Several traps were run last night at Wall Common by myself and Dave Nevitt to target some coastal species. The weather was windier and colder than forecast but nonetheless we caught some interesting species. First was a larva of Mother Shipton prior to setting up. During the night several Gynnidomorpha vectisana came to one light whilst at another about 5 Coleophora salicorniae. 3 Pediasia aridella also came to light but my favourite two moths of the night were singles of Crescent Striped and Monochroa palustrellus. We also caught 2 Enicospilus adustus.

Crescent Striped

Monochroa palustrellus

Coleophora salicorniae

The moth highlight of today's BC Somerset & Bristol Branch field trip to Brean Down was an example of Sitochroa palealis.

Friday night was a bit quieter for me, with 110 moths of 40 species. FFY were Blastobasis adustella (2), Pammene fasciana, Rosy Footman, Ruby Tiger (which I hope will fare better this year as I trapped only one in 2015), Jersey Tiger (on wall) and Lesser Yellow Underwing (2). .

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11.7 degrees

97 moths of 40 species including FFY - the dark form of the Bulrush Wainscot f.fraterna, a Lesser Yellow Underwing and Udea Lutealis.

I have been contacted by Benjamin Bond from Wellington who took a male Gypsy Moth on 20th July. This is only the second Somerset record - the first was by Robin Clatworthy at Kingsbury Episcopi in 1992! The males are apparently migratory.

Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar from Wellington ©Benjamin Bond 2016

Benjamin also took a Buttoned Snout on 30 May.

Buttoned Snout Hypena rostralis ©Benjamin Bond 2016

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 14.8 degrees

237 moths of 68 species including FFY - Four-spot Footman and Acleris laterana

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 15.1 degrees

163 moths of 56 species including FFY - Mocha, Ear Moths agg. (3) and a second brood Maidens Blush.

I found this in my moth shed- not sure if it escaped from my trap last week or emerge there. A garden first 0288 Caloptilia stigmatella

A good night with 59 spp, FFYs Mocha, Ear Moth, Sallow kitten, Dunbar, Black Arches, Lesser BBYUW, Scarce Footman and a FFG Ypsolopha scabrella.

My partner, Biz, found a Drinker in the shower this morning - presumably waiting for her to start the water flowing !!

A little chilly and I only put out the 15w actinic but a paltry 47 moths of 20 species was a disappointment. No new species for the year. Common footman was the only one to make double figures at 19. The absentees were notable , no Yellow underwings of any variety, nor Mother of Pearl and not a carpet to be seen. It's feast or famine at the moment.

You should be proud Steve, the Great Silver is a rarity.  I've been lucky enough to have one in my trap twice in the last ten years - magnificent beasts, but inclined to blunder about !!

220 moths -181 macros 43 species, 39 micros 18 species (1 unID). When opening the trap confronted by a very large black beetle - Great Silver (water) Beetle. Thankfully it is a vegetarian so the moths were untroubled although a Small Emerald did have a large chunk missing from one of its wings!

Common footman most numerous (58) Yellow tails (11) Rosy footman (6) Drinker (5). Others of interest (to me) Garden tiger (FFG) Small scallop (FFY), Buff tip (FFY), Pebble hook tip, Pebble prominent, Scalloped oak, and Clouded border.

Now I know where my moths have gone - to Langport !  Just 109 last night, of 42 species (not too bad, but not wonderful) FFY were Lesser Yellow Underwing, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Knotgrass, Coronet, and Purple Thorn.  "Only" 34 Common Footmen, but Dingy numbers are increasing , with 16 including one f.Straminea.

A very good night for my garden which has been poor so far this year. A couple of hours with the trap produced 95 identified species plus 3 or 4 micros to photograph and pass by Paul - also several micro escapes which might have taken the tally over 100 for only the second time!

Also found this Pale Tussock larva newly ecdysed while removing Cabbage White eggs from our nasturtiums!



Bad Hair day - Pale Tussock Larva just ecdysed!

Numbers and spp count down again, commonest 15 Scalloped Oak, Engrailed, & Early Thorn, FFY Scarce Footman, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Cydia splendana and Ypon. plumbana.

Trapping has been reasonable here with a good selection of macros but I estimate the totals are about 50% down on what I would have expected in a decent year.
Signs of migration but not on the scale of the Parc de Prince during the Euro final but I have had up to 6 Silver Ys at a time, a Gem and last night a Bordered Straw. I've also seen a few Painted Ladies in the garden and a Humming Bird Hawk Moth on Ham Hill.
Best of the rest include only my second ever Tissue, Lunar-spotted Pinion and a few Jersey Tigers.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 16.2 degrees and wet.

143 moths of 50 species including FFY - a Rosy Rustic.

