Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 11.6 degrees

24 species including FFY - Magpie Moth, Rusty-Dot-Pearl, and Least Yellow Under-wing (2)

Ian - I think the Brick is a more common moth than is generally realised and doesn't seem to be that strongly attracted to light (it has a reputation for being an easy moth to find at ivy blossom or sugar).  Obviously larvae are going to be much more numerous than adults, but I find it rare to find a sallow that does not support the larvae, and according to the books it is not even the primary foodplant (elm and poplar are - I have reared it from the former but not tried looking for it on the latter, which is rare around here).

Peter - Shaded Broad-bar is doing well around here this year as a day-flyer, but I have never recorded it at light.  How unusual is this?

Another huge catch - 642 moths of 86 species, hence the belated report. No FFG (the first time from a large catch) 14 FFY : Ypsolopha ustella (1) ; Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (1) ; Acleris laterana (1) ; Eudonia mercurella (1) ; Pale Prominent (1) ; Beautiful Golden-Y (1) ; a very early Rosy Rustic (1) ; Ear Moth agg.(2) ; Flounced Rustic (3) ; Small Rufous (2) ; Dun-bar (1) ; Least Yellow Underwing (3) ; Dotted Clay (1). A couple of the micro's are awaiting confirmation so humble pie if I've got them wrong !.  Most numerous were LYU (89) followed by Common Footman (67) ; Dark Arches (34) ; Mother of Pearl (22) ; LBBYU (22).

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 12.1 degrees

70 moths of 23 species including FFY - a Shaded Broad-Bar.

Not a great night with only my second Ypsolopha dentella (Honeysuckle Moth), Aethes smeathmanniana and Rosy Rustic the FFY highlights.


Ypsolopha dentella (Honeysuckle Moth)

Hi Chris,
Last year, at your suggestion on the blog, I collected a number of fallen Sallow catkins from my garden. I managed to rear 2 caterpillars from them, a Brick and a Sallow. I was surprised to see the Brick emerge on 12th August. The Brick is not a moth I see commonly in my trap and my only other record last year was one on 12th November exactly 3 months after the first.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 12.9 degrees

162 moths of 37 species including FFY - Oak Eggar (as usual a female), Flounced Rustic, Small Dotted Buff and a Small Rufous.

A quieter night after recent trapping sessions, with 73 moths of 33 species. FFG was Muslin Footman and FFY were Tinea trinotella, Jersey Tiger and Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (2). The most numerous species was Common Rustic agg. (8).

No worries Peter, happy to help. Glad you got the ID sorted.

Was delighted to see the first Jersey Tiger of the year in my garden yesterday in Middlezoy. It was sitting on the wall of the house. Get them every year in the trap but always a joy to see such an impressive and colourful species.

Quite cool last night, so numbers well down on recent catches.  111 moths, just 38 species, of which only three were FFY - a Muslin Footman, a Shaded Broad-bar, and a second generation Yellow-barred Brindle.  Common Rustic (agg) (24) the most numerous by far.

Astonished to find that an adult Brick moth has emerged today - I know it is an early year but from a couple of years of rearing them previously, my earliest emergence had been 2 September.

Last night 67 moths of 31 species with no FFY s but the night of the 23 rd I trapped a Bordered Pug which is a F F G and has only a few dots on mapmate .

T Min 16.6°C. FFG: Acleris cristana. FFY: Canary-shouldered Thorn.

Manageable numbers last night, 175 moths, 48 species.  FFY were Mocha (first record since 2012), Rosy Rustic, Agriphela tristella (3), and Scorched Carpet (second generation).  Only 14 dead Water Veneers (A.ephemerella) on the bottom of the trap this time, so I assume the main swarm happened on 16th.  Other second generations appearing - Pebble Hook-tip, Early Thorn & Red Twin-spot Carpet.

