Archives:
December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006
current posts
| |
Rodden Nature Reserve, Frome 28/02/2017
I spent another hour or so at Rodden Nature Reserve this morning scrutinising amongst other things, Oxeye Daisy leaves ( Leucanthemum vulgare) which produced the mine of Bucculatrix nigricomella. On the SMG status map it appears to be 'occasional and very local' and at a national level is categorised as 'local'.

Rodden Nature Reserve, Frome 26/02/2017
I spent a couple of hours this morning at Rodden Nature Reserve on the outskirts of Frome looking for early stages. The reserve is closed to the public from the end of January till the end of July but I have permission to do some moth survey work on there year round.
I was successful in finding several larvae of Limnaecia phragmitella in Bulrush seed heads.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 1.5 degrees
After a warm start the night turned cold and by morning there were no moths on the window but
at the start we had Hebrew Character (2) Common Quaker (3) Dotted Border. Early Moth and a FFY Grey Shoulder-knot. Langport, VC6, 21 February
Moths at last! 19/2/17 Hebrew Character 1 20/2/17 Agonopterix alstromeriana 1, Hebrew Character 5, Common Quaker 4, Herald 1. 6 male frogs 'singing' in the pond - but no frogspawn yet! Kestrels Rise , Little Quantock 19/02/2017 min temp 9.1c
Ten moths of seven species. March Moth (3) ; Pale Brindled Beauty (1) ; Spring Usher (1) ; Dotted Border (1) ; Chestnut (2) ; Satellite (1) and a possible Acleris cristana , awaiting confirmation from Paul Wilkins. My sister e-mailed me a photo of a Small Magpie! that she found in her hall this morning at Rockwell Green. Moths definitely do not read Guide books.
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 5.4 degrees
At actinic light in window, Dotted Border (2), Oak Beauty, Pale Brindled Beauty (2) and FFY - an Engrailed. Pen Elm, Taunton, T min 10 degrees C
A very mild night here so put out the MV trap for only the second time this year. Glad I did as I was rewarded with 10 moths of 9 species: Oak Nycteoline (1, NFG), Common Quaker (2, FFY), Chestnut (1), Dark Chestnut (1, FFY), Early Thorn (1, FFY), Emmelina monodactyla (1, FFY), Agonopterix alstromeriana (1 FFY), Agonopterix heracliana (1) plus one unidentified Tortrix - now identified as the winter version of Acleris kochiella (FFY) thanks to James McGill. A good night! Ectoedemia septembrella
This is an easy moth to record at this time of year if you have ornamental Hypericum bushes in your garden or nearby. There is a colony mining the leaves of the bush outside my study window. I have been growing the native foodplant, Perforate St John's Wort, in the garden, but so far the moths prefer the non-native cultivar.

Combe St. Nicholas, South Somerset
First Early Moth of the year for me on house wall.
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 6.2 Degrees
FFY - a Hebrew Character. We also had three Early Moths which are having a good year here. Tree House Butleigh
First garden trap for a month- just 4 moths but all FFYs, Dotted Border, Common Quaker, Hebrew Character and Tortricodes alternella.
 Bernard Skinner
I have just read that Bernard Skinner passed away last week.
Many of us started mothing with a copy of "Skinner" and probably had a Skinner trap too.
I didn't know him personally but do remember being in a Gloucestershire woodland with him and the Bristol Moth Group. He had the oldest, dustiest and fluffiest set of egg boxes in his traps that you could ever come across. Every moth came out looking like it had been dusted with talcum powder.
One of the greats. Moth Trap at Shapwick Heath NNR
The next moth trapping night at Shapwick Heath NNR will be this month on Sunday the 26th. We will be meeting at the Avalon Marshes Centre at 4:30pm. Again, anyone is welcome to come. Unfortunately, last month was cancelled because of bad weather, so hopefully this month will be fine.
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 5.2 degrees
FFY an Oak Beauty.
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 4.2 degrees
All FFY - Early Thorn, Dotted Border, Common Quaker, Chestnut (2) and a Dark Chestnut. Pen Elm, Taunton
Only two moths last night, a Chestnut (FFY) and my very first Spring Usher (NFG).
Stop press. An escapee from last nights catch surfaced in the lounge this evening...a Spring Usher. Also, Paul Wilkins has confirmed the ID of Acleris hyemana. Kestrels Rise, Little Quantock 14/02/2017. Min temp 7.8c
Six moths between the two traps including the first micro of the year. March Moth (1) ; Pale Brindled Beauty (1) ; Early Moth (2) ; Dark Chestnut (1). The micro is - I think - Acleris hyemana ,but this is awaiting confirmation from Paul Wilkins.
Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 8.3 degrees
The first warm night of the year produced one FFY moth a Pale Brindled Beauty. Sand Point
Martin Evans and I trapped for a couple of hours tonight. 9C dropping to 7C. Mist cleared. 3 traps.
Not a sausage.
On the way back to Bristol, we drove some country lanes to see if anything was flying there. Not a moth.
This may be the first time ever we've gone out mothing and not seen one.
Roger
Back in Somerset now and enjoying a few Northern Hemisphere moths . 13.02.17 trapping 1 Chestnut and 1 Small Brindled Beauty . Photo of a Cabbage Tree Moth from The Coromandel Peninsula , New Zealand taken in Nov. 2016  Overwintering Brimstone Moth larva
This larva came in on my dog on Monday morning. I'm pretty certain that it is a Brimstone Moth. It is feeding on Rose at the moment.  70.226 Brimstone Moth ( Opisthograptis luteolata) overwintering larva
Whitefield,Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 1.4 degrees
Our first moth for the year! An appropriately named Early Moth.! Pen Elm, Taunton
I had an Early Moth at the office window last night. Only my second record here for this species - the first being three years ago and in very poor condition so it was great opportunity to get a better picture. 
|