The round-up of strays produced a further 22 moths and 6 more species.  Additional FFY were Shaded Broad-bar, Small Scallop (first since 2012), and a VERY dark Agonopterix heracliana.  Common Footmen count now 70 out of 144 total.

Whitefield, wiveliscombe - Min Temp 11.4degrees

99 moths of 32 species including FFY - a female Oak Eggar. I do not understand why we never get the males in the trap!

Numbers down, I assume due to the cooler night-time weather.  Just over 120 moths, but of only 32 species.  FFY were Nut-tree Tussock, Phycitodes binaevella and Small China-mark, the first for 4 years.  62 Common Footmen included !!

Also a Small Dotted Buff, from last night's catch (determined this afternoon by John Bebbington & Robin Clatworthy to whom my thanks) - a first for this site.

Sorry , should be 27th - short notice but this Wednesday 27th July. I've amended the post below.

Should the date for that Westhay Moor event read 7 September?

We have permission to trap again at Westhay Moor. Meet at 8.30pm at Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve car park ST45627 43704. If the weather is bad and we have to cancel I'll put a note on Latest Sightings by 6pm.

Robin Clatworthy, Liz Marsden and I put out 4 traps. Very windy, moonlit - far from ideal. We ended up with 230 moths of 66 species. 37.033 Coleophora trifolii Clover Case-bearer 1 (foodplant - Melilot - v. abundant)
18.001 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back 4
49.039 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
49.109 Agapeta hamana 1
49.134 Cochylis roseana 1
49.161 Celypha striana 1
62.035 Acrobasis advenella 2
63.080 Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 6
63.025 Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie 2
63.022 Anania crocealiis 1
63.038 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 4
63.037 Udea olivalis 1
63.116 Cataclysta lemnata Small Chinamark
66.003 Malacosoma neustria Lackey 26
66.007 Lasiocampa quercus Oak Eggar 1
65.009 Habrosyne pyritoides Buff Arches 2
70.024 Scopula imitaria Small Blood-vein 1
70.013 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 5
70.016 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 3
70.051 Xanthorhoe spadicearia Red Twin-spot Carpet 5
70.052 Xanthorhoe ferrugata Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 5
70.061 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 5
70.094 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 1
70.074 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 6
70.207 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 2
70.218 Chiasmia clathrata Latticed Heath 1
70.226 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
70.237 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 2
70.241 Crocallis elinguaria Scalloped Oak 3
70.243 Ourapteryx sambucaria Swallow-tailed Moth 1
70.252 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 3
70.258 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2
69.002 Smerinthus ocellata Eyed Hawk-moth 1
69.003 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 1
71.005 Furcula furcula Sallow Kitten 1
71.013 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 2
71.020 Pterostoma palpina Pale Prominent 1
72.103 Euproctis similis Yellow-tail 1
72.044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 5
72.045 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 3
72.026 Arctia caja Garden Tiger 4
72.019 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 2
72.024 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 6
73.313 Euxoa tritici White-line Dart 8
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 8
73.328 Axylia putris Flame 8
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 13
73.345 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 4
73.348 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2
73.338 Lycophotia porphyrea True Lover's Knot 1
73.290 Mythimna conigera Brown-line Bright Eye 1
73.298 Mythimna ferrago Clay 6
73.294 Mythimna straminea Southern Wainscot 2
73.293 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 19
73.299 Mythimna litoralis Shore Wainscot 1
73.052 Cucullia umbratica Shark 1
73.046 Acronicta megacephala Poplar Grey 1
73.162 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 14
73.171 Mesoligia literosa Rosy Minor 1
73.169 Mesapamea secalis Common Rustic 3
73.097 Hoplodrina blanda Rustic 3
73.001 Abrostola tripartita Spectacle 1
Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 2
Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 2
73.172 Mesoligia furuncula Cloaked Minor 1
72.003 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1

Last evening's round-up produced a further 38 moths, and 10 species.  Additional FFY were Pandemis cerasana, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, and V-pug.  This last had me confused at first, as it was resting with its wings up, rather than the usual Pug spread, so the ID markings were not visible at first.  Totals now 224 of 57 species, with 9 more Common Footmen making 65 in all.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe. Min temp 15.8 degreea

173 moths of 65 species including FFY - Black Arches, and both Garden Tiger (2) and Jersey Tiger, A good Tiger night as we also had three Ruby tigers! We also had two second brood Purple Thorns.

I ran a 125w MV Skinner for 4.5 hours at Netherclay last night. 359 moths of 89 species (57 macro & 32 micro). There were 12 site 'firsts': Zelleria hepariella, Swammerdamia caesiella, Recurvaria leucatella, Athrips mouffetella, Scrobipalpa costella, Brachmia blandella, Gypsonoma dealbana, Wax Moth, Euzophera pinguis, Haworth's Pug, Foxglove Pug and male & female Four-spotted Footman.

