Thanks to John and Paul for the recent IDs.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - MIn temp 13.2 degrees

32 species including FFY - Jersey Tiger, Centre-barred Sallow and Feathered Gothic.

Good time to collect larvae of Phycitodes binaevella in the flower heads of Spear Thistle. Look for frass being exuded from the base of flower, larva grey/brown with a black head.

Chris, Yes Rush Veneer, note the three dots on the edge of the forewing.

Who entered the page saying that Barry Cook has a moth trap for sale please? I can't find any contact details!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 13.1 degrees

34 moths including FFY - a Red Underwing.

I'm grateful to Paul Wilkins for identifying 3 species of micro by genital dissection. They were at light in late July (Langport, VC6).

49.097 (B&F 936)/Cochylimorpha straminea det Paul Wilkins

Genitalia of above


62.024 (B&F 1445) Rhodophaea (Pempelia) formosa det Paul Wilkins

Genitalia of above

62.058 (B&F 1483) Phycitodes binaevella det Paul Wilkins

Genitalia of above.

Belated report of a better (cat-free) night on Friday, with 211 moths of 34 species. FFG were Hypatima rhomboidella and Mouse Moth. FFY were Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix, Common Wainscot and Copper Underwing. Numbers were certainly boosted by 145 Large Yellow Underwings, my highest count since 2012 (and only 11 short of my highest)!

Year list now 269.

A nice manageable number of moths last night - 181 of 42 species, including FFY Pyrausta purpuralis, Jersey Tiger and only my second record of the migrant Palpita vitrealis (the prevous one was in 2012). Otherwise the usual run-of-the-mill bunch.

Plenty of leaf-mines on birch at the moment - four species here this afternoon - Bucculatrix demaryella, Stigmella continuella, Stigmella luteella and Lyonetia clerkella.

There are some good spots for those tortricids that feed on meadow wildflowers - here is a second-brood Cochylimorpha straminea:

This pyralid has me puzzled.  Is it a poorly-marked Rush Veneer?  Size, shape and its day-flying habits would suggest so.

There are certainly a few migrants about at the moment.

Acleris variegana in the garden this evening.

Another Lychnis emerged this morning with a third about to do so - strangely the three that were feeding on bladder campion pupated later than those feeding on red campion, but look like emerging much earlier.

Well done Tim - nice to know I'm not the only technophobe in the Group !!

Sat.29 August 2015 by Tim Howard Kestrels Rise Little Quantock.  122 moths of 39 species with half a dozen in the fridge for the morning.  My first attempt at posting,hope it comes up ok,when it comes to computers I am lagging behind Fred Flintstone !  Highlights were Mocha,Purple Bar,Dingy Footman.Antler,Rosy Minor and Six-striped Rustic (all singles) Micros included 4 FFGs (i have only been here a year);Ypsolopha dentella.Ypsolopha sequella,Acleris emergana and Epinotia nisella also FFY Rusty-dot Pearl.

Back up to 40 sps, 21 Small Square-spot -the most numerous, a few FFYs, Turnip, Calamatropha paludella, Agonopterix arenella, plus usual suspects. Migrants -Rusty Dot Pearl and Rush Veneer, Humming-bird Hawk-moth in garden today.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11.5 degrees.

36 species including FFY - Pearly Underwing and also a second-brood Flame Carpet.

A belated report for Wednesday night - 137 moths of 23 species. FFG was a Pinion-streaked Snout and FFY were Six-striped, Square Spot and Rosy Rustics. Otherwise regulars for the time of year, including 71 Large Yellow Underwings and my highest count of Small Square Spots (15).

I discovered it was a large kitten that had sabotaged my trap earlier in the week - I was out putting it right at 1.00 a.m.!

Leaf mines are now starting to become much more apparent.  At Asham Wood near Frome this evening the mines of a number of species on birch, including a new one to me - and one not recorded in VC6 for some years - Bucculatrix demaryella.

Nothing at all exciting here last night - 166 moths of 37 soecies, and the only FFY was a Catoptria falsella. Good numbers of Large YU (35), Setaceous Hebrew Character (29) and Square-spot Rustic (28) - boring, or what ?

Early on a heavy shower of rain appeared to put the dampners on things as it turned a bit chilly afterwards, but 41 macro and 14 micro sp turned up (not when I was looking!). Highlights were a FFY Vestal, Oak Eggar, Small Rufous and FFY Orange Swift.

