Pickworth Great Wood, 25/07/2009

With the recent run of poor overnight weather and more rain than sunshine, I was glad to get out again to Pickworth Great Wood on Saturday night. Although the forecasted temps were not great, at least it was unlikely to rain. I also took the opportunity to get the boys out camping in the wood and make use of our cheapo dome tent - comfortably big enough for the three of us on a double inflatable bed.


The Tent & boys, Josh left, Alex right


Waiting for the moths

We had a great night, with enough moths to raise a bit of interest in the boys without overdoing it. The biggest bonus was that the expected hornets were a no-show - good as they are to see they are a pain in the arse around a tripod light. Emptying the traps in the morning was relaxed, and the boys enjoyed laughing at my latin pronunciation whilst collecting Black Arches, hawk-moths and prominents on their fleeces.

I ran a 125W MV light over the sheet from 21:45 - 00:30, and 4 x 125W MV traps, 1 x 80W actinic trap and 1 x 250W metal halide trap from dusk - dawn. The overall catch (1854 of 185sp.) was not the biggest, and perhaps a little poor for late July, but not too bad considering the recent conditions.

Main highlights:
Ypsolopha nemorella 2
Ypsolopha sylvella 1
Schreckensteinia festaliella 1
Agonopterix angelicella 1
Eulamprotes atrella 8
Acompsia cinerella 1
Evergestis pallidata 4
Maiden's Blush (Cyclophora punctaria) 4
Tissue (Triphosa dubitata) 1
Barred Rivulet (Perizoma bifaciata) 2
Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula) 2
Black Arches (Lymantria monacha) 127
Coronet (Craniophora ligustri) 13
Mere Wainscot (Chortodes fluxa) 31

Other high counts (25+):
July Highflyer (Hydriomena furcata) 105
Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 87
Agriphila straminella 73
Cydia splendana 53
Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 53
Carcina quercana 50
Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 46
Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 44
Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 43
Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) 42
Epinotia brunnichana 38
Buff Footman (Eilema depressa) 33
Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata) 32
Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata) 31
Udea prunalis 30
Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) 29
Acleris laterana/comariana 26
Catoptria pinella 26