My trapping results this week have certainly been consistent, with 3 moths of 3 species again! FFY were pristine Green Carpet and Common Pug (the latter my first April record since 2011).

Found a Small Yellow Underwing moth on my walk around the Middlezoy roads and footpaths today. Also found a Yellow-tail caterpillar in a hedgerow.

At the weekend I also found a Cream-spot Tiger caterpillar and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

I was interested to read Ian's earlier post.  I believe he is correct about lower numbers of the commoner spring moths. I've looked at the numbers of species and totals I've recorded in April in my last five years of recording (2019 is excluded because I was unable to trap):

2020 31 species 78 moths 2018 20 species 90 moths 2017 18 species 62 moths 2016 12 species 45 moths 2015 24 species 213 moths

Looking at four common species, Common Quaker , Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character and Early Grey, figures have been at their lowest for at over 5 years. Otherwise it's not been too bad a month here.

My impression was that this year has been a very poor year for moths. My records however are telling me something different. After a flurry of new annual records over the last few days I passed the 50 macros for the year about a week earlier than the average over the last 18 years. The number of individuals I have recorded (532) is well down on most years but is better than some which turned out very good ones such as 2003 but generally it appears not to be possible to predict the rest of the year by what happens in the early Spring.
What may have given the impression that this was a poor year has been the shortage of the common early moths. I have recorded less Hebrew Characters, Common Quakers and Clouded Drabs this year than ever before. Conversely I have already had more Muslin Moths than I've ever recorded.
Highlights from the last few nights include only my second Early-tooth Striped and my third Seraphim. A Pine Beauty was another good record here along with Miller, Alder Moth and Light Brocade.

This moth was seen here on 12 April.  I've had big trouble with computer, hence delay. Also I did get it to right size but am not confident this one is the right version.  Apologies for all of that. So, this moth has been identified by others as being Plesiomorpha punctilinearia, an adventive from China/Japan. (I didn't touch it!) It is thought that it probably came over with some Ilex, presumably heading for a garden centre.

3 new for year overnight. Lime Hawkmoth, Lunar Marbled Brown and Grey / Dark Dagger. others were Brimstone (2), Pebble Prominent, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Muslin Moth (2) and Brindled Beauty.

Still only 13spp...stuck! FFY Mullein Moth, Pale Tussock and Buff Ermine, also Pebble Prominent, Lunar Marbled Brown and lots of Male Muslins.

49 moths of 23 species including 10 FFY : Mocha ; Small Phoenix (2) ; Green Carpet ; Common Pug (2) ; Peppered Moth ; Coxcomb Prominent ; Angle Shades ; Pale-shouldered Brocade ; Shears and Shuttle-shaped Dart.  Flying in the sunshine this morning was an Esperia sulpherella.  A micro trapped on 07/04 has been confirmed after Gen det by Paul Wilkins as Agonopterix yeatiana - a first for the garden. Many thanks to Paul.

Had a good night on Friday night with 18 species. They were:

Brindled Pug, Buff-tip. Brimstone, Willow Beauty, Waved Umber, Muslin, Hebrew Character, Pale Prominent, Bright-line Brown-eye, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Lychnis, Pebble Prominent, Chinese Character, Clouded Drab, Nutmeg, Flame Carpet, Eudonia angustea, Scorched Carpet.

Great to finally see some moths!

Recent mothing has been relatively good for the time of year, given the warm weather, and I've had 15 + species for the last few nights. Nothing too out of the ordinary apart from the garden's first Neofaculta ericetella and (like Nigel) Grey Birch on the 25th, as well as three Frosted Green the week before, just my second here. Highlight was this lovely, and rather lost Marbled Coronet also on the 25th - some distance from its nearest colonies on the coast.

2171 - Marbled Coronet

Away from the garden, I've found all three Greater Stitchwort feeding Coleophoras on the lanes around home this weekend - Metroites lutarea (which sits around on the flowers during the day), and Coleophora lithargyrinella and solitariella, both of which leave distinctive white blotches on the leaves where they feed, leading you to their little brown larval cases. Long and thin in the case of solitariella, and a bit stouter with two ridges on the keel in lithargyrinella. solitariella appears to be the second modern county record, though I guess it's probably a bit under-recorded.