Zelleria hepariella

Another reasonable night - 185 moths of 47 species so far, including FFY Euzophera pinguis, Rusty-dot Pearl (2), Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella)*, Short-cloaked Moth (2), and Catoptria falsella (2).  Even more Common Footmen (56) being the most numerous again.

* These Water Veneers (males) regularly swarm at this time of year, so to trap only a singleton was a surprise - I'll probably get dozens of them next time.  They're easy to count, as they invariably die in the trap (they are very short-lived, like mayflies), so they don't escape !!  The most I have ever caught in one night was over 240, but oddly none at all last year.

A bit quieter last night but still managed 119 moths of 47 species. FFY were Argyresthia goedartella, Scoparia pyralella, Anania crocealis and The Mocha (2). Largest numbers were Riband Wave and Common Footman (both 20).

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 15.3 degrees

216 moths of 59 species including FFY - Marbled Green, Dun-bar (2), Magpie, and Gold Triangle,

A further 22 moths rounded up last evening, and 5 more species, but no more FFY. Totals now 150/41 Common Footmen accounted for 51 of the overall total - they were everywhere !

And that's all, folks.

The Fox Moth larvae are growing well and are now doing a reasonable impersonation of Cinnabar Moth larvae.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 14.1 degrees

143 moths of 52 species including FFY - Rosy Footman, Muslin Footman and a first for the site a Clay Fan foot.

Like Paul I had reservations about trapping on such a warm night, then I remembered February and put the trap out!  293 moths of 93 species including 22 FFY of which 3 were FFG.  Micro's included : Paraswammadamia nebulella(1) Ash Bud Moth(1) ; Crassa unitella(1) ; Carcina Quercana(2) ; Blastobasis adustella(3) ; Blastobasis lacticolella(1) ; Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix(2) ; Aethes cnicana(1) ; Nut-bud Moth(1) ; Notocelia roborana(1) ; Plum Fruit Moth(1) ; Euzophera pinguis(1) ; Eudonia lacustrata(13) ; Eudonia delunella(3) Of the macro's: Chinese Character(2) ; Drinker(1) ; July High-flyer(7) ; Barred Straw(4) ; Small Phoenix(2) ; Scalloped Oak(5) ; Swallow-tailed Moth(1) ; Common Emerald(4) ; Grass Emerald(2) ; Little Emerald(1) ; Muslin Footman(2) ; Ruby Tiger(5) ; Buff Footman(1) ; Dingy Footman(1) ; Small Wainscot(2) ; Small Clouded Brindle(1) ; True Lovers Knot(4).

With the warm nights and windows left open there is usually a few moths inside to pot or liberate before bedtime. Last night was no exception and about 11.30pm I potted up two moths. I didn't pay them much attention until this afternoon when I was amazed to discover Orthotelia sparganella and Acleris kochiella, both confirmed by James McGill (just to be sure). Both are new for my garden and the Orthotelia sparganella appears to be scarce in VC5 and VC6.

I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I chickened out of trapping on the warmest nights, having had an exhaustingly large number of moths to cope with on one such night last year.  However, somewhat cooler last night, and therefore manageable numbers.  128 so far, of 36 species, including 7 FFY - Agriphela tristella, Yellow-tail(2), Ruby Tiger(3), Carcina quercana, Acrobasis advenella(2), Plain Golden Y, and my second Kent Black Arches. More no doubt this evening.

Like most people, I put the trap out at home on Tuesday night with such a warm night forecast.

67+ species (some queries outstanding). I too had a large count of Riband Wave (17). Marbled Green was the next most numerous macro (11). Macro highlights being Pebble Hook-tip (2), Beautiful Hook-tip (1), Silver Y (2). There were also some impressive micro numbers as follows:

Pandemis cerasana (1) Common Plume (1) Small Magpie (1) Anania coronata (1) Beautiful China-mark (2) Eudonia lacustrata (9) Eudonia mercurella (5) Lyonetia clerkella (3) Celypha striana (2) Catoptria pinella (1) Mother of Pearl (1) Carcina quercana (2) Diamond-back moth (3) Acleris forsskaleana (2) Ancylis achatana (1) Acrobasis advenella (1) Argyresthia goedartella (4) Argyresthia pruniella (11) Blastobasis adustella (3) Brown House moth (1) Chrysoteuchia culmella (2) Crassa unitella (8) Cydia pomonella (1) Ditula angustiorana (1) Enarmona formosana (1) Ermine sp (8) Gypsonoma sociana (1) Pyrausta aurata (1) Spilonota ocellana (1) Swammerdamia pyrella (4) Blastobasis lacticolella (1) LBAM (18)

I trapped in my own garden in Frome with two traps. Not much of interest to report except the following: Vapourer moth - male (1) (always lovely to see), Beautiful China-mark (1) and one of the moths which had been on my 'bucket list': Lozotaeniodes formosana (1) (photo). Not in the best of condition but still produced a gasp when I turned the egg box over!

