Despite seemingly good conditions last night, the total was under 100 for the first time since the beginning of July - 81 moths of 42 species. FFY were Blastobasis adustella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix, Small Phoenix, Dusky Thorn, Pebble Prominent, Black Arches, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing and Ear Moth ag.

I ran two traps at Dead Woman’s Ditch until 01:00h this morning. 220 moths of 66 species.

Macro (48 species) incl. Scalloped Hook-tip, Peach Blossom, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Northern Spinach, Dark Marbled Carpet, Twin-spot Carpet, Narrow-winged Pug, Tawny-barred Angle, Satin Beauty, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Brussels Lace, Antler Moth, True Lover's Knot, Dotted Clay, Oak Nycteoline etc.

Micro (18 species) incl. Digitivalva pulicariae, Scrobipalpa costella, Argyresthia brockeella, Argyresthia goedartella, Pempelia palumbella etc.

27/7/20 - another average sort of night, with 124 moths of only 27 species, and no FFYs.  69 Common Footmen the bulk of the catch.  Lesser BBYU (5) starting to get going, and still very few micros (6 spp).

p.m.28/7 - a further 28 moths and 5 species, with a FFY Shaded Broad-bar.  14 more C. Footmen, up to 83, and another 2 Lesser BBYU.  Oh, and 3 micros too!!

A trap full...96 species, 77macro and 19micro. FFYs Dunbar, Rosy Rustic, Pale Mottle Willow, Black Arches, Small BBYU, Purple Bar, Muslin Footman, Shaded Broadbar and 6 male Four-spotted Footmen. The highlight was a garden first Lesser Wax Moth (thanks to Neale with help with ID.)

Not a lot to report over the last two weeks except a True Lover's Knot, my first since 2014, on the 23rd and last night a Crocidosema plebejana, not common away from the coast but I see it almost every year.

Evening of 24.7.2020

Between the showers, 75 moths of 23 species. NFY were 2 x Square-spot Rustic. Most numerous were Garden Grass Veneer x 17. Another Box-tree moth. Most surprising were 9 Jersey Tiger moths.

On 21.7.2020 a Magpie moth, NFY, was seen in the garden and later that evening appeared in the moth trap.

Last Friday (17th), I trapped an unfamiliar, colourful, micro moth - see the attached photos. On investigation, I discovered it was Metalampra italica, a moth that was first recorded in Devon in 2003. My thanks to Neale Mellersh for confirmation of its identity.

It was thought to be an Italian endemic but since 2003 there have been records in at least a dozen counties in southern England and Wales. It's a presumed adventive. The SMG website shows one record in ST64U but I understand from Neale that he has come across another record this year.

Its closest relative is Metalampra cinnamomea which is darker in colour and has slightly more extensive yellow patches. This species has not been recorded in the UK.

23/7/20- considering the relatively mild night and little moonlight, 104 moths was a disappointing number, but at least there were 34 species, including FFYs Dot Moth, Iron Prominent and Lesser Common Rustic (very small, black and bright white kidney-mark), Euzophera pinguis and Celypha striana.  45 Common Footmen so far.

p.m.  24/7 - just 10 more strays, including 5 C. Footmen (50) - nothing new.

For anyone who hasn't got a copy of this very useful micro ID book it is now available to download for free at:

https://sites.google.com/site/berksmoths/Home/resource_list/microbook

Hoped for more in the trap this morning but only 30 species, highlights:

Rosy Footman, Brussels Lace, Flame Shoulder, Brown China-mark, Jersey Tiger, Poplar Hawk-moth, Crassa unitella.

A reasonable trap last night with 118 moths of 37 species. FFY were , Honeysuckle Moth, Oegoconia sp. (probably quadripuncta), Garden Rose Tortrix, Cydia splendana, Tawny-barred Angle (only my 2nd record, the first in 2013), Brussels Lace, Pale Prominent and Dingy Footman. Common Footman is still the most numerous (33). It continues to be a good year here for Elephant Hawk-moth - 49 so far is my second highest annual total.