525 - Coleophora solitariella larva

524 - Coleophora lithargyrinella larva

Another nice one to look out for now is Hysterophora maculosana, the Bluebell Conch, which flies around bluebells on sunny days. This one was at Willet Hill yesterday.

924 - Hysterophora maculosana

If Paul's results were disappointing then I'm not sure how to describe mine - 3 moths of 3 species! FFY was Red Twin-spot Carpet.

My numbers were down as the expected cloud cover disappeared very early and it was distinctly cold this morning. 46 moths 14 species.

FFY were Poplar Hawkmoth, Green carpet, Spectacle, Marbled minor agg.,Chinese character and Pyrausta despicata. All these are 1-3 weeks earlier than previous years.

25/4/20 - very disappointing result last night, given the almost new moon, and quite mild with a light breeze - just 19 moths, 8 species.  7 Hebrew Characters, 4 Muslin Moths, 2 Powdered Quakers, 1 Brimstone Moth, plus FFYs Flame Shoulder (2), Mocha, Clouded Border, and Scalloped Hazel, which although "common and widespread" is only my second record here, and I only ever had one at my former home in East Lydford.

On the non-moth front, there was also the first Cockchafer of the year, an Ichneumon Wasp, and a couple of Caddises.

Night of 24/4.

A Grey Birch in the trap this morning was an unexpected addition to the garden list. Need to check with Chris but I'm pretty sure this is also the first record from the 10Km square (ST22).

The rest included the first two Heart & Dart of the year.

Also one at Burnham-on-Sea 23rd April (Andy Slade).

https://twitter.com/Burnhambirder/status/1253613891982163969

In case anyone hasn't seen it, James Packer reported a Pinion-spotted Pug at Berrow last night (with photo). There's just a handful of County records of this nationally scarce species. See https://twitter.com/berrowbirder/status/1253992613780377600

As is usual here not many moths (54) but lots of species (30). 13 FFY, of which the best was my first Pine Beauty since 2015. The rest were: Iron Prominent, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Red-green Carpet, Spectacle, Water Carpet, Bee Moth (2), Flame Shoulder, Ruby Tiger, V Pug, Pebble Prominent, Knot Grass, Poplar Kitten,

Caught 95 moths of 34 species last night. Highlights: Muslin Moth (2), Waved Umber (2), Oak-tree Pug (5), Garden Carpet, Bee Moth, Mottled Pug (2), Common Pug, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Yellow-barred Brindle, Scorched Carpet, Nut-tree Tussock, Alder Kitten, Mullein, Powdered Quaker, Least Black Arches, Red Chestnut, Spruce Carpet, Azalea Leaf-miner (2), and Firethorn Leaf Miner. Also 3 Cockchafers.

Still stuck on 13spp, but FFY Mocha, Lunar Marbled Brown and Shuttle-shaped Darts, m&f.

Numbers creeping up. 62 moths 21 species. FFG Pine beauty, not sure where that came from as there is an absence of pine spp for many miles around here. Is it a very mobile species? FFY were Shuttle shaped dart, Broken barred carpet, V pug and Poplar kitten. Others were White spotted pug, Least black arches(3) Early grey and then the usual suspects.

An improvement last night, with 24 moths of 12 species. Among them were 7 Oak-tree Pugs, the first multiple record I've had of this species. FFY were Light Brown Apple Moth (2), Brimstone Moth (2), Alder Kitten (5th record and first for 4 years), Least Black Arches (5th record and first for 3 years) and Silver Y.  Earlier in the day I found FFY Psychoides filicivora on the house wall (only second record, the first in 2015).  Not many micros so far this year.

Night of 23/4.

NFY Spectacle and Bucculatrix nigricomella. The latter annual here since 2017 breeding on my Oxeye Daisies.

A bit better variety last night with 10 species. New for year were Common Marbled Carpet, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Tachystola acroxantha. Others were Hebrew Character, Common Quaker, Small Quaker, Early Grey, Muslin Moth, Light Brown Apple Moth and 2 Brindled Beauty.

Evening of 23.4.2020 until 2315 hrs.

29 moths of 12 species. Majority were Brimstones x 14. NFY were Sallow Kitten, Common Marbled Carpet, Chinese Character and Syndemis musculana.

A better night last night; 20 moths of 8 species inc. ffy Poplar Hawk-moth, Chocolate-tip and Silver Y.