I'm a bit behind in posting so this will be the first of three posts.

I trapped in my Mum's garden in Frome on the 16th July with two traps.

The Heath actinic trap produced 27 species of which the highlights were: Common Lutestring (1) a first for me, Rusty Dot Pearl (1), Spilonota ocellana (1), Ancylis achatana (1) and Argyresthia goedartella (1).

The Skiiner mv trap produced 43 species so far (I have some outstanding queries). Highlights for me were: Golden Plusia (1) a first for me, Gothic (1) another first, Small Blood-vein (1), yet another first and some nice micros: Acleris forsskaleana (1), Blastodacna hellerella (1), Acrobasis advenella (1), Ancylis achatana (4), Bryotropha affinis (1) and I was surprised to get Limnaecia phragmitella (1) in this suburban garden, a really smart looking moth.

I couldn't resist trapping on Tuesday night in view of the high overnight temperature forecast (it turned out to be 23C). After three hours of struggling I managed to come up with a tally - 175 moths of 78 species (37 micro and 41 macro).

FFG were Neofaculta ericetella, Ephestia unicolorella and Galium Carpet. There were 21 FFY species, including Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis cerasana), Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Acleris forsskaleana, Anania coronata Rush Veneer, Gold Triangle, Royal Mantle (only 2nd record, first being in 2014), Blue-bordered Carpet (again only 2nd record, first in 2012), The Rivulet, Green Pug, Scalloped Oak (2), Swallow-tailed Moth, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, Dingy Footman, The Sycamore, Marbled Green(4), Common Rustic and Beautiful Hook-tip.

Interesting totals were Riband Wave - 17, my highest count for three years- and Brussels Lace - 4, my highest count. Diamond-backs were up to 11.

Phew! 202 moths of 86 species of which 39 were micros (probably more, as many escaped during my attempts to photograph them). NFG are mounting up this year with a further five: Leopard (at last), Wax Moth, Agapeta zoegana, Caloptilia robustella and Endotricha flammealis. New for 2016 were: Small Rufous, Small Fan-footed Wave, Sharp-angled Peacock, Ruby Tiger, Sandy Carpet (3), Crocidosema plebejana (2), Brown China-mark, Red-barred Tortrix (2), Ringed China-mark, Carcina quercana (2), Celypha striana (3), Blastobasis adustella (2). More still to try and identify - a bit overwhelming in this heat to be honest.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 18.8 degrees

Our warmest night of the year with 220 moths of 80 species including FFY - Gem, Cloaked Carpet, Sharp-angled Carpet, Lesser Yellow-underwing, Grass Emerald, Bordered Beauty, Dark Marbled Carpet, Pretty Chalk Carpet, a Bramble-shoot Moth and C .quercana.

Last night I ran two traps at Castle Neroche until 02:30h. 431 moths of 115 (84 macro, 31 micro) species. I have spent most of today sorting out some really interesting micros. Full species list:

• Phylloporia bistrigella
• Argyresthia brockeella
• Prays fraxinella (Ash Bud Moth)
• Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back Moth)
• Tachystola acroxantha
• Carcina quercana
• Argolamprotes micella
• Agapeta hamana
• Pandemis cerasana (Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix)
• Archips podana (Large Fruit-tree Tortrix)
• Pseudargyrotoza conwagana
• Olindia schumacherana
• Celypha striana
• Celypha lacunana
• Hedya nubiferana (Marbled Orchard Tortrix)
• Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana (Spruce Bud Moth)
• Gypsonoma dealbana
• Notocelia uddmanniana (Bramble Shoot Moth)
• Cydia splendana
• Chrysoteuchia culmella (Garden Grass-veneer)
• Crambus perlella (Satin Grass-veneer)
• Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer)
• Scoparia pyralella
• Scoparia ambigualis
• Eudonia delunella
• Elophila nymphaeata (Brown China-mark)
• Cataclysta lemnata (Small China-mark)
• Udea prunalis
• Udea olivalis
• Pleuroptya ruralis (Mother of Pearl)
• Aphomia sociella (Bee Moth)
• Lackey
• Oak Eggar
• Drinker
• Barred Hook-tip
• Chinese Character
• Peach Blossom
• Buff Arches
• Common Lutestring
• Large Emerald
• Common Emerald
• Clay Triple-lines
• Small Fan-footed Wave
• Dwarf Cream Wave
• Single-dotted Wave
• Riband Wave
• Common Carpet
• Beautiful Carpet
• Phoenix
• Barred Straw
• Barred Yellow
• Blue-bordered Carpet
• Grey Pine Carpet
• July Highflyer
• May Highflyer
• Cloaked Carpet
• Small Rivulet
• Foxglove Pug
• Common Pug
• Wormwood Pug
• V-Pug
• Green Pug
• Blomer's Rivulet
• Dingy Shell
• Small Yellow Wave
• Clouded Border
• Tawny-barred Angle
• Brimstone Moth
• Early Thorn
• Swallow-tailed Moth
• Peppered Moth
• Willow Beauty
• Satin Beauty
• Mottled Beauty
• Brussels Lace
• Square Spot
• Common White Wave
• Light Emerald
• Poplar Hawkmoth
• Buff-tip
• Iron Prominent
• Black Arches
• Muslin Footman
• Dingy Footman
• Buff Footman
• Common Footman
• Buff Ermine
• Scarlet Tiger
• Heart and Dart
• Flame
• Large Yellow Underwing
• Lesser Yellow Underwing
• Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
• True Lover's Knot
• Ingrailed Clay
• Purple Clay
• Grey Arches
• Smoky Wainscot
• Minor Shoulder-knot
• Coronet
• Small Angle Shades
• Dark Arches
• Uncertain
• Rustic
• Silver Y
• Spectacle
• Beautiful Hook-tip
• Straw Dot
• Snout
• Pinion-streaked Snout
• Small Fan-foot
• Dark Dagger/Grey Dagger
• Marbled Minor agg.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 15.2 degrees