Ran two traps at Netherclay until 01:15h this morning. 284 moths of 76 species.

Macros (55 species) included: Ghost Moth, Oak Hook-tip, Drinker, Scorched Carpet, Blue-bordered Carpet, Barred Straw, Small Rivulet, Maple Pug, White-spotted Pug, Plain Pug, Engrailed, Brussels Lace, Sallow Kitten, Herald, Plain Golden Y, Double Lobed, Dun-bar etc.

Micros (21 species) included: Carcina quercana, Blastobasis lacticolella, Pandemis heparana, Acleris forsskaleana, Agapeta hamana, Eucosma cana, Notocelia trimaculana, Acrobasis advenella, Euzophera pinguis etc.

20/7/20 - 115 moths last night, of just 31 species, including 4 FFYs - Coronet, Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana), Small Yellow Wave, and Red Twin-spot Carpet, and a FFG Honeysuckle Moth, (Ypsolopha dentella).  58 Common Footmen so far, bound to be more this evening.

p.m. 21/7 - 14 more moths, with 10 more Common Footmen Nothing else of note.

161 moths 40 species. Most numerous was Common footman (67). FFY were Small scallop, Small china mark, Pebble hooktip (2) and Lesser broad bordered yellow underwing (2).

From previous trappings thanks to Paul Wilkins for gen dissection.

26th June Blastodacna hellerella

7th July Argyresthia semifusca. Just a handful of records for VC6.

7th July Coleophora adspersella. SMG map shows just one record for VC5 by James McGill in 2005. I found a second record for VC6 on the national database, just south of Keynsham in 2013.

James McGill has asked me to report that he found a Toadflax Brocade on the wall above his trap yesterday morning. He thinks that it was first recorded in Somerset by Jim Lidgate in Ashcott, in 1989, and adds that larvae in south-east England are found on various toadflaxes, including purple toadflax, so it does colonise gardens.


Calophasia lunula (Toadflax Brocade)

A paper entitled "The Box-tree Moth in Britain: An Overview of its Spread and Current Status" was published in the Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation Vol. 131 pp. 122-147.

This charts its rapid spread across the UK. The Cumulative Map to end 2018 doesn't show any records for VC5 which is incorrect, there was at least one (in October of that year).

According to the UK Moths website, this is an Asian adventive moth, first recorded in the South East in 2007.  It is clearly spreading rapidly across the country, so any of us (or our neighbours) with box hedges or single box shrubs can expect to catch them at some time soon, if we haven't aleady.

Ref Simon Phelps message.

I have had 12 Box-tree moths this year here in Curry Rivel, mainly singles but three on two occasions.

43 species in the trap this morning, highlights:

Rosy Footman, Peppered, Dingy Footman, Box-tree Moth, Dog's Tooth, Gold Triangle, Anania crocealis, Small Waved Umber, Sallow Kitten, Eudonia mercurella, Limnaecia phragmitella.

I note that the Box-tree moth is relatively new to Somerset and there are not many records showing for it on its distribution map (6 up to 2019 last year). I see Maurice Pugh has recorded it a few times this year on the latest sightings page. It is a first for me in terms of trapping my own. I have seen one previously that someone else had caught at a moth night elsewhere in the country.

My best night of the year, both for total number of moths and species - 162 moths of 47 species. FFY were Eucosma cana, Small Fan-footed Wave, July Highflyer and Light Emerald. Chrysoteuchia culmella was top species, with 37. Another micro or two to be investigated.

Caught 180 moths of 54 species last night. Highlights; Brussels Lace, Poplar Grey, Mocha, Swallow-tailed Moth (2), July Highflyer (2), Cloaked Minor, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix, Elephant Hawk-moth, Scarce Silver-lines, Small Blood-vain, V-Pug, Beautiful Hook-tip, Acleris forsskaleana, and Yponomeuta plumbella.

