29/9/18 - another cold night, and low numbers again. Just 34 moths, of which 27 were Lunar UW, and only 6 other species.  Not very exciting.

101 moths of 14 species last night with only one FFY, a Beaded Chestnut (6). A record 62 Lunar Underwings made up the bulk of the numbers.

27/9/18 - another cold night (but perhaps not quite so chilly as for my last two trappimgs), produced a better number of moths (53), but very little variety, just 8 species. No FFY this time, but second-generation Cypress Carpet and Willow Beauty made an appearance, along with 26 Lunar Underwings, 9 Large YU, 6 Setaceous HC, 5 Beaded Chestnuts, 4 Black Rustics., and a Barred Sallow.  No Partridges, in or out of a Peartree.

Despite a chilly night (7.6c) and a near full moon a pretty good turn out. 91 moths of 20 species. There were 4 FFY : Barred Sallow (1) ; Beaded Chestnut (3) ; Merveille du Jour (1) and Brindled Green (1).  28 Lunar Underwing and 18 Snout were the high scorers.

25/9/18 - Perhaps not quite so cold as two nights ago, but still a bit nippy, and an almost full moon.  At least the moths were not quite so reluctant to come out of the bushes.  22 individuals , but only 5 species, with Lunar Underwingd (16) the main protagonists, and one FFY, a Herald.

23/9/18 - Cold night, full moon, and a breeze - result, 6 moths !!  Nothing at all in the Actnic trap; a Sallow and 5 Lunar Underwings in the MV.  Better luck next time, I hope.

The last few trappings have been very uninspiring but I've had 2 ffgs - Latticed Heath (18 Sep) and last night my first ever Clifdennonpareil. A little worn but very welcome!

I'll try sugaring rather than the light trap tonight.

Lunar Underwings -more than 25 last night, 21 spp. First Beaded Chestnuts and another brood of Straw Dot. Highlights, Large Ranunculus, Madder Moth,, Caloptilia stigmatella and a FFG 2 Box Moths. we don't have any Box, but I don't think the neighbours will like it!

Paul,my Lunar Underwing numbers are for the season as a whole- I had another 5 last night to double the season's total.
A Convolvulus Hawk Moth was the most obvious of the migrants last night but others included a Pearly Underwing and another European Corn Borer.

33 species despite the wild, wet and windy conditions. A female Ostrinia nubilalis (European Corn Borer) was a surprise and a NFG. Looking at the SMG maps I was also surprised to see that Crocidosema plebejana is a very local moth that I find quite regularly here. The only other FFY was a Black Rustic (3).



Crocidosema plebejana

Ian - are your LU figures the total for the year in question, or the maximum in any one night?  I only ask, because in 2006 (hot summer) I had 3 consecutive nights 24/5/6 Sept., when I trapped over 200 each night, the 24th & 26th just over 270.  The following year 2007 (wet summer) the most I caught in one night was 23.  Similarly the wet summer of 2012 caused the numbers to plummet again (single figures on any one night) from reasonable numbers in 2011 (itself nothing like as good as 2006).  I believe the cause may be that they pupate underground, and the pupae simply rot in the wet soil.  Hopefully this year should see the numbers climb again - we'll see !!  (These records above are from when I was living in Lydford - Pylle may well be very different).

A windy night blew in a very tattered Heath Rustic last night.It was so tattered that I had to have the id confirmed by Robin Clatworthy. This is the first I've recorded and the first for our square. Although common in the north of the county they appear much more unusual here. Three of the five new species that I have recorded this year appear to be mainly heath land moths but I cannot think where the nearest suitable habitat is to my garden.
Paul, I will be interested to see if your theory on Lunar Underwings performing better after a hot summer works here. My records show that they were numerous here in the warm years of 2003 to 2006 peaking at 562 in 2005. They crashed to just 86 in the wet summer of 2007 and have never really recovered averaging less than 70 a year since then with a low of 20 in 2012 and a high of 141 in 2011. So far I'm on 5 for the year so expect large numbers in the next couple of weeks!

18/9/18 - In spite of the breezy conditions, a 2/3 moon, and some light rain later in the night, there were still 70 moths in the traps. Only 12 species, however, as the great majority was made up of Large YU (20) Setaceous HC (18) and Loony (oops, sorry, Lunar) Underwings (16) Nothing new either.  Lots of small Caddis flies (nearly a dozen) too.