84 moths of 45 species including FFY - Small Fan-footed Wave, Small Rufous, Pinion streaked Snout and Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing.

I've finally caught up and can give details of Sunday night's trapping session with my new Skinner trap!

Despite the moon, I had 72 moths of 45 species. FFG were Leopard Moth (male) and Engrailed. FFY were Honeysuckle Moth, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix, Bramble Shoot Moth (2), Eudonia pallida, The Lackey (first for 3 years), Barred Yellow (also first for 3 years), July Highflyer and Marbled White Spot. Micros are coming through now!

While overall totals are still down on last year, the species count is still good.

My Blacklight had a lot of competition from the full moon, numbers down but an interesting catch. 9 July Highflier commonest followed by 6 Mecyna asinalis (Madder Moth),others of interest- a Clouded Magpie, 3 Apotomis capreana, Acrobasis suavella, Argolamprotes micella and Crassa unitella.

Thanks to Paul Wilkins, my remaining UFO micro is confirmed as Mompha propinquella, a first for this location.

203 moths of 88 species, which as Paul said the other day is much more manageable than the 740 caught a year ago at this time. 4 FFG : Bird cherry ermine (1) ; Gypsonoma dealbana (1) ; Barred Yellow (1) ; Grass Emerald (1) There were a further 20 FFY including Catoptria pinella ; Small Fan-footed Wave (3) ; Cloaked Carpet ; Small Yellow Wave ; Mottled Beauty ; Beautiful Hook-tip ; Coronet ; Dun-bar ;True Lovers Knot and Lesser Yellow Underwing. No large totals but 10 Green Pugs were notable.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 17.9 degrees

183 moths of 66 species including FFY - Dingy Footman, Yarrow Plume, Shaded Broad-bar, Lesser and Dwarf Crean Wave, Mouse Moth and Yellow Shell.

A belated report for Friday night, when I had 84 moths of 43 species. FFG was Borkhausenia fuscescens. FFY were Bud Moth, Eudonia mercurella (3), Garden Pebble (2), The Drinker, Small Blood-vein, Small Fan-footed Wave, Small Yellow Wave and Smoky Wainscot.

Last night was also good -details hopefully to follow tomorrow!

The SMG has permission to trap at Berrow on the 20th. Hopefully the weather will hold up, if not I will post a cancellation here before 6pm.

We will meet at the Church (ST 2943 5244) which is on 'Coast Road' and will move off to the reserve at 8.30pm.

Finally sorted the lovely collection at 86spp, most numerous Apple/Orchard Ermine agg.>50,FFYs,Haworth's Pug, another 3 Small Rivulets after first on Friday, Rosy Footman, Gothic, Short-cloaked moth, Ruby Tiger and migrant Four-spotted Footman along with Silver Y, Rusty-dot Pearl and more very fresh Diamond-backs. Lots of FFY micros, Bird Cherry Ermine, Mother of Pearl, Euzophera pinguis, Acrobasis suavella, Acleris forsskaleana, Brachmia blandella, Blastodacna hellerella, Catoptria falsella and 2 very fresh Oncocera semirubella.

Still getting to grips with last nights Moth-fest. 84spp and counting. A first for me Dusky Plume, showing off its leg tufts.

Apologies for a belated report from Saturday. It was the warmest night of the year here which was reflected in the number of species - 68 from only 176 moths. The highlight being a Lesser-spotted Pinion, my first here. Other NFG were Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix, Aethes rubigana, Carpatolechia fugitivella and a possible Gypsonoma dealbana that requires further investigation. Thanks, again, to James McGill for his help. NFY was: Bordered Beauty (only my second here), Cloaked Minor, Blue-bordered Carpet, Small Blood-vein, Acleris forsskaleana, Phycitodes binaevella (3), Catoptria falsella, Pempelia Formosa.