In mid July some caterpillars were chomping on sunflower leaves quite conspicuously in daylight, I raised one and it turned out to be a Bordered Straw;

List of species trapped at Merriott over 19 nights from 13th July to 20th Aug;

Clouded Border, Clouded Silver, Swallow-tailed Moth, Sandy Carpet, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, Wood Carpet, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Purple Bar, Blue-bordered Carpet, Dingy Shell, Common Wave, Common White Wave, July Highflyer, May Highflyer, Small Yellow Wave, Single-dotted Wave, Small Fan-footed Wave, Magpie Moth, Brimstone, Scalloped Oak, Willow Beauty, Early Thorn, Lilac Beauty, Mottled Beauty, Brussels Lace, Blood-vein, Small Blood Vein, Maidens Blush, Mocha, Peppered Moth, Engrailed, Small Phoenix, Phoenix, Bloomers Rivulet, Light Emerald, Ruddy Carpet, Yellow Shell, Small Waved Umber, Rivulet, Small Rivulet, Common Emerald, Large Emerald, Scorched Carpet, Maple Pug, Slender Pug, Currant Pug, Golden-rod Pug, V Pug, Green Pug, Double-striped Pug, Foxglove Pug, Wormwood Pug, Dusky Thorn, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Small Emerald, Shaded Broad-bar, Barred Straw, Common Lutestring, Buff Arches, Pebble Hook-tip, Chinese Character, Ghost Swift, Orange Swift, Elephant Hawk-moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Leopard Moth, Oak Eggar, Drinker, Garden Tiger, Scarlet Tiger, Jersey Tiger, Ruby Tiger, Common Footman, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, Muslin Footman, Rosy Footman, Buff Footman, Pebble Prominent, Iron Prominent, Pale Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Buff-tip, Flame Shoulder, Heart and Dart, Heart and Club, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame, Crescent Dart, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Least Yellow Underwing, Dark Arches, Light Arches, Bright-line Brown-eye, Mottled Rustic, Uncertain, Rustic, Pale Mottled Willow, Dot Moth, Cabbage Moth, Double Lobed, Common Rustic, Lesser Common Rustic, Marbled Minor, Rufous Minor, Middle-barred Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, Rosy Minor, Double Square-spot, Dotted Clay, Smoky Wainscot, Common Wainscot, Clay, Lychnis, Marbled Beaut,y Marbled Green, Knot Grass, Poplar Grey, Coronet, Grey Dagger, Dark Dagger, True Lovers Knot, Nut-tree Tussock, Southern Wainscot, Yellow-tail, Plain Golden Y, Beautiful Golden Y Siver Y, Spectacle, Dark Spectacle (at lighted window), Old Lady, Burnished Brass, Beautiful Hook-tip, Straw Dot, Blackneck, Small Mottled Willow, Bordered Straw, Snout, Herald, Cinnabar, Buff Ermine, Dingy Shears, Dog’s Tooth, Fanfoot, Small Fanfoot, Short-cloaked Moth, Black Arches, Small Dotted Buff, Sallow Kitten, Cloaked Minor, Dun-bar, Rosy Rustic, Copper Underwing, Small Rufous, Angle Shades, Small Square-spot, Six-striped Rustic,

Wax Moth, Rush Veneer, Rusty Dot Pearl, European Corn-borer, Mother of Pearl, Garden Pearl, Udea prunalis, Udea olivalis, Rhyacionia buoliana, Pyrausta purpupalis, Aclris forsskaleana, Lozotaeiodes formosanus, Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Catoptria pinella, Endotricha flammealis, Anania coronata, Calamotropha paludella,

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe- Min temp 12.1 degrees

34 species including FFY - Mouse Moth (2) and Vestal.

A reasonable night numbers wise but nothing new. Highlight were 5 Vestals all with markings much fainter than I have seen before suggesting that they all have originated from the same place.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 14.1 degrees

36 species including FFY - Canary Shouldered Thorn (2)

4 traps run at Stock Hill on the Mendips on the 18th August recording 71 species the highlight being Philedone gerningana.  My first thoughts when trapping it were Epiphyas postvittana but it didn't look quite right. The photo shows the antennae which is the most obvious feature separating males from E.postvittana. Other highlights included: Marsh Oblique-barred, Six-striped Rustic, Triple-spotted Pug, Satin Beauty and Pine Carpet.