23/4/20 - a bit better, with more variety, but still small numbers.  32 moths, 12 species.  9 Hebrew Characters, 7 Muslin Moths, 5 Brimstone Moths, 2 Clouded Drabs, 2 Powdered Quakers, and singles of Waved Umber, Streamer, and 5 FFYs - Coxcomb Prominent, Chinese Character, Chocolate Tip, Common Pug, and my second record here of Pine Beauty.  To the best of my knowledge, there are no pine trees in the immediate area, bit as this is the second year running when one has turned up, I presume ther must be.  I wonder where.

Sheltered from the NE winds up here in the Quantocks so still a good haul of 78 moths of 28 species. FFY were : Common Carpet (1) ; White-spotted Pug (1) ; Marbled Brown (1) ; Great Prominent (1) ; White Ermine (1) and Silver - Y. Others of note : Frosted Green (1) ; Streamer (1) ; Waved Umber (2) ; Lunar Marbled Brown (1) ; Pebble Prominent (1) ; Lesser Swallow Prominent (2). Brindled Pug (18) was the most numerous.  Only micro was LBAM , although there have been two Adela reaumurella flying their dance over the hedge for the past three days.  Completing the cast in the traps overnight was a Necrodes littoralis beetle.

Night of 22/4. T Min 8°C.

23 of 13 with Oak Nycteoline FFG and Tachystola acroxantha, Garden Carpet and Lime Hawk all FFY.

Evening of 22.4.2020 A much better evening with 21 moths of 12 species. NFY were Common Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle. Plus two new moths to me, Tachystola acroxantha and Alder Kitten (not a moth recorded in Hampshire, my previous area).

21.4.2020. Cool evening, a robin at the trap about 21.45pm, took a Brimstone Moth as it came to the light. 6 moths of 6 species with Swallow Prominent NFY.

A clear night coupled with cool breeze must have contributed to last night's poor catch - 4 Hebrew Characters and a Muslin Moth!

A Six-spot Burnet larva (9mm) found in my garden today:

Only 4 moths in my garden trap overnight but 3 were new for year. Spectacle, Silver Y and Foxglove Pug. Other was a Brindled Beauty.

19.4.2020 until 11.15pm. 15 moths of 7 species, Brimstone moth (5) and Waved Umber (4) plus Early Grey all found outside the trap, Light Brown Apple Moth (2), Double-striped Pug, Hebrew Character and Pebble Prominent found inside the trap. No NFY moths this evening.

Addendum to 18/4/20 - the escapee (that I thought I had seen) turned out to be an Engrailed (agg). It would appear that my peripheral vision isn't all that bad after all.

18th April. Argyresthia trifasciata by day, the second record for my garden.

19th April. Caloptilia stigmatella by day, also the second garden record.

Only 19 moths but of 14 species last night with a Purple Thorn, Mocha, Oak-tree Pug and a Silver Y new for this year. I also had another Dotted Chestnut - a better marked individual this time. I waited 50 years for the first one and now I get two in three days!

18/4/20 - still low numbers, even though it was somewhat milder last night..  23 moths of 8 species, viz.  14 Hebrew Characters, 2 Common Quakers, 2 Clouded Drabs, and singles of Muslin Moth, Brimstone Moth. and FFYs Shuttle-shaped Dart, Shoulder Stripe and Powdered Quaker.

I am fairly sure that one moth zipped off when I was looking in a different direction, but I will have to wait 'til this evening, or even tomorrow morning to find out.  Watch this space.

Similar numbers to that of the 17th. 53 moths. 4 FFG Early tooth-striped, Oak tree pug, Agonopterix yeatiana, Semioscopsis steinkelineriana.

Others-Streamer only my second record, first in 2016, this one was very fresh with that beautiful purple blush. Swallow prominent(3) and Lesser swallow prominent(1), Silver Y and then the ones I have had in most of my sessions this past 3-4 weeks or so -Hebrew character(7) Brimstone(10) Waved umber, Brindled beauty, Least black arches, Common quaker, and Clouded drab. I have a couple of pugs and and 4 'micro' micros (4-5mm) to identify which will help the day pass.

15 species to Robinson MV - 12 macros including Mocha, Water Carpet, Brindled Beauty, Muslin Moth, Pebble Prominent, Powdered Quaker. 3 micros included 2 lifers Acleris hastiana and Semioscopis steinkellneriana, a dawn flying species apparently.