Lesser-spotted Pinion

Aethes rubigana

Carpatolechia fugitivella


Gypsonoma dealbana now confirmed by James.

Chris, many thanks for your suggestion and details of where to send my Normandy records for their macro-moth atlas. I have many records stretching back 25+ years - I'll let you know on the French, my entomological and gastronomic is not too bad - the rest is pretty poor.

Last evening's round-up of strays produced a further 53 moths, taking the total to just over 200. One FFG was a Dwarf Cream Wave, and additional FFY were a very dark Common Carpet, and 2 Hypsopygia glaucinalis.  Gold Triangles increased to 38, the most I have ever recorded in a single night.  There is also one micro awaiting confirmation.

Lots of lovely months, warm nights at last. 45spp, Common Footmen the top sp. FFYs Muslin and Buff Footmen, Small Wainscot, Buff Arches, Marbled Green, Small Rivulet, Donacaula forficella and Ypsolopha sequella.

Whitefield, wiveliscombe - Min Temp 15.3 degrees

80 moths of 44 species including FFY- a Buff Footman.

Compared with last year's trapping on more or less the same date, (which produced almost 700 moths), last night's was a doddle !!  A mere 158 moths (so far) of 57 species, including FFY Catoptria pinella (2), Aethes cnicana, & Rosy Footman.  Gold Triangles were the commonest, with 26 individuals.  More to come this evening.

I trapped this moth in Simonsbath village on Wednesday night - it could be something common, or something from the nearby moorland.  It looks like a Diarsia or Xestia, perhaps a particularly dark Purple Clay (which would fit in terms of size).  Can anyone confirm, or suggest a better ID?

Just back from a few days staying at Simonsbath.  On the night of the 11th I ran a couple of actinics at the mire restoration site at Blackpitts.  Things went wrong from an early stage when it turned out that the small stream I had anticipated having to wade across to reach one of my sites turned out to be significantly deeper than it was three years ago, forcing a hurried search for an alternative location.  It rained heavily during the night, and I arrived on the sodden landscape at dawn to find a solitary Large Yellow Underwing staring reproachfully at me when I opened the first trap.  It did get a little better - eight moths in total - True Lover's Knot (3), Drinker, Large Yellow Underwing, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Gold Spot, Agriphila straminella.

Trapping with an actinic in Simonsbath village proved rather more promising, although the moths were outnumbered by caddis-flies; the highlights were Welsh Wave (a species I had not come across before) and Beautiful Carpet. 

Wandering across the moors turned up a couple of sites for the scarce upland grass moth Catoptria margaritella, as well as a colony of the marshland sub-species of the Five-spot Burnet at Winsford Hill. 

Steve - in Normandy they are currently surveying for a macro-moth atlas and they might value your records, via the spreadsheet at http://www.gretia.org/dossiers_liens/lassoc/atlas_macroheteroceres/atlas_macroheteroceres_frame.html - if the French puts you off I could have a go at it for you...

After 10 days in sunny Normandy with Purple Emperors (ilia and iris), 110+ macro species (inc. Orange, Goat, Latin, Orache, Double Dart) and almost as many micros, 152 moths of 48 species wasn't too bad for a cool night back here in blighty. One NFG, a Epinotia signatana (thanks to James McGill for confirming) and seven NFY: Drinker, Mother of Pearl, Swallow-tailed, Buff Footman, Muslin Footman (4), Herald and Scalloped Oak (14) having a good year here.

A further 11 moths, and 7 species.  Additional FFY were Small Blood-vein, Common Plume, and Common White Wave.

I ran a 125w MV Skinner at Netherclay until 01:30h this morning. Given that it was a clear, rather chilly, night I was quite pleased with 177 moths of 60 species (42 macro, 18 micro). There were several site 'firsts', some common: Short-cloaked Moth, Lackey, Turnip Moth, Muslin Footman, Pandemis heparana and Scoparia ambigualis and others less so: Rhopobota naevana, Argyresthia conjugella, Helcystogramma rufescens and Epinotia signatana.

Epinotia signatana

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 10.1 degrees

32 species including FFY - Scalloped Oak and Large Emerald.

I have not been able to report on my catches foe a couple of weeks because the site refused to accept the entries I made as Peter Tennant.  They should have been made as peter.tennant Very many thanks to Mark Yeats for pointing this out.

Quite cold last night, so only 61 moths so far, of 28 species, with a few more to come this evening.  FFY were Garden Tiger, Poplar Grey and Lunar-spotted Pinion.  Common Footman (16) by far the most numerous single species.