Despite the breezy and generally clear conditions a four-hour trapping session at Britty Common resulted in 297 moths of 75 species (62 macro, 13 micro) including Dark Marbled Carpet, Devon Carpet, Grass Emerald, Scallop Shell, Slender Brindle, Small Clouded Brindle and Pammene aurita.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 9.9 degrees

66 moths of 23 species including FFY a Rosy Rustic.

No trapping but a FFG Mompha propinquella in the kitchen last night!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe

To Simon Phelps

Many thanks for your advice. I now feel the moth was a rather worn Mullein Wave.

Peter Tennant.

A belated report from Wednesday nights session which was curtailed at 1.30 due to unexpected heavy rain. Despite this I had a further three NFG which brings the total of new garden species for 2017 to 29, these were: Cloaked Carpet, Purple Thorn and Pammene aurita - thanks to James McGill for confirming. Other highlights were: Lackey, Maple Pug (2), Endotricha flammealis, Acleris forsskaleana (3), Pseudargyrotoza conwagana and Bactra lancealana (3).

Hi Peter,

Has your Weaver's Wave been confirmed by John Bebbington? I only ask as it is an extremely rare moth that is currently only found in the Welsh uplands in North-West Wales. It is an upland species that feeds on heather. More information can be found here:

http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/idaea-contiguaria http://butterfly-conservation.org/1034-7226/weavers-wave.html

Rather you than me Tim.  I tend to get the vapours if I get more than 300 in one night.  You must have had to lie down in a darkened room after that lot !!

The night I have been dreading/looking forward to!  812 moths of 100 species, including 4 FFG : Spindle Ermine (1) ; Sitochroa palealis (1) ; Anania coronata (1) ; Barred Hook-tip (1).  A further 14 FFY were : Aspilopteryx tringipennella (1) ; Honeysuckle Moth (1) ; Ash Bud Moth (1) ; Blastobasis adustella (2) ; Acleris forsskaleana (1) ; Codling Moth (2) ; Oak Eggar (1) ; Black Arches (3) ; Four-spotted Footman (4) ; Dingy Footman (8) ; Dot Moth (1) ; Smokey Wainscot (4) ; Lesser Yellow Underwing (4) ; Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (4).  High totals recorded for : Rosy Footman (17) ; Buff Footman (45) ; Common Footman (126) ; Scarce Footman (18) ; Silver-Y (14) ; Dark Arches (78) ; True Lovers Knot (61) ; LYU (43) ; BBYU (15).  Others of note : Poplar Hawk Moth (3); Cloaked Carpet (2) ; Barred Red (1).  A further 50+ moths were too faded to identify due to the manic activities of LYU and Dark Arches.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 12.3 degrees

300 moths of sixty species including FFY - Buff Footman, Gothic, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, and Shuttle shaped Dart .

An interesting micro identified from 18th, Dichomeris alacella. Very few Somerset records on the map, but I see Steve had one on the 6th at Pen Elm.

A gen. det. job I'd have thought - otherwise Ear Moth agg.

An excellent night's trapping on Monday, with 235 moths of 66 species. FFG was Acrobasis advenella. FFY were Blastobasis adustella (2), Garden Rose Tortrix, Agriphila straminella, July Highflyer, White-spotted Pug, Mottled Beauty,Common White Wave, Pale Prominent, Rosy Footman, Dingy Footman (4), Buff Footman (2), Four-spotted Footman (female, my second record), Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (3), Double Square-spot and Marbled Beauty. Largest count was 49 Common Footman (my highest count). It appears to be a good year for Footmen!

One moth of interest was a probable Ear species (Saltern perhaps). See photo. Any thoughts anyone?

Busiest night of the year so far with 524 macros of 76 species. Best moth was my first ever Kent Black Arches if confirmed. Last week was fairly uneventful in the traps but a highlight was finding an Old Lady in my garage, my first garden record.

T Min 18.3°C. An excellent night despite all the thunder, lightning and heavy rain. A record equalling eight Jersey Tigers and another five FFG's: Shaded Broad-bar, Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix, Agriphila selasella, Ypsolopha scabrella and Bactra furfurana. That's now 27 micro species added to the garden list this year.