Continuing the theme of better nights , 104 moths of 29 species.  FFG : Pine Beauty (1). A further 6 FFY : Brimstone Moth (1) ; Waved Umber (2) ; Puss Moth (1) ; Pebble Prominent (1) ; Knot Grass (1) and Flame Shoulder (1). No sign of a micro in either trap.

57 moths easily best count for this year. 18 species FFG was Agonopterix subpropinquella.

Flame shoulder (earliest record by 1 week) White ermine male(earliest record by 2 weeks).Bulk were Hebrew characters (21) others Brindled beauty, Brimstone, Double striped pug, Early thorn, Shoulder stripe (second record),Waved umber, Small quaker, Common quaker, Clouded drab, Least black arches, Light brown apple and Dichromorpha acuminatana.

Night of 16/4. 32 of 17 with Oak-tree Pug, Small Quaker, Shoulder Stripe, Knot Grass, Angle Shades, Scorched Carpet and Shuttle-shaped Dart all NFY + second garden record of Seraphim (the first was on 21.5.17).

I looked in at the traps* at 11pm and saw nothing except a Brimstone Moth, Garden Carpet (FFY) and Brindled Pug. It was coolish and unpromising and didn't expect a lot when I brought them in just before dawn. However, on inspection I was astounded to find 37 moths of 21 species, including one FFG and 5 FFY. The FFG was a Dotted Chestnut, my first ever! The 4 other FFY were: Puss Moth (2, my first since 2017), Powdered Quaker (4, also my first since 2017 and my highest count), Chocolate Tip (2, didn't see one last year) and a Swallow Prominent.

* I know it shouldn't make a difference but I am sure that running a MV and Actinic about 5 yards apart has been benificial. Impossible to prove, I know, but I have done this for a year now and it seems to work for me.

Improving slowly, 17spp last night, A FFG- Parornix scoticella, I have found the mines in the orchard next-door but never trapped the moth. FFYs - Red Twin-spot Carpet, Pale Pinion, Pebble and Swallow Prominents, and Common Pug. Still a mystery micro to fathom!

Things at last are starting to pick up her after a very slow start to the season. Last night was the best night so far in terms of both number of species and individuals with 49 macros of 22 types. These included Coxcombe Prominent and 2 Puss moths both of which I failed to record last year. I also had a Silver Y which,along with 3 Red Admirals seen yesterday, is a welcome sign of migration.

This Mullein Moth came to a lighted window yesterday, the first time I have ever seen the adult and the second new species I have had here this year, the other being Oak Beauty.

15/4/20 - yet another averagely poor night last night.  Just 20 moths, 14 Hebrew Characters, 3 Clouded Drabs, and singles of Waved Umber, FFY Brimstone Moth, and FFY Nut-tree Tussock.  Also another Sexton Beetle (Necrophorus humator) and a large Caddis

Seeing once more the preponderance of Hebrew Characters in the catch last night, I did a bit of statistical analysis, and this year to date they account for approx. 58% of all moths caught. (197 out of 344). The most remarkable of them was the one I trapped on the night of January 1st./2nd., by far my earliest record.

13/4/20 - possibly colder and breezier than I had hoped, so numbers well down.  Only 9 Hebrew Characters, 1 Clouded Drab and 1 Muslin Moth.  Hardly worth the eletricity!

Trapped last night until 11pm. Next few evenings the weather forecast is for cooler times so I may give the trap a rest. Ten species with four NFY.. Lunar Marbled Brown x 2, Grey/Dark Dagger, Twenty Plume Moth and Oak-tree Pug.

Another poor night, only 5 species from 8 moths! It always seems to take a while to get going here and numbers normally get good much later in April into early May. Which is why I often struggle to find the will power to trap early in the year!

Powdered Quaker, Hebrew Character (including an interesting aberrant form), Early Grey, Brimstone, Early Thorn.

Cocklake 13th April. I think I chose the wrong night. It was overcast and warm but during the early hours there was a period of very strong winds which blew masses of fresh leaves and blossom on to the ground and some into the trap. I had 14 moths of 10 species. Purple thorn, Waved umber, Dotted chestnut(2nd record first in 2019), Least black arches, Double striped pug, Brimstone(2), Small quaker, Clouded drab(3), Hebrew character(2) and Common quaker.