Philedone gerningana (Gen Det)

Chris - I think that the Copper Underwing is just that - according to the UK Moths website "Svensson's has dark palps with pale tips, whereas Copper Underwing's palps are pale throughout". From your photo the palps are pale throughout.

The Carpet is a Red Twinspot and the Noctuid is, I think, a Setaceous HC.

Following the discovery of the Death's Head larva in Fivehead I took our dog for a walk by the Bridgwater and Taunton canal where there are extensive patches of Woody Nightshade and where I found 3 larvae in 2010. In a 2 hour search I found one trashed Woody Nightshade plant with a number of huge caterpillar droppings under it, but the culprit had gone!
It's definitely worth looking at big patches of Woody Nighshade - it grows all along the canal.

I had a very nice telephone call last evening from SMG member Michael Plaxton (who lives just over the border in Wiltshire, but records also in Somerset) to say that he too has had records of late-August Green Pugs, so clearly this is a phenomenon not confined to where I live !!  I checked back in my own records, and found that it happened here in East Lydford in 2006 & 2007, and at my previous home in Street-on-the-Fosse, Pylle (nr. Shepton Mallet) there were several records in 2004, from mid-August until as late as 5th.September.

A dismal night last night with 23 moths of 9 species! I think it was made worse because something (cat?) disturbed the trap, leaving it more open. Only FFY was Acleris laterana, my first for two years.

I've just found a quite fresh-looking Green Pug on the inside of my kitchen window.  Although Waring indicates only a single brood, from June to "early" August, and UK Moths indicates June & July, this would seem to me to be either an unusually late specimen, or a possible second brooder.  Any ideas ?

An uneventful 5-hour session; clear skies and quite chilly. 155 moths of just 25 species. Brimstone (25), Green Carpet (21) and Lesser B-b Yellow Underwing (20) were the biggest hitters. An Old Lady was my first at this site.

Plenty of Black Arches, a couple of Mochas, Yellow-tail, Mouse-moth, Tawny-barred Angle, Caloptilia robustella, Ypsolopha parenthesella

A few ID requests:

Svensson's Copper Underwing, based on the palps?

I think this is a dark Red Twin-spot Carpet, rather than a red Dark Twin-spot Carpet.

This seems to fall halfway between Double Square-spot and Setaceous Hebrew Character, and was a shade smaller than either.

Not sure about this - clearly a pyralid but I couldn't fit it to anything in the books.

Sally Piizey found a mature Death's Head larva in a garden at Fivehead yesterday - confirmed by her photographs. Awaiting permission to upload a picture (now received).

Mature larva of Deatah's Head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos found in Fivehead. Photo ©Sally Pizii 2015.

Time to check your own and your neighbours' potato patches and, based on my experiences of 2010, any significant stands of Woody Nightshade!

Back in July I collected some seed-pods of bladder campion from the embankment of the old Radstock - Frome railway line.  These contained a number of larvae that pupated around the end of the month.  Yesterday the first of the adult moths emerged - a Lychnis - and flew. 

The site has proved good for scarce moths, with Small Eggar nests and Dichrorampha sequana by day. 

Whitefield Wiveliscombe - 21 Aug - Min Temp 16.1 degrees

56 species with so many LYU that we gave up trying to count them. FFY - Palpita vitrealis and among 59 Mother of Pearl an odd looking one which I found was Anania perlucidalia. I will have to check the MOPs more carefully in future.

I came accross a female Brown Hairstreak at Taunton Garden Centre, Pen Elm, yesterday. I had a quick search for eggs but nothing found.

With a reasonably warm night forecast, I put two traps on in my Mum's garden in Frome.

The Heath trap with actinic had 92 moths of 19 species dominated by Large Yellow Underwing (52). Highlights being Orange Swift (2), Red Underwing (1), my first, Copper Underwing (1) and Lychnis (1).

The Skinner with MV had 150 moths of 26 species again with Large Yellow Underwing being the most numerous (49). Highlights were Orange Swift (4), Scarce Footman (2), my first Dark Sword Grass (1), Brown China-mark (1) and a couple of Agriphila geniculea (2)

I've been given another trap (Skinner type) so I had 3 running the other night. Two at home in Frome and one in my Mum's garden, also in Frome.