My apologies to Nigel Cottle! When I gave the link for the Guidelines on the Mothscount website I overlooked the fact he'd referred to a link on this website in his post of 12th July. Hopefully no one can say they can't find the Guidelines now!

Ran one each MV and Actinic traps until 01:30h this morning. 256 moths of 76 species.

Micros (22 species) incl. Argyresthia bonnetella, Argolamprotes micella, Aethes cnicana, Eudemis profundana, Apotomis betuletana etc.

Macros (54 species) incl. Leopard Moth, Oak Hook-tip, Peach Blossom, Drinker (11), Elephant Hawk (19), Red Twin-spot Carpet, Cloaked Carpet, September Thorn, Brussels Lace, Minor Shoulder-knot, Clay, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing etc.

Argolamprotes micella

17/7/20 - nothing very exciting here last night - 112 moths so far, 35 species, with just 3 FFY - Rosy Footman, Ruby Tiger (2), and Square-spot Rustic. "Only" 46 Common Footmen - the party must have been elsewhere, with better lights and music.

Good night here. 241 moths, so far 76 species. FFG was Brown line bright eye. FFY were Ypsolopha scarbrella, Aclereis umbrana, Calamotropha paludella, Oak hooktip, True lovers knot, Copper underwing, Bulrush wainscot and Grey/dark dagger egg.

As always a ton of micros to entertain me over the next couple off days.

I also have a Monopsis sp. which will be FFG but not yet sure which one.

Another good night, with 131 moths of 41 species. FFG was Monopis crocicapitella (ID by photo). FFY were Carcina quercana (3rd record), Agriphila tristella (3), Anania coronata, Chinese Character, Buff Arches, Small Emerald, Lesser Cream Wave (2) (5th record and first since 2012), Scallop Shell (not annual, only 5th record), Small Rivulet and Rosy Footman.

Common Footman (23) and Common Rustic agg. (21) are still the most numerous species. It's also nice to see Elephant Hawk-moths in good numbers still - 7 last night.

14/7/20 - a busy night for Common Footmen again, 94 so far (sure to be more strays to round up this evening) out of a total of 160 moths.  Just 30 species, with one FFY, an early Flounced Rustic, plus second-generation Nut-tree Tussock and Pale Prominent.  For a change, there were Hawkmoths, Poplar and Elephant - I've not had all that many this year of any species.

p.m. 15/7 - 11 more moths, of which 9 were Common Footmen (103) and a FFY Lesser Broad-bordered YU

Fifth garden record of Lobesia littoralis this afternoon. Previously three in Jun/Jul 2014 and one Aug 2017.

Tim is quite right that these species are, confusingly, listed as Cat. 2 in the Verification Guidelines. However, as I mentioned previously the Comments field for all four states: "Occupied larval web or bred only". Perhaps the Cat. 2 designation in this instance refers to adults that have been bred through from larvae.

There is a comprehensive summary here:

https://britishlepidoptera.weebly.com/yponomeuta.html

This states that: Y.padella/cagnagella/malinellus/rorrella are all very similar with 3 or 4 rows of black dots on a white or whitish ground colour and not more than 8 dots in the most dorsal row. Differences in forewing pattern do not distinguish the species with absolute certainty. and

There are no reliable genital differences between these 4 species.

I would, therefore, suggest that we should be recording them as Yponomeuta sp.

179 moths of 60 species. 9 FFY plus a potential FFG. FFY: Honeysuckle Moth ; Dioryctria abietella ; Eudonia mercurella (2) ; Small Fan-footed Wave ; Cloaked Carpet ; Swallow-tailed Moth (2) ; Buff Footman ; Coronet and Dun-bar (2).  The potential FFG subject to confirmation is Phyllonorycter maestingella.  I have had some results back from Paul Wilkins for moths sent for Gen.det.  Apologies for the delay in posting them but I have been having some health issues.  09/05/2020 : Elachista canapennella (also on 31/05) ; 26/05/2020 : Coleophora caespitiella ; 28/05/2020 : Dichrorampha aeratana and Cydia nigricana ; 31/05/2020 : Coleophora mayrella and Scoparia ambigualis and finally on 09/06/2020 Coleophora pyrrhulipennella.  Many many thanks to Paul for his time and expertise.  RE- GRADING GUIDELINES FOR MICRO MOTHS On checking the Mothscount website and following the trail to the grading guidelines I saw that the ' Difficult' Ermines are down as being cat.2 needing a good photograph for confirmation. That was why I was happy to post them last year and perhaps others have been this year. If as seems likely they got it wrong (typo?) perhaps they should be told.