Agriphila selasella

Ypsolopha scabrella

Bactra furfurana

Another good night, with two FFG, Brown-veined Wainscot and Barred Rivulet, lots of FFYs, a Pebble Prominent, Dusky Sallow, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Marbled Green, Dusky Thorn, Light Arches, migrants 4 Four-spotted Footmen including a female, new micros for the year, Gold Triangle, Eucosma campoliliana, Acleris laterana, Agon, subpropinquella, Recurvaria leucatella and a Yarrow Plume. Also the first Jersey Tiger flying around by day.

I was predicting a good night last night due to the muggy conditions and thunderstorms. I had 67 species in the trap this morning, potentially the highest number of species I have ever had here so far.

Highlights were:

Pebble Hook-tip, Oncocera semirubella, Coronet, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Lime Speck Pug, Peach Blossom, Pale Prominent, Spectacle, Small Waved Umber, Dusky Sallow, Campion, Purple Thorn, Rosy Rustic, Purple-bar, Garden Tiger, Latticed Heath, Lackey, Rusty Dot Pearl, Common Emerald, Spindle Ermine.

Very good night at my garden actinic, of 69 species recorded (Daggers, Hoplodrina and Scoparines not attempted) three are new for garden - Apodia bifractella, Litoligia literosa (Rosy Minor) and Ipimorpha subtusa (Olive) bring the garden list to 400!

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe, Min Temp - 13 degrees

113 moths of 42 species including FFY - Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing and a Mocha.

A postcript to yesterday's report - a late find was 2 FFG Scrobipalpa acuminatella.

A busy morning, counting dead males of Acentria ephemerella - altogether 307 (59 in the actinic, 248 in the MV).  Other than those, there were only 115 moths, of 46 species, including FFY Cypress Carpet, Anania coronata, Carcina quercana, Lesser Broad-bordered YU, Chinese Character, a second generation Pebble Prominent, an early Founced Rustic, and one UFO to be determined (I have an idea - we'll see) There will be more to come this evening, as usual.

UFO identified as a Dun-bar (first here since 2006).  Markings much different to the pics in Waring/Lewington, but matched on Google Images.

The evening round-up produced a further 29 moths, and 7 more species.  Oddly enough, another Dun-bar appeared, similarly marked to the one from the morning - 11 years since the last one, and two on the same day !!  I am awaiting confirmation of an unfamiliar micro in due course.

Two new moths for garden this morning, Coleophora lutipennella and Crambus perlella bringing garden total to 397. Also first Lithosia quadra (Four-spotted Footman) which, given the complete absence of migrants in trap (no Silver-y or Diomond backs), must be locally resident.

Another good night with four NFG: Fern, Southern Wainscot, Pammene regiana and Lobesia abscisana (thanks to James McGill for the ID). Jersey Tiger (2), July Highflyer (2), Dun-bar, Yellow Tail, Copper Underwing, Cydia splendana (2), September Thorn and Small Angle Shades were all FFY with the last two not seen here since 2013. Migrants were represented with Silver Y (5) and Rush Veneer.


Pammene regiana

Lobesia abscisana

A reasonable Saturday night's trapping, with 151 moths of 47 species. FFY were Honeysuckle Moth (4) Carcina quercana, Oegoconia quadripuncta, Bud Moth, Mother of Pearl, Gold Triangle, The Mocha (2), The Engrailed (2nd record), Ruby Tiger (2) and Small Fan-foot.

A fantastic night in the garden with 85 identified spp. some new for garden, the Lappet, Double Lobed, Elachista atricromella and lots of FFYs Least YUW, Small Broad-bordered YUW, Sharp-angled Peacock, Ruby Tiger, Pebble Hook-tip, Pine Carpet, Anania coronata, Anania crocealis, European Corn-borer, migrants, another two 4-Spotted Footmen, Rush Veneer and Bird Cherry Ermines.

A fantastic variety of species this morning in the trap in Middlezoy. Some new for the garden and new for me too. Lovely diversity of shapes and colours.