The two at home were pretty disappointing as follows:

Heath actinic produced 26 moths of 14 species the highest count being tied with Large Yellow Underwing (5) and Common Rustic (5). The only moth of note was a nice female Ringed China-mark. Skinner with MV produced 22 moths of 15 species mostly ones and twos. Knot Grass, Yellow-barred Brindle and Orange Swift brightened things up a bit.

It was a different story at my Mum's garden which has a much more open aspect than mine. The Skinner with MV produced 108 moths of 35 species. The most numerous moth being Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (18) with LBAM not far behind (16). Highlights were Scalloped Oak (1), Copper Underwing (1), Knot Grass (1), Yellow-barred Brindle (1). Micro highlights were Clepsis consimilana (1) and Lobesia littoralis (1) (photo). Many thanks to Paul Wilson for confirming ID for the last one. This micro appears to be mainly coastal but with some inland sightings.

Would have been ideal but for the torrential rain!

On Thursday night I had H. armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) in my garden trap, a very dark specimen so perhaps home bred, then last night N. obstipata (Gem)

292 moths of 56 species (42 macro sp) on Thursday night. Many thanks to James McGill for confirming three new micro species: Swammerdamia pyrella, Caloptilia semifascia and Lathronympha strigana. Four FFY's were: Sallow Kitten, Orange Swift, Flounced Rustic and Small Dusty Wave. Other highlights included two Oak Eggar females, seven Jersey Tigers and a fresh, almost photogenic, Mouse Moth.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 16.9 degrees !

Almost 500 moths of 37 species. The vast quantity was difficult to check on a windy morning and included LYU (280) Common Rustic agg (68), Mother of Pearl(55) and Flame Shoulder (57) . FFY - Least Yellow-Underwing and Dusky Thorn.

Too windy to be a good night despite decent overnight temperatures. Am I just not remembering correctly or have we had remarkably few warm and sticky nights in the last few years?
Migrants in the trap last night were singles of Bordered Straw and a different Vestal. I also recorded my first ever male Oak Eggar. It's very different to the female and looks more like the illustrations for Northern Eggar than a typical Oak Eggar.

This evening's round-up produced a further 39 moths, and 3 additional species, of which Acrobasis advenella (2) was FFY

Totals now 198 moths, 36 species.

The strangest Four-spotted Footman in the trap this morning - managed to fly remarkably well, No Foot-women! also 2 Silver Y s and 3 Rush Veneers. FFY 2 Dusky Thorn and 1 Svensson's Copper Underwing, second gen Yellow-barred Brindle, Small Square-spot, Maiden's Blush and Blood Vein have reappeared.

If the weather is OK the plan is to trap at Steart this Saturday (22nd) and to meet up at the Car park at ST261 453 at about 7.30pm.

For Moth Night, 10th to 12th Sept. there will be an event at Selworthy Beacon, dates and times to be arranged.

I recorded my first Vestal of the year last night along with another 2 Small Mottled Willows. I have now recorded 86 SMWs this year which easily beats the 2006 previous best of 42. Prior to this year I had only recorded 5 in total in the previous 8 years.
I have also recorded 6 Four Spotted footmen this year but never more than one at a time. I was slightly concerned that I was recording the same one on different nights so I was pleased to see my first ever Four Spotted Footwoman earlier this week.

I was expecting large numbers last night, as it was mild & slightly damp, but in the end it was quite manageable. 159 moths so far, of 33 species.  FFY were Dusky Thorn (4), Maiden's Blush, Straw Underwing, and a White-point, the first here since 2006.

Another relatively quiet night, with 110 moths of 24. FFY were Canary-shouldered Thorn and Small Wainscot (I tend to get one a year!). Large Yellow Underwings are in the ascendancy - 26 last night. Also of interest were my highest numbers of Agriphila tristella (17) and Eudonia mercurella (14) and a pristine Heart and Dart.

Very little of interest on the trap over the last couple of weeks. However one new species for the garden - Ypsolopha sequella appeared last week - a very attractive little moth .