A belated report of Mompha propinquella disturbed while gardening on Saturday afternoon. According to the website it is ' rare and very local ' in Somerset.  My thanks, as always to Paul Wilkins for confirming the ID.

No Nonpareils here sadly but quite the other end of the scale with a minute Phyllonorycter joannisi, a NFG and identified by James McGill. Other notables and FFY from a creditable 37 species were: Brindled Green, Lunar Underwing (3), Barred Sallow, Acleris sparsana, Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner (3), Gracilleraria syringella, and Prays ruficeps. I also had a very late or second brood Rosy Footman.


0363 Phyllonorycter joannisi

Well done Pam and Tim - the Nonpareils seem to be a little more numerous this year, but it's great to know they're doing so well.  Maybe the hot summer weather suits them.

Firstly , thank you John and Paul for identifying my sawfly larvae. Well , yesterday I had one ffg , an Autumnal Rustic with 25 moths in trap . Today 25 moths of 12 species and another ffg - hence the great excitement . It was a moth I had hoped to see one day - a CLIFDEN NONPAREIL . I am thrilled ! It is beautiful and I have managed to photo it . More photos on my photo page .

I checked the first trap this morning and to my joy, clinging to the outside of the actinic my first Clifden Nonpareil. Moving on to the other trap another Clifden Nonpareil (sorry-I just like writing it). This one was desperately trying to escape the attentions of four Hornets. As soon as I unplugged the light it shot out into the wild blue yonder. Nice start to the day!  In total 217 moths of 44 species. Another FFG was a single Neglected Rustic. FFY were : European Corn Borer (1) ; Flounced Chestnut (4) and Black Rustic (2). Others of note : Gold Triangle (1) ; second brood Riband Wave (2) ; August , Canary-shouldered and Dusky Thorns (all singles) ; Light Emerald (10) ; Frosted Orange (1) ; Feathered Gothic (1) ; second brood Bright-line Brown-eye (1) LYU (52) ; SHC (30) and Autumnal Rustic (1).  Now to batten down the hatches until storm Helen has done her worst.

I was doing a bit of work in the garden this morning and came across a Beautiful Plume (second record, the first being on 27.10.2011) and three Elephant Hawkmoth pupae.

16/9/18- the drizzle which came along this morning didn't seem to sffect the numbers of moths appearing last night.  94 altogether, but still not a great variety, wth just 25 species, including FFYs Black Rustic and Barred Sallow, and FFG Orange Sallow.

Hi Pam
These are Large Rose Sawfly Arge pagana. You can find them on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arge_pagana

Reared from larva, Great Elm, mid-April; emerged today.  This is a variable species, both in terms of colour and patterning.  I don't recall seeing one with quite such distinctive narrow lines running the length of the wing before.

271 moths of 26 spp.Half made up of SHC and LYUs. Others - my first live Dog's tooth, previous one earlier this year was found dead in a garage attic, Beaded chestnut, very fresh Large ranunculus, Small dusty wave, first Lunar underwings of the year came en masse (22), Frosted orange and a Common marbled carpet. FFG was Ostrinia nubilalis.

Pam - these are probably Sawfly larvae - they typically rest with their bums in the air, so easily distinguished from most other larvae.  Which species, I leave to expert entomologists, but I believe that most are connected to a particular plant species (e.g. Gooseberry, Solomon's Seal, Birch etc.). (I am open to correction on this !!)

I know very little of leaf-miners, I leave that (pun intended !) to others, but I can report several hundreds of Leucoptera laburnella mnes on a Laburnum in my garden.  I have so far never had the moth itself in my traps, although I understand they do sometimes come to light.

No moth trap for a few nights but found these larvae / caterpillars ( might anyone know the species ? )eating a rosebush . Also had a ram in the garden eating a rosebush !

14/9/18 - back to normality last night.  64 moths of 21 species, with FFY Beaded Chestnut and FFG Brown-spot Pinion.  Large YU (23) and Setaceous HC (15) still the most abundant.  Also of interest, second-generation Small Blood-vein and Riband Wave

2 more moths this evening to add to the total, now 63, including another Double-striped Pug - this one must definitely be 3rd-generation, as I suspected was the one I caught on the 2nd. of this month.  This one quite faded, but clearly enough marked to be sure Plus a UFO Noctuid to be confirmed.