60 species in total, the highlights being:

Rosy Footman, Nut-tree Tussock, Herald, Beautiful Hook-tip, Marbled Green, Garden Tiger, Knot Grass, Poplar Grey, Southern Wainscot, Pale Prominent, Brussels Lace, Drinker, Small Wainscot, Ruby Tiger, Small Waved Umber, White-spotted Pug, Lesser Cream Wave, Large Tabby.

On Thursday night I helped run a first trapping session at this local reserve, which consists of a field, woodland areas and pond. Much work has been carried out to improve the site for wildlife purposes with financial and other help from the Blackdown Hills AONB, Wessex Water, Somerset County Council and local organisations.

The session ran from 9.30 to midnight and produced 245 moths of 55 species. A new species for me was European Corn-borer. FFY for me were Digitivalva pulicariae, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix, Acleris forsskaleana, Mother of Pearl (10), The Drinker, Small Fan-footed Wave (4), Black Arches, Rosy Footman, Dingy Footman (3), Buff Footman (2), Ruby Tiger (4), Double Square-spot 2), Square-spot Rustic (2), Smoky Wainscot (4) and The Rustic (2). Top scorers were Chrysoteuchia culmella (100+) and Common Footman (30+).

Some migrants last night, 2 male 4-Spotted Footmen, a Small Mottled Willow and a Rush Veneer.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 12.1 degrees

165 moths of 46 species Including FFY - Ear Moth, Dun-bar, Coxcomb Prominent, Small Dotted Buff and Olindia Schumacherana.

17 months trapping in garden with single actinic and only 5 away from 400 species with Agrotis trux (Crescent Dart) and Tinea semifulvella added this morning.

Records can be accessed here (I think-let me know if it does not work) http://www.igoterra.com/checklists_patch.asp 

FFG: Southern Wainscot.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 11 7 degrees

123 moths of 41 species including FFY - Bordered Beauty, C. pinella, Slender Brindle and a Ruby Tiger.

My first trapping for a couple of weeks - waiting for cooler weather and more manageable numbers - produced 147 moths of 44 species so far, plus the usual round-up of strays to come this evening. FFY were Common Rustic agg (5), Brussels Lace, Scalloped Oak, Catoptria pinella, Oegoconia quadripuncta, Rush Veneer, and Apple Ermine.  Chrysoteuchia culmella (25), Common Footman (20) and Crambus perlella (10) the most numerous.

10.25 pm Strays rounded up - 33 more moths, 5 more species.  Additional FFY Small Yellow Wave (first since 2013), Lesser YU and Pandemis heparana.

I've had some interesting micros recently.  Very many thanks to Paul Wilkins for confirmation of some of them through dissection where necessary.

The first was trapped on 26/06/2017 from Blatchbridge on the outskirts of Frome. Delplanqueia inscriptella which is a new ‘sister’species to D. dilutella and was only found (recognised) in Britain in 2001 and only added to the British list in 2015. David Agassiz wrote a paper on the species in 2015.

Delplanqueia inscriptella

The rest were trapped in my own garden in Frome on 06/07/2017. I hadn't trapped at home for several weeks so it was great to get some interesting moths there to remind me that I don't always have to trap away from home.

Heath actinic gave me 16 species with highlights being Small Yellow Wave (1), Scarce Footman (1), Haworth's Pug (1) this would have been a new moth for me had I not trapped one down at Lulworth Cove a few days before, Phycita roborella (1) (photo), Scoparia subfusca (1) (photo)

Phycita roborella

Scoparia subfusca

Skinner MV always performs better with 46 species (with one still to be confirmed). Highlights being Gothic (1), Dunbar (1), Light Arches (1), Small Emerald (1), Red Twin-spot Carpet (1), NFY Vine's Rustic (1), Tissue (1) a new species for me, Cydia fagiglandana (1) (photo) and Coleophora prunifoliae (1) (photo). This species was only separated from C. coracipennella recently and added to the British list.