A good night last night, with 102 moths of 32 species. FFY were Red-barred Tortrix, Gypsonoma sociana, Bud Moth, Euzophera pinguis, Pine Carpet (2), The Coronet and The Snout. Heart and Dart numbers are diminishing now (11), being overtaken by Chrysoteuchia culmella (15) and Eudonia Lacustrata (12)

Following on from Nigel Cottle's post yesterday, I think it would be useful to remind everyone where they can find the Grading Guidelines and Verification Guidelines for micro-moths. Click on http://www.mothscount.org/text/73/guidance_notes.htm and go to the bottom of the list where you can download them.

Evening of 12.7.2020

48 moths of 24 species. NFG were Codling moth, Euzophera pinguis and Jersey Tiger. Amongst others were Anania coronata x 4, Box-tree moth, Common Emerald, Yellow-tail x 2, Ruby Tiger and Coronet x 2.

Nigel - guilty as charged re Apple Ermine.  It is perhaps a weakness of the MapMate recording system that I and several others use, that such potential pitfalls are not flagged up with a warning.  I have looked further at the "Taxon" field options, and there is a choice under "Yponomeuta" which offers "Small Ermine Moths" as a possible entry.  I have amended my past records to this , so that they are hopefully now more accurate, or perhas less inaccurate. 

Thanks for pointing this out - I must have missed your comments last year !!

113 other moths plus 100+ Common and Dingy footman, 70% the former. 41 species FFY were Dusky Sallow (only 2nd record-2018), Agriphila tristella, Dingy footman, Engrailed, July highflier and Drinker(2).

Apologies for getting on my soapbox but I think this is important.

Over the last few days the following species have been reported here:

1. Coleophora lutipennella – this (as with many Coleophoridae) is a Verification Cat. 4 species and as such requires gen. det. to identify.

2. Apple Ermine – I posted this last June and will do so again: Adult Yponomeuta rorella (Willow), Y. padella (Orchard), Y. malinellus (Apple) and Y. cagnagella (Spindle) can only be reliably separated by DNA analysis. Even gen. det. is not conclusive.

The only other way to be sure of what species you have is to find larvae on the foodplant and breed through.

Indeed a comment in the Verification Guidelines for these four species states: "Occupied larval web or bred only"

3. Grey Dagger – As noted in the literature Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger males can be identified by careful inspection of the genitalia of the live moth; otherwise gen. det. is required.

4. Acleris ferrugana - A. ferrugana is a Verificaton Cat. 4 species and gen. det. is required to separate it and A. notana.

I don’t want to offend anyone or teach you to suck eggs and it is, of course, up to individual observers if they want to add such species to their garden list without gen. det. confirmation. But in the interest of the integrity of the Database and to save him work please don’t submit such records to the CMR. If you don’t have a copy of the Micro Moth Grading Guidelines they can be downloaded from the link on the A – Z Page Index page.

11/7/20 - Benjamin - you can have some of my Common Footmen - I had 103 last night, and there will probably be more to round up this evening.  Altogether 161 moths so far, but only 24 species with just one FFY, an Apple Ermine.

Caught 174 moths of 48 species last night. Highlights: Common Footman (3), Swallow-tailed Moth, Scalloped Oak (5), Grey Dagger (3), Phoenix, Elephant Hawk-moth, Brussels Lace, Wormwood Pug, Juniper Webber, Purple Thorn, Garden Pebble (2), Herald, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix, and Acleris ferrugana.

