phragmatella(2), 1329 Donacaula forficella(3).

Migrants; Small Mottled Willow and Rush Veneer.

Surprisingly, given a tree-less and hedge-less horizon, moths such as Green Silver-lines and Blue-bordered Carpet were also turning up.

Another good night, with 175 moths of 49 species. FFY were Orchard Ermine, Honeysuckle Moth, Clepsis consimilana (7), Grey Tortrix (2), Ancylis achatana, Rush Veneer, The Drinker (male), Brown silver-line, Swallow-tailed Moth, Common Footman, Grey Dagger agg. and Marbled Beauty. It was a good night for micros, which made up 65 of the total.

Biggest counts were Celypha striana (8), Chrysoteuchia culmella (24), Foxglove Pug (9, my highest total), Heart & Club (16), Heart & Dart (21) and The Uncertain (16). Still a few micros to i.d.

The final micro ID'd from Tues night thanks to lots of help with a high probability without gen.det. 49.356 BF1249 Grapholita lobarzewskii. A Na sps with I believe only one previous v6 record, and I put my trap at the edge of our garden next to an old cider orchard looking for Celypha woodiana!

73 moths of 21 species. 1063 Celypha striana and 1343 Eudonia delunella were FFG and a Common Footman FFY.

Just finished sorting the micros, all but one to confirm ID, with a total of 88 species a record for my plot. Lots of FFG micros, Pheochroa inopiana, Ephesia unicolorella, Bird Cherry Ermine, Ancylis achatana, Aleimma loeflingiana,

Mompha ochracella, Argolamptrotes micella,

I've spent all day sorting, identifying and photographing last nights exciting haul. I still have a few micros that I will pester James McGill with, but I had 83 species*with no less than 4 new macro moth species to the garden: Blue-bordered Carpet, Small Mottled Willow, Haworth's Pug and a Dingy Shears. I am pretty sure on Scoparia ambigualis and Epinotia bilunana as two NFG micros. Other highlights were Small Fan-foot (2), Wormwood Pug, Small Rivulet, Lilac Beauty (2), Agapeta hamana, Bramble-shoot Moth, Cypress Carpet, Coronet (3), Common Footman (2), Sandy Carpet (2), Buff Arches (2) and a lovely fresh Swallow-tailed moth. Strangely, no hawkmoths.

*232 moths plus 150+ Garden Grass-veneer - I gave up counting after that!

I set two traps last night at the Mill House which sits right next to a nature reserve on the outskirts of Frome.

The 15W actinic Heath trap produced (with some queries outstanding) 35 moths of 21 species. Highlights for me being 2 Elephant Hawkmoths, 1 Privet Hawkmoth, Garden Tiger, Small Yellow Wave and Triple-spotted Clay, all bar the Elephant Hawkmoth were new to me.

The MV Skinner trap produced (again with some queries outstanding), 166 moths of 47 species which included several Buff-tips, Buff Arches, Scarlet Tigers, Beautiful Hook-tip, Miller, Small Yellow Wave and singles of Barred Yellow, Blackneck, Brussels Lace, Clay, Coronet and Lackey....to name a few.

Ran a 125w MV Skinner at Netherclay for just 4 hours and attracted 300+ moths of 74 species. No fewer than 13 site firsts: Red-barred Tortrix, Brown China-mark, Thistle Ermine, Yarrow Plume, 1445 Rhodophaea formosa, 440 Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, 1333 Scoparia pyralella, 1338 Eudonia lacustrata, 1115 Ancylis achatana, Lilac Beauty, Sandy Carpet, Blue-bordered Carpet and Common Lutestring - PHEW!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 16.3 degrees

The warmest night of the year so far produced more than 260 moths of 64 species including FFY - Common Rustic, Small Blood-vein, Tawny-barred Angle, Barred Yellow, Sycamore, Muslin Footman, Lackey, Common Emerald, Marbled White-spot, A.podana and P.conwagana.

I was slightly disappointed by the catch last night. I think my garden was a bit too exposed to the blustery wind. Saying that I did record 247 macros of 60 species with year firsts in Lime Hawk Moth, Drinker, Small Angle Shades, Common Rustic, Marbled Green, Marbled White Spot, Green Silver- Lines, Dark Spectacle, Brown Rustic and Brussells Lace.
The most surprising moth though was a Currant Clearwing in my actinic trap. Despite living next door to possibly one of the largest Blackcurrant fields in the country it is sprayed so frequently that I rarely record anything currant related. Currant Pug is not annual and I have never seen a Spinach or a V-Moth. Think of that when you drink your Ribena! Also I have never heard of anybody recording a clearwing at light so this record was a surprise on both counts.

The best night of the year at Butleigh, 52 macros and loads of micros and still IDing, lots of FFYs,Small Fan-footed wave, Small Fan-foot, Mottled Beauty, Small Blood-vein, Blue-bordered Carpet, Small Dotted Buff, Dot Moth, Muslin Footman, Brown Silver-line, Sallow Kitten, Buff Arches, Miller, Smoky Wainscot, Common Lutestring, Beautiful Hook-tip, Small Elephant HM, More Spruce and Cypress Carpets, male and female Ghost moths as well as the migrants already reported. Whew!

First Delicate of the year plus 2 DarkSword-grass and a Diamond-back. Going to take all day the sort out the moth-fest that was last night!