Ypsolopha sequella

Malcolm Cotterill kindly provided a mature Alder Moth larva for me to photograph - the first I have seen since 1979! Back then I found a second instar larva on Hazel. The transformation from bird-dropping mimic to warning colours with those paddle-like hairs is amazing!
2nd instar larva about to ecdyse and mature larva. Apologies for the quality of the young larva image - a scan of a not very good slide!

A milder night at last, and the (208) moths obliged with 56 species of which 11 were micros. The highlights were a single Scarce Footman (NFG), only my second ever Turnip Moth and the yellow version of the Jersey Tiger (NFY). Other NFYs were: Dusky Thorn, Mouse Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Herald and a nice Catoptria falsella.

Not a lot of excitement last night, back down to 33 sps, Small BBYUW still the commonest moth. FFY Orange Swift, also Gold Spot, Cabbage, Poplar and Elephant HM, a Silver Y and a flurry of Ringed China-marks and FFY Ag. Geniculea. Very fresh Painted Lady in the garden today and the Elephant HM larvae are back on the Bog Bean in the pond and growing fast.

123 moths of 32 species last night. The only FFY was Garden Rose Tortrix (2). Of interest was my highest, and first double-figure account, 11, of Blastobasis adustella! Others of note were Orange Swift and Yellow-barred Brindle.

Not a great catch on Friday night but a few FFY including Mother of Pearl, Old Lady, Dingy Footman, Treble-bar and Herald. Also caught my first Nephopterix angustella which is apparently fairly localised.

ID confirmed by Paul, on dissection a female Anacampsis. blattariella of which there were 3 also... Apotomis betulana and Epinotia trigonella, all Birch munchers.

Another cold night,so numbers quite low - just over 60 moths, of 26 species.  Highlights were a Poplar Hawk, a Garden Tiger and a Red Underwing which was sitting on a window-sill near the trap, clearly visible against the white framework. Not quite sure how my hungry blackbird didn't see it, but I'm pleased that he didn't !!  Two other moths were FFY - a Purple Thorn and a Pebble Hook-tip, and there was also a late Common Emerald and a second-generation Dog's Tooth. A nice variety.

Yesterday afternoon the Blackdown Hills AONB staged a Bioblitz at Otterhead Lakes Nature Reserve near Churchinford. I helped them with moth ID and presntation. Two traps were put out on Friday evening but they produced just 34 moths, albeit of 21 species. Of most interest were 2 Drinkers, Pebble Hook-tip, Sharp-angled Peacock, Poplar Hawk-Moth, Iron, Pebble and Lesser Swallow Prominents, and Six-striped Rustic (my FFY). Not surprisingly the Hawk-Moth was a big hit with the children present!

I don't know whether much trapping has been done at this site but it certainly has some potential.

I provided a battery-powered actinic trap to go with three traps provided by the Centre and SANHS for the Centre's "Bioblitz" last night.  Most probably the cold clear night kept numbers down - the actinic produced a disappointing catch of only 7 moths of 4 species, but the Centre's own MV trap did better, with 63 moths of 22 species. Even though no trapping has been done at Carymoor for several years, most of the species caught have been recorded there before. However, there were 4 new records for the site - Canary-shouldered Thorn, Six-striped Rustic, Pebble Prominent, and Eudonia delunella.  The 2 traps set by SANHS appeared to have similarly low numbers of moths caught, but I do not have the details.

With the temperature dropping and very little activity I called it a day (night?) at midnight with just 30 moths of 14 species. Two NFYs though: Six-striped Rustic and Square-spot Rustic (2).

Good to catch up with the Chalk Carpet at Draycott Sleights again today after not finding it for the last few years - one seen there this afternoon.  On the quarried section groups of Chalkhill Blues were taking up minerals from the mud soaked in yesterday's rain.

Not sure where to put this so I hope it's ok to post it here. It might be of interest to members

http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/2/8/150291 

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 15.5 degrees

52 species including 180 LYU and 45 each of Common Rustic (agg) and Mother of Pearl. FFY - Bordered Straw, Copper Underwing and Yellow Tail.

I had two traps out in Frome the other night.

At home with the actinic Heath which brought in 41 moths of 22 species. Highlights were a lovely Canary-shouldered Thorn which seemed to glow in the early morning light and a very smart looking dark form of Cydia splendana. Highest performer from the ones and twos was Common Rustic agg with (12).