I trapped for three hours last night. 173 of 53 (43 macro, 10 micro).

Diamond-back Moth, Red-barred Tortrix, Peach Blossom, Mocha, July Highflyer, Small Phoenix, V-Pug, Sharp-angled Peacock, Swallow-tailed Moth, Peppered Moth, Engrailed, Common Emerald, Yellow-tail, Rosy Footman, Fan-foot, Plain Golden Y, Dun-bar, Dot Moth, Clay etc.

Addendum to 9/7 - the late night round up produced a further 21 moths and 3 species, totals now 158/40, with 13 more Common Footmen (75) and a FFG September Thorn, a first also for my 10km square, apparently.

A much better night (despite the unforecast rain) with 64 species, including 9 FFY: Haworth's Pug (2), Magpie, Double Lobed, July Highflyer, Aethes rubigana, Coleophora lutipennella, Endotricha flammealis (2), Rhopobota naevana, Holly Tortrix and Hypsopygia costalis, Gold Triangle (4).

A very good trap last night - 121 moths of 38 species. One of the highlights was an FFG Catoptria pinella (my 5th new species this year). FFY were White Plume Moth, The Drinker, The V-pug, Ruby Tiger (2), True Lover's Knot, Cabbage Moth, The Lychnis, The Clay and Grey Dagger agg. (2). Other notables were 9 Elephant Hawk-moths and a Poplar Hawk-moth. Heat and Dart is still the main species (25), followed by Common Footman (14) and Common Rustic agg. (15). I also had my first adult Jersy Tiger of the year (after caterpillars in May).

The True Lover's Knot record is interesting. I first recorded this heathland and moorland species in 2013, with 2 records. I had no further records till 2019 and now this year. I suspect it's breeding locally on heather, possibly in my garden.

Trapped until 2330hrs 9.7.2020

47 moths of 24 species.

NFY were Celypha striana, Ruby Tiger and Flounced Rustic. Others of note were Garden Grass Veneer x 17, Early Thorn, Sycamore, Dusky Sallow, Drinker x 2 and Silver Y.

9/7/20 - A good night's catch, with 137 moths so far, of 38 species, including no fewer than 9 FFYs - Oak Eggar, Dingy Footman (2). Dusky Sallow, Yellow-tail, Beautiful Golden Y (2), Dun-bar, Mother of Pearl, Eucosma cana and Bird-cherrY Ermine.  Also a second-generation Purple Thorn - the first gen. one I had in April was a FFG, so clearly established here, which is good to see.  62 Common Footmen the main conrtributors again.

Relatively poor again but slight improvement, up to 33 species.

Great to get my first Jersey Tiger of the year, always a joy to see. Ruby Tiger, Muslin Footman, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet and Donacaula forficella nice to see too.

Night of 8/7. 110 moths of 32 species (20 macro, 12 micro).

FFY: Jersey Tiger

Micros included Bird-cherry Ermine, Thistle Ermine, Bee Moth, Agapeta hamana, Celypha striana, Ancylis achatana, Euzophera pinguis and Endotricha flammealis.

8.7.2020

Trapped until 2330hrs 8.7.2020

80 moths of 30 species. NFY were Water Veneer, Small Rivulet and Lesser Yellow Underwing. Species of note..Orchard/Apple Ermine x 20. Box-tree Moth, Lappet and Marbled Green.

In my report I omitted another FFY - Scalloped Oak. So 58 moths of 19 species.

57 moths of 18 species last night - a cool and clear night again. FFY were Purple Thorn (my 5th record and first since 2017), Swallow-tailed Moth and Double Square-spot. Heart and Dart just hanging on as most numerous species (14).

6/7/20 - 117 moths of 30 species. including just two FFYs - Bordered Beauty and Gold Triangle.  Common Footman (46) by far the most numerous - Heart & Dart (only 6) fading fast.

Addendum p.m. 7/7.  A further 14 moths, & 2 species, totals 131/32.  8 more Common Footmen - 54 in total.