As you say Paul, a much chillier night, but still a nice variety. 49 moths of 30 species of which four were FFY :Pink-barred Sallow (1) ; Sallow (1) ; Lunar Underwing (3) and Autumnal Rustic (1). Others of note : Ypsolopha parenthesella (1) ; Eudonia angustea (1) ; Oak Hook-tip (1) ; August Thorn (1) ; Burnished Brass (1) ; Pale Mottled Willow (1) ; Hedge Rustic (2) ; Feathered Gothic (1) and, perhaps of most interest, a very smart second brood Pale-shouldered Brocade.

12/9/18 - quite a cold night, so numbers well down - just 15 moths, of 7 species, including one FFY, a Lunar Underwing, what will hopefully be the first of many.  They usually seem to do well after a hot summer - we'll see.  Again, Large YU (8) the main contributors to the total: they were the only two moths in the Actinic trap.

Careful , Ian !!  Loitering around public loos can cause problems (so I am reliably informed) - you may either be accosted or arrested !

Despite drizzle until at least 4am last night was surprisingly productive. 342 macros of 37 species included my first Large Ranunculus and Black Rustic of the year.Most numerous were 140 Large Yellows and 90 Setacious.
Migrants were my second Delicate of the year along with a Silver Y and 2 more European Corn Borers. I don't keep count of the latter but I am well into double figures for the year.
The hot summer has produced some unusual second or third broods here. Last month I suddenly had a number of Figure of Eighties and recently have recorded Clouded Silver, Sallow Kitten, Bordered Beauty and a third generation of Ruby Tigers. I have also recorded more second generation Heart and Darts than I did in the early summer.
Best of the catch was my 2nd Horse Chestnut of the year 3 weeks after my first ever.
I recorded Mullein wave for the first time last week and this weekend saw 2 more in the public toilets at Osmington Mill. Moth spotting in Public toilets can be a problem but along with the Mullein Waves I also saw Small Dusty Wave, Chinese Character, Engrailed, Light Emerald and Flounced Rustic. Not loo bad.

238 moths/ 35 spp. Bulk were Setaceous HC. FFG were Six striped rustic and Ypsolopha sequella. Others were Small blood vein, Oak hooktip, a very worn Single dotted wave and a Pale mottled willow. One small black micro to ID. Each of my last 3 traps has had 2 dead hornets in the bottom.

9/9/18 - a reasonable catch last night, 89 moths but a mere 19 species.  As is the norm at the moment, Large YU (33), Setaceous HC (18), and Square-spot Rustic (10) made up the majority, and there were no FFG/FFY again.  Only 1 Micro, a late Pandemis heparana.  I seem to get very few Micros at all, but I have no idea why.

A Cochylis molliculana from last night was the third Cochylis NFG species this year - many thanks to James McGill for confirmation. A FFY Sallow was the only other record of note.




Cochylis molliculana

Convolvulus Hawk in my trap in Weston last night.

6/9/18 - back to low numbers again, much colder last night.  54 moths of just 14 species, including 30 Large YU, of which 20 were in the Actinic trap, along with only 7 other moths.  No FFY/FFG again, and the only one of mild interest was a worn, quite late Broad-bordered YU, only my second record this year.

After reporting this species recent records are as follows: 28th Aug. - 1 30th Aug. - 1 2nd Sept. - 3 3rd Sept. - 3 4th Sept. - 1 5th Sept. - 1 6th Sept. - 2

Chris - I understand that Mark Yeates is going to look into this, as it's his creation, and he is the best person to deal with it.  We will have to see how he gets on !

Hi Paul,

1 - every species where the name has changed, unfortunately.

2 - what I expect has happened is that the names have changed in the database, but the website is still looking for the old names when it generates the maps.  The quick (ish) fix is to update the names the website is looking for, but of course it will just fall over again the next time the taxonomists have a get-together...