At my Mum's garden, also in Frome with the MV Skinner 109 moths of 33 species. By far the most numerous moth being Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing with (23). I had my first ever Knot Grass and Copper Underwing. Many thanks to Paul Wilkins who helped with some micro IDs namely a very pale Eudonia lacustrata and Aspilapteryx tringipennella.

A muggy, cloudy night here produced 74 moths of 33 species. 2 Antler Moth ffy and my 2nd Bordered Beauty. Out of 60 micros 24 were Mother of Pearl and 3 Small Magpie. Also identified a Chilo phragmitella and a Evergistis Pallidata.

Hi John

Re Ian's note about permission and trapping up on Sand Point.

We didn't trap on the point but down in the marsh below, which I didn't think was NT property, but the point is taken anyway. I will double check next time and I have made a note of his number.

Roger

At last good numbers in my garden trap, including this scruffy Devonshire Wainscot, a nice FFG. Also Bordered Straw, udea ferrugalis, 3 Nomophila noctuella, 2 Silver Y.

Devonshire Wainscot

Bordered Straw.

Yesterday (11/08/15) also produced a FFG in the form of The Crescent

The Crescent.

Ian Clemmett, Lead Ranger, North Somerset has emailed me -

"Delighted to read the records about moths on Sand Point posted on the SMG website by Roger Edmondson on 24 July. It’s always good to add to our records and / or bring them up-to-date.

Just a small ask from me… Please could you ask those venturing on to NT property just to let me know beforehand? I’m not trying to put obstacles in your way or dissuade anyone in any way but it’s good to get a heads up as to what’s happening. I can then be prepared if I get out of hours phone call enquiries from local residents and also keep our tenant grazier informed so there are no concerns about nocturnal goings-on….!

A simple phone message or e-mail to this address would suffice

Many thanks

Ian"

Ian Clemmett Lead Ranger, North Somerset
Tel. 01934 844518 / 07919 392181
Ian.Clemmett@nationaltrust.org.uk

Male Four-spotted Footman was FFG.

Very quiet here last night, only 82 moths of 29 species.  FFY were Six-striped Rustic, Orange Swift, & Rosy Rustic.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 13.2 degrees

410 moths (half were LYUs!) of 42 species. FFY - Maidens Blush, Beautiful Plume and a Scarce Bordered Straw. We also had a first second brood Sallow Kitten and two more female Oak Egger's.

Much quieter last night, with just 84 moths of 29 species. FFG was a Maple Pug. FFY were Ypsolopha scabrella, Cydia splendana, The Magpie, Swallow Prominent and Chocolate-tip

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 10.5 degrees

Reduced numbers in the cooler night. Only 127 moths of 30 species with one FFY - the pyralid O.glaucinalis.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 16.1 degrees

400 moths of 43 species Including FFY- Shaded Broad-bar and Small Rufous. Numbers swelled by 140 LYUs and 43 Mother of Pearl. A lovely fresh Elephant Hawk-moth continued their fine season here.

Small Mottled Willow last night was my first since 2006. Also Rush Veneer, Silver Y and Jersey Tiger. Only one Small Ranunculus this year but I have been assured it's doing well in other parts of Weston.

Liz - I've identified the Canada Farm leaf-miners now - Stigmella salicis (on sallow), Stigmella lapponica, Stigmella sakhalinella (both on birch).

We had a good night at Shapwick last friday, highlights were; Oak Eggar(3), Scalloped Hook-tip(13), Birch Mocha(6), Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet(9), Devon Carpet(4), White-spotted Pug(2), Golden-rod Pug(1), Sallow Kitten(6), Round-winged Muslin(1), Garden Tiger(7), Dotted Clay(13), Southern Wainscot(5), Double Kidney(1), Small Wainscot(2), Bulrush Wainscot(1). The only other Wainscot recorded was a single Smokey Wainscot. Around 76 Macro sp. and 21 micro species, a couple that Sue recorded being rare - more of later!

I was interested to see Paul and Peter's postings about males of this species. Apart from a male in 2006, I've recorded just females from 2012 to 2015. Funnily though, I was walking past a neighbour's garage a few days ago and saw three males flying around for several minutes!