51 species on a breezy and very mild night.  Clepsis consimilana, Smoky Wainscot, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Nutmeg, Lilac Beauty, Blue-bordered Carpet, Muslin Footman, Maple Pug and Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing all FFY.

Very poor catch last night, surprising considering the weather and time of year. Only 21 species. Highlights were Scalloped Oak, Early Thorn, Ghost and Nutmeg.

Howard, unfortunately many of the maps on this website are inaccurate / out of date etc. and have been for a number of years.

What you need to do is:

1. From the Home Page click on A-Z Page Index

2. Click on Distribution Maps (temporary page) and scroll down to Nutmeg.

I had a Nutmeg in my garden trap this morning and looking in the Atlas of Larger Moths there seem to be few records in our area also there are no dots on the distribution map for this species on this web site. So how scarce is it ?

The forecast for the next few days didn't look too promising so I decided to trap last night, which turned out to be cool, clear and moonlit. The result was an unexceptional 36 moths of 14 species. The highlight was a FFY Lobster Moth, my fourth record and first since 2015.

Heart and Dart is still the mainstay, making up almost a half of the catch. It's been the third best year here for this species since I started trapping, with 361 individuals to date. The best previously were 659 in 2015 and 384 in 2014.

When releasing the moths the next evening, I discovered a FFY Dark Sword-grass that I'd overlooked. It's my 9th record.

Yesterday (1st) I flushed a FFY Yellow Shell in the garden.

1/7/20 - 115 moths so far, but only 23 species, including FFYs Double Square-spot, Scalloped Oak, Small Fan-footed Wave (2), and Anania coronata.  Common Footman (34) taking over from Heart & Dart (17) as the largest in number. No sign yet of Dingy Footman - watch this space.

Addendum p.m. 1/7 - 5 more Common Footmen rounded up, plus a FFY Grey Dagger caterpillar found on my clothing, presumably landed on me while I was puttimg my hens to bed - there are several apple trees there, and this beastie must have been disturbed from a leaf.  At least with the larvae, you can tell the difference between Dark and Grey Daggers !!

The weather last night wasn't ideal but I ran a 20w Actinic Skinner in Thurlbear Wood for two hours anyway.

86 moths of 31 species (20 macro, 11 micro).

Macros included beautifully fresh Large Emerald, Magpie and Black Arches + Lackey, July Highflyer, Fern, Engrailed, Brussels Lace and Yellow-tail.

Micros included: Nemapogon clematella, Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Aleimma loeflingiana, Eudonia delunella and Variegated Golden Tortrix.

Several fairly common leaf miners recorded during a walk around Netherclay this morning including Callisto denticulella on Apple and Phyllonorycter rajella on Alder.

Callisto denticulella

Phyllonorycter rajella ups

Phyllonorycter rajella uns

The contents of a sanitised pot left on the doorstep of Robin Clatworthy have now been confirmed by him to be a Splendid Brocade. According to the distribution map it is only the 2nd somerset record after Peter Tennant's one in VC6 about 15 years ago.

Night of 30/6.

Just 58 of 21 here on what was a rather breezy night.

FFG: Phycita roborella and Short-cloaked Moth.

FFY: Scalloped Oak & Double Square-spot.

addendum to 29/6/20 - the evening round-up of strays produced a further 11 moths of 4 species, including two more FFYs, a Small Fan-foot and a Scoparia ancipitella.  This last is a regular, if not frequent, visitor here - I record just one singleton each year, but where others of the same species are, I know not.

I have now received the following gen. det. results from Paul Wilkins to whom many thanks:

Priors Park Wood 2nd June:

Cnephasia asseclana (Flax Tortrix), Phylloporia bistrigella and Epinotia fraternana. The E. fraternana record now seems to be the second for Somerset (see William Langdon's Willett Hill post dated 13th June).

Bishops Hull 19th June:

Cnephasia pasiuana, seemingly the first modern VC5 record and about the 10th from Somerset as a whole.