Only 14 more moths from last evening's round-up of strays to add to the total, but included were a FFG Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana), and two FFY - a Grass Rivulet, only the second record here (the previous one was in 2009), and a Common Rustic agg.  Well worth the effort.

A couple of us trapped at Sandford Hill last week and had a very good night trapping 150 species. In addition to this I found a Villa cingulata on a grass head at dusk which was particularly exciting for me. Highlights included Ruddy Carpet, my first Sophronia semiscostella for 6 years, Strophedra weirana new to me, Merrifieldia baliodactylus and Capperia britanniodactyla were two new plumes for me and quite scarce in the county and Argyresthia sorbiella

Ruddy Carpet

Sophronia semicostella

Ypsolopha parenthesella

A suprisingly good night given the increasing chill, with two FFG - a Royal Mantle (photo) - which I've not seen before but have always wanted to see, and a Small Emerald, among 52 macro species.  Micros were down in numbers with 11 species but Carcina quercana and Ypsolopha sequella were FFY.

First garden session for 2 weeks, surprised to reach 49spp, lots of FFYs, Blue-bordered Carpet, Lilac Beauty, Swallowtail, Common Emerald, Barred Yellow, Magpie, Oak Nicteoline, Drinker, Coronet, Clay, Broad-bordered YUW and a Scarlet Tiger in the garden this morning. Amongst the micros, Lozotaenia forsterana, Paraswamadamella nebulella and Adaina microdactyla, Hemp Agrimony Plume, a FFG.

Much cooler, so fewer moths (which makes life easier).  So far, 82 moths of 32 species, including FFY Lackey, Thistle Ermine, Scalloped Oak, Marbled Beauty, Rustic(2), and Blue-bordered Carpet.

I trapped on Wednesday and Friday nights this last week.

Wednesday produced 105 moths of 42 species. FFG was Celypha cespitana and FFY were Lozotaenia forsterana, Gypsonoma dealbana, Notocelia trimaculana, Rusty Dot Pearl, Common Emerald, Slender Pug (3), Sharp-angled Peacock, Light Emerald, Scarce Footman, Dot Moth, Small Dotted Buff and Small Fan-foot.

Friday night produced 109 moths of 47 species. FFY were Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix, Marbled Orchard Tortrix, Catoptria falsella, Mother of Pearl, Blood-vein, Yellow Shell, The Clay and The Rustic (2). There was also a strong candidate for Tawny Marbled Minor. Interestingly I had 5 Lozotaenia forsterana, which I normally record in singles, apart form the odd two or three.

There's been a notable increase in Micro species of late. Things are definitely on the up!

Thanks Paul.

Chris - your Plusia looks to me like a Beautiful Golden Y.

2 actinics run - highlights Brussels Lace, Drinker Moth, Single-dotted Wave, Beautiful Hook-tip, V-Pug, Agapeta zoegana.

Also this Plusia - is it simply an oddly-marked Silver Y or is it something more exotic?

Agapeta zoegana

Drinker Moth

A while ago, a Fox Moth laid eggs in my trap - these have recently hatched and I currently have around 20 larvae.  If anyone is interested in trying to rear the species, they are welcome to take some off my hands - 20 may be a bit too many for me to manage!

Lychnis larvae can be found along hedgerows at the moment, feeding on the seed-capsules of red campion.  I have planted patches of red campion in the garden and the larvae have appeared the last two years; the moth has never appeared at light here. 

A couple of Eucosma hohenwartiana have emerged in the last few days, from black knapweed seed-heads collected last autumn (thanks to David Agassiz and Paul Wilkins for the ID).

Yesterday I went to Ham Hill in Search of the Forester. I took the new lure and also an API lure for the Six-belted Clearwing. Up at the memorial it was particularly blustery and overcast so I was thrilled to get a single Six-belted Clearwing who sat for photos, appropriately, on Ham Stone.

Encouraged, I went to the other end of the park with the API lure - no luck with the Six-belted Clearwings but I spotted a Forester! I searched around and saw several. I got the Forester lure out but it appeared to have no effect- but there was again a blustery wind.

At home - 5/7 a 0925 Phtheochroa rugosa (can't upload photo to blog, but it is in 'pictures') but oddly only 2 Heart and Darts that night among 49 macro and 19 micro sp.

28/6 - nothing unusal other than a strongly marked Riband Wave(photo).

21/6 - A White Satin .

Last evening's round-up produced another 60+ moths - as you say, Tim, hard work !!  Totals now 256 of 54 species. Additional FFY were Single-dotted Wave, Small Fan-footed Wave, Chinese Character, and Mother of Pearl.