One Great silver water beetle Hydrophilus piceus. This large black/dark green beetle turns up a few times during the year but this is the first time I have been able to see the diagnostic elytral spines although coming in at 45mm in length there are not many options to consider.

The evening started promisingly with a good early showing but the wind got up and it turned a lot colder by the time I brought the traps in a 5am. The upshot was only 27 moths of 16 species. 7 FFY were: Brimstone, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Scorched Carpet (2), Lunar Marbled Brown, Least Black Arches, Muslin and Brindled Pug. Most were a few days earlier than previous records. Also a Nicropherus humator beetle.

Getting better! Caught 47 moths of 21 species last night. Highlights: Small Quaker (5), Oak-tree Pug (2), Mullein, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Lunar Marbled Brown, Waved Umber, Muslin Moth, Early Thorn (2), Powdered Quaker, and Pale Mottled Willow. Also a Black Sexton Beetle.

Best night of the year by far. 106 moths of 29 species including one FFG : Horse Chestnut moth. A further ten FFY : Frosted Green (2) ; Red Twin-spot Carpet (1) ; Spruce Carpet (4) ; V-Pug (1) ; Yellow-barred Brindle (1) ; Purple Thorn (2) ; Brindled Beauty (3) ; Lunar Marbled Brown (1) ; Lesser Swallow Prominent (1) ; Muslin Moth (3) and Nut-tree Tussock (3).  Others included Shoulder Stripe (1) ; Streamer (2) ; Double- striped Pug (9) ; Brindled Pug (11) ; Early Thorn (5) ; Engrailed agg (2) and 19 each of Common Quaker and Hebrew Character. A micro may have to wing its way to Paul Wilkins to be identified.

Improving slightly but still only eight species , Lunar Marbled Brown first record for garden also recorded Water Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Early Grey, Hebrew Character, Swallow Prominent, Nut-tree Tussock,Common Quaker.

At last some moths! 25 moths of 18 species, roughly what I would expect for this time of year. FFY were Semioscopis steinkellneriana, March Moth, Brindled Pug (earliest record), Oak-tree Pug (1st April record), Early Thorn, Brindled Beauty (male), Lunar Marbled Brown (2, the 1st for 4 years and only 5th record), Small Quaker (2), Clouded Drab (2), Twin-spotted Quaker (1st for 5 years and only my 7th record) and Nut-tree Tussock (2).

Night of 11/4. T min 8.8°C. 18 of 11 to my Twin 30w Actinic Robinson. Least Black Arches, Common Pug, Brindled Pug and Beautiful Plume were all NFY.

11/4/20 - another average night, with just 30 moths - however, the species variety is starting to look up, albeit gradually.  16 Hebrew Characters, 8 Clouded Drabs, 2 Common Quakers, and singles of Early Grey and 3FFYs - Engrailed agg., Streamer and Semioscopis steinkellneriana.  This last is only the second Micro I have had this year to date, the first being 2 days ago.

Easily the best night of what has so far been a disappointing year. 37 macros of 20 species and 11 first for the years. The new ones were Swallow Prominent, Iron Prominent, Pebble Prominent,Lunar Marbled Brown, Chinese Character, Waved Umber, Brindled Pug, Streamer, Red Chestnut, Herald and my first proper migrant, a very tattered Pearly Underwing.
This brings my yearly totals to 228 moths and 31 species. This time last year it was 32 species but 856 moths.

Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia
Back in 2008 I took a single female Emperor moth in my garden trap, which laid eggs and I bred out 20+ adults in 2009. One morning a dozen or so males assembled to two females in my garden, and the next day a single male came to a female on my allotment in Curry Rivel.

I ordered some EM eggs from WWB with a view to showing the larvae at Barrington Court in May (ha,ha!) but kept them hoping to breed them out and attract wild males in 2021.
They hatched this morning and this reminded me that I had a 3-year old EM lure in the freezer. It failed to attract any males in 2018 and 2019 but, after 7 hours hanging on a rose bush, it attracted a single male at around 1730. Very pleasing. First garden record in 11 years!

Newly-hatched Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia) larvae.

To actinic trap in Stone Allerton last night. Also first Brimstone.

Nights of 9th & 10th April

Lower number of moths and species over the last two nights NFY were Waved Umber, March Moth, Scorched Carpet, Pale Prominent, Early Thorn and Shuttle-shaped Dart

Good evening all.

