From the garden trap - 31/07/2008

Another great night with big numbers and two more garden first macros.


Knot Grass - maybe a surprise that it hasn't occurred before

The other first was a Svensson's Copper Underwing which conveniently occurred alongside a Copper Underwing to allow a good comparison of the palp colouration and the underside of the hindwing. Seems that all features that may be used to separate the two are not 100%, but I think any individual showing the right underside of hindwing and matching palps is good for recording as Copper or Svensson's - otherwise it's another aggregate species. I'll try and get photos of the hindwing underside of this pair when I have time / can be arsed.

Total catch 443 of 84sp.
(125W MV 223 of 59sp., 80W actinic 220 of 54sp.)

First for garden:
Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis) 1
Svensson's Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera svenssoni) 1
First for year in garden:
Phyllonorycter platanoidella 2
Ringed China-mark (Parapoynx stratiotata) 1
Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 1
Highest counts:
Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 99
Blastobasis adustella 29
Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 26
Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 24
Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 21
Other highlights:
Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 1


Udea lutealis


Pyrausta purpuralis

The July totals were pretty good considering that yet again there was a period of crappy weather. From 13 nights trapping, 3234 of 219sp. Totals for 2008 to end July were 5404 of 301sp.