Addendum to 4/9/18 - last evening's round-up produced a further 11 moths and 2 species, totals now 163/28.  One FFG this time, a Grey Pine Carpet, and there was also a very fresh Agonopterix alstromeriana, the first since April. This morning I found an Orange Swift in the washing-up bowl in the kitchen (fortunately dry and very much alive !).

Chris - thanks for the advice re maps, but two questions arise that I can think of for now:-

1) would this editing need to be done for each species where this has happened, every time we want to look at a map?

2) for technophobes like me, this would be extremely difficult, and very tedious, so can anyone suggest a way of finding out which species are affected, and sorting this out permanently for all of us ?  I sincerely hope so !!

The distribution maps with the 'missing' data seem to be the ones where the scientific name has changed in the new species list.  The distribution can be seen by editing the URL and putting the 'new' scientific name at the end in the place of the old one, so (for the Maple Prominent) changing from

http://www.somersetmothgroup.org.uk/portal/p/Distribution/s/Ptilodontella+cucullina 

to

http://www.somersetmothgroup.org.uk/portal/p/Distribution/s/Ptilodon+cucullina 

will bring the map up.

First pair of sites on 1 September, the other pair the next night.  Some good numbers of moorland specialists here.

Bin Combe
Chevron (6)
Autumnal Rustic (3)
Antler Moth (2)
Flounced Rustic (1)
Twin-spot Carpet (1)
Silver Y (1)
Brimstone Moth (1)

Dunkery Gate
Large Yellow Underwing (22)
Anomalous (13)
Chevron (7)
Autumnal Rustic (5)
Square-spot Rustic (4)
Agriphila tristella (4)
Heath Rustic (3)
Antler Moth (3)
Purple Bar (2)
Flounced Rustic (2)
Flame Shoulder (2)
Brimstone Moth (2)
Dusky Thorn
Dark Sword-grass
Dark Marbled Carpet
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Heart and Dart
Agriphila straminella

Exford Common
Chevron (19)
Large Yellow Underwing (7)
Autumnal Rustic (5)
Anomalous (4)
Antler Moth (3)
Square-spot Rustic (3)
Heath Rustic (2)
Ear Moth agg. (2)
Flame Shoulder
Coxcomb Prominent
Broom Moth (larva feeding on heather)

Thurley Combe.  I placed the trap on a flat, open stretch of grassy moorland, rather than in the combe itself, which was probably a mistake, as few moths arrived.
Anomalous (2)
Ear Moth agg.
Chevron
Agonopterix arenella

I think the moths are boycotting my garden, just 24 spp last night, usually suspects plus a Svensson's Cu Underwing, Eudonia pallida, Donacaula forficella, Anania coronata and Eudonia angustea has appeared, and that was it!

4/9/18 - With a fresher night forecast, I wasn't expecting all that large a catch, so was quite pleased to get just over 150 moths, although there were not actually that many species (26).  Given that Large YU (57) were again by far the largest contingent, plus 20 each Setaceous HC and Square-spot Rustics, I suppose that's not too much of a surprise.  No new species, but a late 2nd-generation Mocha was nice to see.

The first of this year's batch of sallow-feeding larvae made it to adulthood yesterday evening - a Sallow Moth.  Unusually for the species, this was feeding on the leaves at a fairly mature stage when collected (normally the early instars feed on sallow catkins and fall to the ground when the catkins fall).

Two good nights in a row. The Large Yellow Underwing drought appears to be over. Well over 200 in total in the last 2 nights with similar numbers of Setacious Hebrew Characters.
Last nights highlight was my first garden Mullein Wave. I have been looking out for this since Robin Clatworthy showed me one he had caught last year. Another good moth for my garden was Feathered Gothic. It was only when I took this photo that I noticed the lice on its antenna.

2/9/18 - It seems that large numbers are becoming the norm again, although I don't get anything like as many as others are getting.  Last night produced just under 200 in total, and with a few escapees to find later, the 200-mark will probably be exceeded.  Like others, large numbers of Large YU appearing regularly, 47 in the Actinic and 29 in the MV this time.  Altogether just 27 species, with FFY Frosted Orange and a late 2nd-generation Grey Pug, plus a FFG Feathered Gothic.