Cydia fagiglandana

Coleophora prunifoliae

The FFG micro total for this year is now up to 23 with two more last night: Catoptria falsella and Bucculatrix nigricomella.

261 Moths of 69 species.  Three FFG : Scoparia ambigularis (1) ; Green Arches (1) ; Kent Black Arches(1).  thanks to John Bebbington for confirmation of ID).  Seven other FFY : Agriphila tristella (1) ; Catoptria pinella (1) ; Chinese Character (1) ; Drinker (1) ; Barred Red (1) ; Garden Tiger (1) ; Buff Footman (1).  48 Common Footman were the most numerous and my second Hummingbird Hawk Moth of the summer in the afternoon started a good evening.

After a couple of weeks being unable to trap, I finally managed a session last night. There were 92 moths of 27 species. FFY were Blue-bordered Carpet (only 3rd record), Sandy Carpet, Common Footman (12), Lesser Yellow Underwing, Common Rustic agg (3) and Plain Golden Y. Heart and Dart was the most numerous species, with 23. Only a handfiul of micros though.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 12.7 degrees

106 moths of 45 species including FFY - Striped Wainscot, Oak Nycteoline, Fern, Yarrow Plume.

Just ejected a Hummingbird Hawkmoth from the conservatory.  There are no flowering plants available indoors, so quite why it came in isn't certain.  Better off in the garden !!

Two more NFG last night were Common Lutestring and Cydia fagiglandana. I also had nine FFY: Magpie, Black Arches, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Marbled Green, Acleris schalleriana, Bryotropha affinis, Bryotropha terrella, Pammene fasciana and Yponomeuta sedella.

A busy night with 500 macros of 82 species. Firsts for the year were Lesser Yellow Underwing, Small Blood Vein, Lunar Spotted Pinion, Fern, Scarce Silver Lines, Cypress Carpet, Cloaked Minor and Wormwood Pug. most numerous were Common Footman with 60.

Just the one FFG this time, in the form of Aethes rubigana.

A belated report for Monday 03 July as I've been without broadband for three days.  412 moths of 92 species. Three FFG : Brown China Mark (1) ; Beautiful Snout (1) and (subject to confirmation) Agapeta zoegana (1) Twelve FFY : Carcina quercana (1) ; Nut Bud Moth (1) ; Mother of Pearl (10) ; Eudonia lacustrata (2) ; Hummingbird Hawk Moth - one nectaring on budleia in the afternoon ; July Highflyer (2) ; Scalloped Oak (1) ; Swallow-tailed Moth (1) ; Grass Emerald (1) ; Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (1) ; Common Rustic agg (3) ; Oak Nycteoline (1).  Others included : Buff Arches (7) ; Barred Straw (10) ; Common Emerald (5) ; Common Footman (26) ; Heart and Dart (30) ; Garden Grass Veneer (58).

A pretty good night on Wednesday with five FFG’s: Slender Pug, Thistle Ermine, White Plume, Ancylis achatana and Grapholita janthinana.

286 moths of 70 species of which 42 were macro moths. I had two new micros, both apparently quite localised. Dichomeris alacella, for such a distinctive moth I found impossible to identify and many thanks to James McGill for helping with this. The other was Anania (Ebulea) crocealis, slightly worn but much easier to ID. Of the macros I was really pleased to get only my second Old Lady and Short-cloaked Moth, both last recorded here in 2014.


Dichomeris alacella


Anania crocealis

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 12.8 degrees

111 moths of 40 species including FFY - Drinker, Yellow Shell and a Dwarf Cream Wave.

Last night I went out to Middleroom Wood and ran two traps until 01:30h. 412 moths of 102 species (76 macro, 26 micro). Highlights included Blackneck and Double Line plus some scarce micros: Borkhausenia fuscescens, Epinotia tedella, Hedya salicella and Syncopacma taeniolella. A male Four-spotted Footman was the only immigrant.