Martin Evans and myself used a couple of traps on the marsh last night. The Met Office assured us that no rain was due until the early morning so of course it started at dusk. However, it stopped again just after 10pm so we gave it a go. 18oC, humid, not much wind, no moon. Perfect conditions.

We had about 30 species. Copper Underwing, Black Arches, Dark Arches, BurnishedBrass, Swallow Prom, Silver Y. These are the highlights plus we had loads of Large And Lesser Yellow Underwings.

Martin had both Long-winged and Short-winged Conehead and I had a couple of Shore Crabs attracted to the lights and some large Bats took advantage of our trapping.

A disappointing night.

Gothic (NFG), Copper Underwing (NFY), Black Arches (NFY) plus Chocolate Tip, Mocha and Maple Pug, the highlights from last night.

Yes, definitely males, Peter - I still have the one caught last night in a pot awaiting release, so I was able to check that I hadn't blundered. (You had me worried for a moment !!) A nice dark brown.  Interestingly, the one I caught on the 6th. was in the MV trap, this one was in the Actinic. My previous records in 2007 were 1 each male & female, bred through from larvae found on blackthorn twigs, and fed on evergreen bramble until pupation in garden compost, so these are the first ones I have light-trapped.

p.s.  a further FFY from 8/8/15 , Endothenia marginana, determined by Paul Wilkins (by gen.det.) - to whom my thanks.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 10.4 degrees

Over 230 moths of 45 species including FFY - Six-striped Rustic, Triple-spotted Clay, and A.advennela. Paul, I am very interested in your report of having a male Oak Eggar in your trap, I get the females regularly (two this week) but I have never had a male either here or in Northumberland.

I think it must have got much cooler in the night, as numbers well down on what might be expected after a hot day .  Just 52 moths of 28 species, including FFY Mouse Moth, Brown House-moth (rhyming unintentional), Canary-shouldered Thorn, Aethes cnicana and Agonopterix heracliana.  There was also another male Oak Eggar - after a gap of 8 years, 2 in two nights !!  Or, I suppose, it might be the same moth - who knows ?

Despite the forecast of clear skies last night I decided to give the trap a go. The result was 164 moths of 46 species. FFY were Black Arches and Ruby Tiger. I still have a few micros to check. Biggest haul was 51 Common Rustic agg,, exceeding my previous highest count of 40 on the 2nd of this month. So far this year I've had 135 of them, by far the best year.

Found near the mothtrap a FFG Clouded Magpie. Not recorded locally nor recently, i believe.

Narrow-winged Pug FFG.

Ran a 125w MV Skinner at Netherclay for four hours. 200 moths of 44 species. Oak Eggar and 893 Mompha epilobiella were site firsts.

My first trapping for over two weeks, produced just 112 moths of 39 species. Quite relaxing after the frantic sessions a few weeks ago !  FFG was a Dusky Sallow, and the only FFY was a beautiful pristine male Oak Eggar, the first here since 2007. Welcome back.

I nearly didn't trap last night as I was feeling so tired, but in the end, I decided to put both traps out at home to see what turned up. I'm glad I did.

The Heath trap with actinic produced 54 moths of 17 species (so far, a couple of things to be confirmed) with my first ever Jersey Tiger (1), Dusky Sallow (1), Ringed China Mark male (1) and a smart looking Eudonia delunella (1).

The Skinner trap with MV produced 64 moths of 25 species with some nice micros Carcina quercana (1), Crassa unitella (1), Lyonetia clerkella (3), Pandemis corylana (1) and Eucosma campoliliana (1).

A warm (compared to others recently) night on Sunday prompted me to put my two traps out at the Mill garden on the outskirts of Frome. This was the first occasion since starting to trap that I've encountered billions of wasps (I might be exagerating slightly). Luckily, I was out there recording at first light Monday morning and they were quite docile! The Heath trap with actinic light produced 71 moths of 16 species, over half of which were Common Rustic agg (39). Highlights for me were Sallow Kitten (3), Swallow Prominent (1) and Yellow-tail (1)

The Skinner trap with MV light produced 170 moths of 56 species again dominated with Common Rustic agg (31). Dingy Footman and Mother of Pearl made a good showing with (8) and (15) respectively. Highlights were three types of Thorns, Early (1), Purple (1) and Canary-shouldered (1), Brown-tail (1) Pale Prominent (5) and Evergestis pallidata (1).