8.30 pm Round-up completed, resulting in a further 13 moths and 7 species, totals now 205/34.  One more FFY, a very late (? 3rd-generation) Double-striped Pug.  The only other D-s Pug that I have caught this late in the year was Aug.30th, 2006, after another very hot summer - co-incidence?  Only 3 more Large YU to add to the total (79), a surprise given the numbers this morning.

Being used to modest returns from trapping sessions in urban Middlesex I thought nothing of using my MV Skinner trap on returning to Berkley Marsh. I was looking forward to more moths and species but had not anticipated the massive number that took up most of Sunday to process. With 300 moths and 40 species prior to opening the trap I eventually ended up with 775 moths of 62 species. Brimstone Moth 40, Large Yellow Underwing 73, Common Wainscot 158, Setacious Hebrew Character 166 and Square-spot Rustic 129 formed the bulk of the catch. Surprisingly, only 3 FFY - Wax Moth 4, Centre-barred Sallow 28 and Frosted Orange 3 + 2 FFG - Small Ranunculus 1 and Aproaerema anthyllidella 1. Although I will probably put the trap out again tonight, I will be using my twin 30 watt actinic in the hope of fewer moths and maybe some new species.

Conditions were too good to miss out on last night, especially with all day Sunday to sort everything out. I set two traps (actinic and MV) and was rewarded with 294 moths of 53 species - the most numerous being the tardy Large Yellow Underwing with 73 individuals. I was delighted to have my first Engrailed here at Pen Elm, a moth I had been expecting to see for the last five years. Other macro highlights were: Lilac Beauty (1, FFY), Oak Hook-tip (1, FFY), Red Underwing (2, FFY). I had 20 micro species, one being a NFG, a Aproaerema anthyllidella. Many thanks to James McGill for confirmation. Other micro highlights were: Plutella porrectella, Nephopterix angustella (2), Wax Moth (3), Anania coronata, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix, Ypsolopha dentella (FFY), Argyresthia goedartella (FFY) and Ephestia woodiella (FFY).


Aproaerema anthyllidella

Ephestia woodiella

Near to ideal conditions last night. Two traps, one of each. 531 moths 51 species. Would have been a few more, possibly 6, but I got my boxes mixed up and released the ones awaiting identification rather than those already identified! Senior moment.185 Setaceous HC and 143 LYUs. Not sure why I continued counting - curiosity got the better of me. Others - Angle shades(4) Centre barred sallow(9), Oak hooktip, Copper underwing(2) Pale mottled willow(4) Least YU (4) Orange swift(3) Pinion streaked snout, Small dusky wave, Small, Ringed and Beautiful china mark, Donacaula forficella and Nephopterix angustella.

Nothing too exciting last night, with 89 moths of 24 species. FFY were Garden Rose Tortrix, Small Square Spot and Angle Shades (my latest record). It must be Autumn now since LYU numbers were up to 33! It's been a very good year for Double-striped Pugs. Last night's haul of 5 brought the year total to 33, my previous best year total being 16 last year.

Postscript - as I was putting out the moths this evening I discovered an FFY Frosted Orange! How I missed it, I don’t know.

Not much of interest in Weston recently other than Stigmella oxyacanthella mine found in the car park at Sand Point. Not long after switching on the garden trap last night I potted a little micro that on inspection this morning looks good for Aproaerema anthyllidella. The dark line in the costal cilia eliminates Eulamprotes I believe.

Aproaerema anthyllidella

31/8/18 - another average night, with 65 moths of 18 species, but at least this tme there were some FFGs, a Large Ranunculus and a Catoptria falsella, plus 2 UFOs to be sorted., 27 Large YU again the most numerous.

32 species in the trap this morning in Middlezoy:

Light Emerald, Dusky Thorn, Willow Beauty, Square-spot Rustic, Flounced Rustic, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Common Wainscot, Cypress Pug, Rusty Dot Pearl, Double-striped Pug, Brimstone, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Centre-barred Sallow, Small Blood-vein, Small Dusty Wave, Cabbage, Pale Mottled Willow, Light Brown Apple Moth, Large Yellow Underwing, Vine's Rustic, Silver Y, Gold Triangle, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Garden Rose Tortrix, Spectacle, Burnished Brass, Garden Carpet, Orange Swift, Common Plume, Anania crocealis, Agriphila geniculea, Nutmeg.