I see from Rob's posting that the Sexton beetles have had their generic name changed from "Necrophorus" to "Nicrophorus" I fail to understand why.  The original name derives, as scientific names so often do, from the Greek, in this case from "Nekros", meaning a corpse.  Why change it, when to do so negates the true derivation?  Sadly, too many genera and species get changed, leaving us poor amateurs confused and frequently (certainly in my case) a bit cross.  I sometimes wonder if it is to sell more reference books.  Cynical, moi?

P.S.  On a lighter note, I found 3 FFY Purple Thorns and a second FFY Double-striped Pug in the porch this evening - I have only ever recorded a single Purple Thorn here, 2 years ago - a very nice surprise.

Night of 9/4/20. T Min 10°C. 28 moths of 10 species.

Things are finally starting to look up here with Brimstone, Nut-tree Tussock and Mocha all NFY plus only my second garden Streamer and the third Caloptilia semifascia.

Only 7 species in the trap this morning.

Nut-tree Tussock, Brimstone, Early Grey, Double-striped Pug, Common Quaker, Small Quaker, Ypsolopha mucronella.

The silphid beetles are a very interesting group of insects, many of them associated with carrion. Species in genus Nicrophorus, commonly referred to as Sexton beetles, are well known for their habits of burying small vertebrate carcasses. This group also display bi-parental care, a rare trait among beetles and for this reason are increasingly being used in behavioral research.

The National Silphidae Recording Scheme has asked moth trappers to send in records of any beetles found, since some of them are attracted to light. I myself caught one the other day. I'm uploading an image of those beetles.

Further information can be found at https://www.coleoptera.org.uk/silphidae/home.

Best night of the year, 27 moths of 12 spp. FFY Dotted Chestnut, Iron Prominent, Nut-tree Tussock and Pine Beauty.

9/4/20 - a bit better last night, but still not too much to get excited about.  37 moths, 8 species - 22 Hebrew Characters, 5 Clouded Drabs, 5 Common Quakers, 1 Early Grey, and 4 FFY singles, Muslin Moth, Double-striped Pug, Depressaria daucella and an early Waved Umber.

During this period of lockdown I am, obviously, spending more time in the garden. So far I've come across larvae of Six-spot Burnet, Large Yellow Underwing and Lunar Underwing going about their business:

Large Yellow Underwing

Lunar Underwing

Hi Paul

I had been "mothing" at Cadnam, on the edge of the New Forest since 2005. 200+ species every year since. Can't wait to see what Curry Rivel produces.

Welcome to "Latest Sightings" Maurice.  Exciting times with everything being new !

My first evening trapping here at Curry Rivel having moved from Hampshire. Robinson trap with 125 mv light used until 2300hrs (rules imposed by top management)

27 moths of 13 species (all NFG and NFY), including Herald, Purple Thorn x 2, Least Black Arches, Nut-tree Tussock x 3 and Early Grey.

A good catch overnight with 4 species new to me. Least Black Arches, Nut-tree Tussock, Bee Moth and Twenty-plume Moth. Others were Chestnut, Early Grey (6), Hebrew Character (3), Double-striped Pug and common Plume.

35 moths of 17 species with 8 FFY: Streamer (2), Shoulder Stripe, Herald, Brindled Beauty, Agonopterix yeatiana, Caloptilia semifascia, Pseudoswammerdamia combinella and Alucita hexadactyla (Twenty Plume Moth).

Just 8 species last night with Water Carpet and Nut-tree Tussock being firsts for the year. The clear skies favour the butterflies. I saw 9 different species on our walk today.

Another disappointing night but at least I had a count in double figures, 10 moths of 8 species. FFG was Depressaria chaerophylli. FFY were Agonopterix heracliana, Twenty Plume, Muslin Moth (male), Common Quaker and Flame Shoulder (my earliest record). Perhaps the star catch was a nice Black Sexton Beetle!

7/4/20 - I too had hoped that the milder overcast night would produce more moths, but sadly I was again disappointed.  Just 11 moths, 5 Hebrew Characters, 3 March Moths, and singles Dotted Chestnut. Early Grey and Common Quaker.  Presumably the full moon affected numbers more than the weather.