Finally sorted out the micros form the last 2 nights, thanks to Paul and James for confirming Mompha divisella. Also a Honeysuckle Moth and Cochylis roseana.

Acleris umbrana trapped last night in Milton, Weston, my first record for the garden. Small Seraphim too my 2nd record for this species.

Acleris umbrana

If the weather holds up we plan to meet up at 8.15pm at the Avalon marshes centre car park.

Last night I found an unfamiliar moth in the front porch. It turned out to be FFG Calamatropha paludella. Perhaps not surprising because there is a group of small lakes only some 400-600 metres away.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 13 degrees

180 moths of 34 species including one FFY - a Magpie Moth. Counting the catch in the strong wind was very difficult !

A good night with 67 spp, Com. Rustic agg. topped the chart with 51, followed by Small BBYUW at 34. Lots of second broods making a reappearance, Swallow Prominent, Swallow-tailed, Pebble Hook-tip, Yellow-barred Brindle, Red Twin-spot & Scorched Carpet, Blood Vein. FFY 3 Jersey Tigers, August Thorn, Straw Underwing, and micros, Acrobasis advenella, and a couple yet to confirm ID.

A couple of us trapped at Kings Wood on 2nd August trapping 102 species. We also had a very smart Agelena labyrinthica hanging around one of the traps plus several Brown Chafer and a Common Dumble Dor. Good numbers of Phytocoris longipennis and a single Anthocoris confusus also seen plus a rather large Orchesella cincta wandering across the ground sheet.

• Highlights of the moths included:
• 1 August Thorn
• 1 Oak Nycteoline
• 1 Antler
• 3 Slender Brindle
• 2 Maple Pug (Gen Det)
• 4 Roeslerstammia erxlebella
• 3 Evergestis pallidata
• 1 Ypsolopha sequella
• 1 Acrobasis consociella (Gen Det)
• 1 Coleophora flavipennella (Gen Det)

Evergestis pallidata

A belated report for Sunday night. Improving, with 187 moths of 50 species.

FFY were Garden Pebble, The Mocha, Iron & Pale Prominent, Jersey Tiger, three Underwing sp. - Lesser, Broad-bordered and Lesser Broad-bordered - and Small Rufous (only my second record, the first being last year). Biggest numbers were Heart & Dart (17), Large Yellow Underwing (23) and Common Rustic agg. (40, my biggest count). To cap it all a wasp stung my hand as I was removing some of them from the trap!

Lesser-spotted Pinion FFG.

An exhausting 409 moths of 77 species last night. At 18 degrees C it was the warmest here for some time. The lovely Bordered Beauty (NFG) was secured early at the kitchen window and only the second I have ever seen. I must admit I had the Dewick's Plusia down as a Silver Y? then a Plain Golden Y before I was able to see it properly. The rest of catch was bolstered by 102 Common Rustic agg. and 47 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. Two NFY macros: Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (2) and a July Highflyer. With another ten micros still to photograph I did manage to ID two NFGs: Acleris forsskaleana and Agriphila selasella.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 14.5 degrees

At last a warm night with over 300 moths of 56 species including FFY - Ear Moth, Wood Carpet, Lesser Yellow-Underwing and a Marbled Green.  Numbers swelled by 75 Common Rustic (agg) and 62 LYU's.

The strong winds kept numbers down last night but I did record only my third Latticed Heath and my first Slender Brindle.

Having had a Ni Moth last month I am feeling a little embarrassed to report a Dewick's Plusia from last nights 'mammoth' haul which also included my first Bordered Beauty.

At last a dark warm night with little wind. Lots of moths of 62spp, FFG - Large Emerald and Lesser Cream Wave, FFYs - Least YUW, also Sallow Kitten ,Small Rivulet, July Highflier., Ruby Tiger, Migrants - Silvers Ys, Diamond-back and Rush Veneer, lots of other micros, including Aethes rubigana and Cydia fagiglandana, 2 NFG, brassy form of Argyresthesia goedartella and Bucculatrix nigricomella with its white eyepatches.

It has been more productive swiping moths off the lit windows than the MV trap recently. Case in point this lovely Mompha propinquella.  Many thanks to James McGill for confirmation.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 7.8 degrees

Another cold night with only 50 moths of 20 species. The only FFY was a Small Wainccot.