I went to Curry Rivel on Saturday for David German's meadows open afternoon - as I arrived I met Steve Balcombe who had just found and photographed a specimen of Six-belted Clearwing in East Field. Sadly when he took me to the spot it had gone! However he has kindly allowed me to use his photo. The larval foodplant is Bird'sfoot Trefoil.

52.014 Six-belted Clearwing Bembecia ichneumoniformis ©Steve Balcombe 2017

An average night's trapping on Saturday night but one ffg - 49.288 Epiblema foenella (which Simon Phelps also took on Saturday night)

and 63.048 Palpita vitrealis
.

46 species in the trap this morning in Middlezoy.

Highlights: Lime Speck Pug, Beautiful Hook-tip, Buff Arches, Lackey, Early Thorn, Lesser Yellow Underwing, July Highflyer, Common Carpet, Spectacle, Dwarf Cream Wave, Dichrorampha alpinana, Schnoebius gigantella

Lots of moths last night with the highlight being my first ever Crescent. Four Spotted Footman, Muslin Footman,Buff Footman, Sallow Kitten, Yellow Tail, Leopard Moth and Ruddy Carpet were firsts for the year.

Webbers Post (oak/birch woodland and moorland) - too many geometrids for me to cope with, but including good numbers of Northern Spinach and Cloaked Carpet; also Double Line, Peach Blossom, Tawny-barred Angle, Purple Clay.

Thurley Combe (moorland) - plenty of species but most individual moths were True Lover's Knot or Northern Spinach; also Small Elephant Hawk-moth (the first time I have seen this species), Double Line, Broom Moth, Ingrailed Clay, Clouded-bordered Brindle.

Travelling between the two trapping sites was made difficult by the fog that had descended on the high hills.  The only things that could clearly be seen were the naughty individuals of Northern Spinach that had escaped and were fluttering around inside the car.

^ Very excited to see a Monarch on Buddleia in my daughter's garden this afternoon in West Camel.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min temp 11.3 degrees

136 moths of 53 species including FFY - Rosy Footman, Vines Rustic, Beautiful Hook-Tip, Large Emerald, Pinion-streaked Snout, Scorched Carpet, Double-Lobed, Grass Emerald, Little Emerald , Sandy Carpet, 1377 Lancealis, and E,pinguis

Some very nice surprises amongst approx 40 macro and 15 micro species last night; the migrant Small Marbled which is very small!

3 Brown-tails - a FFG

and this Rhodophaea formosa which was in good condition.

Also good to get a Sycamore, Lime Hawk, Lilac Beauty and a Leopard.  Heart and Dart was most numerous(16) closely followed by Common Footman(15).

Last evening's round-up of strays from Friday produced a further 64 moths, and 9 more species, including 2 more FFY, Euzophea pinguis, and a second brood Double-striped Pug (why the first brood didn't appear earlier, I have no idea, as they are usuallu fairly common).  Totals now 292 moths, 66 spp.

49 species in the trap this morning in Middlezoy.

Highlights: Eyed Hawkmoth, Poplar Hawkmoth, Shark, Spectacle, Dingy Footman, Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Meal moth, Cabbage, Epiblema foenella.

I was surprised by how busy last night was with 444 macros in just the one trap. Heart and Dart numbered exactly 100 and were the first species this year to reach a century. Highlights were only my 5th Double Lobed whilst Dunbar was my 200th macro species of the year, the first time I've reached this number in June.
Although I normally ignore Micros a male and a female European Corn Borer were just too obvious to miss.

181 moths of 59 species (macros 128 of 41 ssp.) with 7 FFY: Swallow-tailed (2), Sycamore, Nutmeg, Peach Blossom, Double Lobed, Small Blood-vein, Endotricha flammealis. Pleasingly there were two new species for the garden, a Phoenix and Grey Arches - both reasonably widespread but, in four years, have so far eluded this small piece of air space.

Another busy morning - 228 moths of 57 species so far.  Eight FFY were Swallow-tailed Moth (6). Rosy Footman (2), Shark, Broad-bordered YU, Blackneck, Mother of Pearl, Double Square-spot (4), and Lunar-spotted Pinion.