Also, a Black Sexton Beetle (Necrophorus humator), one of the few beetles that I can readiliy identify with its orange-red clubbed antennae, and two large Caddises.

Much better catch last night! 36 moths of 16 species. Highlights: Early Thorn, Oak Beauty, Brindled Beauty, Powdered Quaker, Shoulder Stripe, Brindled Pug (2), and Beautiful Plume.

Poor numbers in the trap again on Sunday night - Brindled Beauty 1, Early Grey 1, Common Quaker 1, Hebrew Character 5, Clouded Drab 1. On the kitchen window - Agonopterix yeatiana, only my second specimen (the forst was in 2009). Thanks to Paul Wilkins for confirming my ID.
Male and female Orange-tip, Brimstone, Peacock and Small TOrtoiseshel in the garden today (7th April).
Overcast tonight - hoping for a few more moths!

Nothing much in recent traps but I did find an Acrolepia autumnitella (FFG) in the greenhouse this morning. Thanks (again) to James McGill for the ID, he said that it is usually recorded from leaf-mines on bittersweet with adults rarely observed.


Acrolepia autumnitella

6/4/20 - It gets worserer and worserer - just 7 Hebrew Characters and 1 Early Grey last night.  Oh well, keep trying.

I found an Oak Eggar larva yesterday in a flower bed, happily chewing on a bramble leaf - good to know someone likes brambles, but NOT there !!  So I translocated it into the hedge, where it will find a happy hunting ground for the appropriate victuals - lots of brambles, nicely out of my way.  Also 2 Orange Tip butterflies, the first of any this year to date - no sign of Brimstones or overwintering Vanessids.  They are usually around well before now.

Well that was better...at last 18moths of 11spp. A surprise migrant Plutella xylostella along with the sand deposits on my just cleaned solar panels!. FFYs Early Thorn, Muslin D-S Pug, and Waved Umber

Welcome to "Latest Sightings" Howard.  Your Iron Prominent is very early - clearly not self-isolating !!.

Iron Prominent in my garden trap this morning. Not much else just 4 Hebrew Character and 2 Clouded Drab

17.001 Ypsolopha mucronella disturbed while painting the shed

Didn't run a trap last night but found my first Muslin Moth of the year lurking in the garden this morning.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth visiting the village store for bread and milk this morning. Video on Facebook.

A disappointing night here, with just 6 moths of 4 species. FFY were Early Tooth-striped and Shoulder-stripe.

A belated report from Tuesday night.  45 moths of 14 species.  FFY were Agonopterix subpropinquella (1) - thanks to Paul Wilkins for confirmation. ; Emmalina monodactyla (1) ; Streamer (1) and a Dark Chestnut.  Others include Diurnia fagella (3) ; Shoulder Stripe (1) ; Mottled Grey (2) and the usual Quakers.

3/4/20 - another chilly night, and even fewer moths than I have been getting recently.  Just 21 this time, 17 Hebrew Characters, and singles of Early Grey, Small Quaker, Clouded Drab, and FFY Brindled Beauty.  Roll on warmer nights !

A few moths - 7! in the trap this morning Common and Small Quaker, Early Grey, Brindled Beauty, Agon. alstroemeriana. Found lots of feeding tubes and burrows of Nemapogon clematella on a dead piece of Hazel in the hedge

23 moths 10 species. Muslin moth (earliest record by one week) Brindled beauty, Early thorn, March moth, 3 Common quaker, 4 Clouded drab, 4 Early grey, 6 Hebrew character and Twin spotted quaker which surprisingly was FFG. One micro Agonopterix alstromeriana.

1/4/20 - still cold, but at least the wind had dropped.  Still not a lot happening, just 34 moths, 5 species - 20 Hebrew Characters, 7 Clouded Drabs, including one with unusual markings, 5 Common Quakers, 1 Small Quaker and 1 March Moth.

December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) larvae
I had a couple of female December Moth in the trap at the end of last year so kept some eggs in preparation for a larva display at the (now cancelled) Barrington Court event.
I accidentally left some in the greenhouse; they hatched about 10 days ago and the larvae are now feeding well on Hawthorn. The eggs which I kept in the cold outhouse started to hatch today and I have put them on Field Maple.
The larger larvae are superbly camouflaged when they lie head down along the Hawthorn twigs.

December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) 4th inst larva

December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) 1st inst larva