217 moths of 72 species , It's starting to be hard work !... 66 micro's of 22 species including Monopis obviella (1) ; Borkhausenia fuscescens (1) ; Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (9) ; Notocelia rosaecolana (1) ; Udea olivalis (12) ; Udea prunalis (2) ; Agriphila inquinatella (1) Pick of the macro's : My first Ghost Moth ; Single-dotted Wave (1) ; Treble Brown-spot (1) ; Barred Straw (1) ; Sandy Carpet (2) ; Green Pug (3) ; Peppered Moth (3) including a lovely sooty black individual ; Barred Red (1) ; Garden Tiger (1) ; Mottled Rustic (1) ; Smokey Wainscot (1) and a Heart and Club.

By some way the most numerous catch of the year, just under 200 so far, of 43 species.  A site first was a Clouded Brindle, and FFY were White Plume Moth, Muslin Footman, Swallow-tail (3), & Small Dusty Wave.  There were 67 C. culmella and 19 Gold Triangles, one of the highest numbers I've recorded in one night for this species.  More to follow this evening.

Spent an hour or two searching for Coleophora potentillae larvae/cases on Helianthemum (Rock Rose) yesterday but no luck whatsoever. In the meantime my wife tried to pot a very small moth which she managed to squash in the lid leaving it almost unidentifiable.  On returning home and looking at the remains under the microscope I could see some scale tufts on one of the forewings which pointed me towards a Mompha species. Abdomen almost intact allowed me to confirm that it was in fact Mompha miscella which is a new species for my 'square' and for me.

After an absence of a few months (since April) due to a break in at my friend's house (he wasn't keen on keeping his art studio open overnight and I used that for my power source), my friend has just had an outside socket put in.

So I trapped there last night with a 15W actinic Heath trap which produced 54 moths of 30 species. Highlights for me were a lovely fresh Dot Moth, Poplar Grey, V-pug, Varied Coronet and a smart looking male Ringed China-mark.

The 125W MV Skinner produced 90 moths of 34 species the majority of those being 27 Chrysoteuchia culmella. Highlights were Beautiful Hook-tip, Buff Arches, Blackneck, a lovely fresh Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Cream Wave, Small Fan-footed Wave, a very smart looking Notocelia uddmanniana (Bramble Shoot Moth) and Mompha ochraceella.

I was asked to trap at this site, which is managed with wildlife in mind, (this is unusual, as most graveyards are mown into featureless boring lawns)with only selected areas and paths mown.  Edington PCC members are keen to find out what wildlife can be attracted as a result of their policy, and this trapping is the first of what may well be a regular thing. Last night's catch was not all that good, even though conditions were quite favourable, mainly because I was only able to use the battery-run actinic trap, as there is no mains supply for my MV trap.  There were 16 moths, of 11 species, mostly very common ones, but those which the local church attendees were pleased with were Buff-tip, Marbled Green and Rivulet. A small number escaped from the church porch before I could round them up - not really surprising!!

A Hummingbird Hawkmoth (FFY) this afternoon, nectaring on Viburnum bonariensis, and Valerian.

The cloud lifted last night so numbers dipped a bit. I had 59 moths of 34 species. FFG was a male Brown China-mark (a week after Ringed). FFY were Blastobasis lacticolella, Eucosma cana, Eyed Hawk-moth, The Shark and The Miller.

Pammene aurana found this morning in Woodspring Bay north of Weston. I believe this is the first Weston record, so this would tie in with what you say Chris.

Pammene aurana

Nigel Cottle mentioned Pammene aurana a week or two back - it appears to be having a good year.  I have found a couple around Bath lately, the first time I have come across the moth since 2012.  It was a surprise however to come across one yesterday enjoying life in the fast lane, at Wheatley services on the M40.

The moth seems to like nectaring on hogweed (the LHP) during the day.

51 species, 110 moths with only two NFY: Rosy Footman and Common Emerald. I also had three NFG micros: Notocelia rosaecolana, Helcystogramma rufescens and a large and very attractive Scoparia basistrigalis (pic). Many thanks to James McGill for help with these.

The evening round-up produced a further 11 moths, 1 more species, nothing of real interest.

Another chilly night, and thus relatively low numbers.  So far, 68 moths (including 20 C.culmella) of 30 species, with 7 FFY - Smoky Wainscot(4), LIght Arches, Buff Arches, Dingy Footman, Fan-foot, Common Emerald,and Magpie Moth.

The weather looked reasonable last night so I gave the trap a go. It turned out to be quite soggy but I managed 103 moths of 33 species, the first three figure total this year. FFG was Plum Tortrix and FFY were Teleiodes vulgella, Eudonia delunella (2), The Snout (3) and The Fan-foot. It was also good to get Hawk-moths again - 3 Elephant and a Poplar. Large Yellow Underwings are now into double figures, a taste of things to come!

Last night's round-up amounted to a further 26 moths, and 6 more species, totals now 133/45.  FFY were Yellow Shell and Clouded Border.