Yesterday I took a moth which I thought was Small Mottled Willow - today I have 3 more! This is quite distinct when you get your eye in and although some recorders are always sceptical that this moth is being caught, I've no doubt there must be an influx at the moment. It is variable in size and markings but its resting position, with wings close-in to its sides giving an overall rectangular format, is fairly characteristic.
Some nice Pyralids including: Calamotropha paludella, Agriphila selasella, Donacaula forficella and Pyrausta purpuralis. Both paludella (which I will get confirmed) and forficella were in pairs. Staying with the Pyralids, the Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis was one of the commonest moths in the trap with 55 individuals counted. This, and many common Pyralids, can confuse newcomers since although fairly large you will not find these in any of the macro-moth books (see previous posts on Pyralid books). As a boy I really didn't like this moth and treated it with suspicion for exactly that reason: I couldn't find it in any of my books.
Gave up on the photos today. I took loads of shots of various things, and there wasn't one good picture amongst them. I think I may need some training here.
Full trap list (Robinson 125W, ST5715, VC9, Dorset):
- 0427 Spindle Ermine Yponomeuta cagnagella 1
- 0455 Ypsolopha scabrella 1
- 0695 Agonopterix alstromeriana 1
- 1292 Calamotropha paludella 2 (pair - to be confirmed)
- 1303 Agriphila selasella 1
- 1305 Agriphila tristella 6
- 1329 Donacaula forficella 2 (pair)
- 1331 Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella 2
- 1354 Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata 1
- 1356 Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis 2
- 1361 Pyrausta aurata 1
- 1362 Pyrausta purpuralis 1
- 1376 Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata 1
- 1378 Phlyctaenia coronata 5
- 1395 Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis 1
- 1398 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella 51
- 1405 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis 55
- 1452 Phycita roborella 1
- 1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2
- 1646 Oak Hook-tip Watsonalla binaria 1
- 1651 Chinese Character Cilix glaucata 1
- 1680 Maiden's Blush Cyclophora punctaria 3
- 1682 Blood-vein Timandra comae 2
- 1705 Dwarf Cream Wave Idaea fuscovenosa 1
- 1728 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata 1
- 1825 Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata 1
- 1890 Sharp-angled Peacock Macaria alternata 2
- 1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 40
- 1913 Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria 1
- 1914 Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria 6
- 1921 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria 2
- 1981 Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi 1
- 1997 Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula 1
- 2044 Dingy Footman Eilema griseola 5
- 2044 Dingy Footman [pale form] Eilema griseola ab. stramineola 1
- 2064 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa 1
- 2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta 2
- 2098 Flame Axylia putris 1
- 2102 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta 4
- 2107 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 21
- 2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes 1
- 2123 Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi 1
- 2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum 43
- 2133 Six-striped Rustic Xestia sexstrigata 1
- 2134 Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa 1
- 2199 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens 32
- 2291 Coronet Craniophora ligustri 1
- 2293 Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica 2
- 2318 Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina 1
- 2321 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha 1
- 2343x Common Rustic agg. Mesapamea secalis agg. 99
- 2360x Ear Moth agg. Amphipoea oculea agg. 1
- 2361 Rosy Rustic Hydraecia micacea 2
- 2385 Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua 3
- 2441 Silver Y Autographa gamma 1
- 2450 Spectacle Abrostola tripartita 7
- 2474 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis 14
446 moths of 56 species.
Also, just seen a Clouded Yellow fly over the garden.