North Devon Mothing

As I mentioned in the last post, I managed to smuggle a couple of traps down to the inlaws. It's been a while since I've trapped at this time of year and I was hoping to catch up again with a couple of species I've recorded previously.

There were a few spots of very light rain just before dusk, and it was looking a bit overcast but it remained mild with a just a light breeze and the rain held off all night. I ran a 125W MV and the 80W/100W actinic/tungsten combo.

Despite the conditions, the total catch was a superb 438 of 94sp (+1 pending). Highlights were as follows:

First for year:
0453 Honeysuckle Moth (Ypsolopha dentella) 6
1725 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe ferrugata) 3
1794 Sharp-angled Carpet (Euphyia unangulata) 2
1809 Twin-spot Carpet (Perizoma didymata) 1
1884 Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata) 1
1888 Scorched Carpet (Ligdia adustata) 2
1893 Tawny-barred Angle (Macaria liturata) 1
1945 Brussels Lace (Cleorodes lichenaria) 1
2037 Rosy Footman (Miltochrista miniata) 13
2051 Four-spotted Footman (Lithosia quadra) 1
2335 Slender Brindle (Apamea scolopacina) 3
2425 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 5

Highest Counts:
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 73
1702 Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata) 25
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 22
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 22
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 18
1304 Agriphila straminella 16
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 14
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 13
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 12
1390 Udea prunalis 11
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia) 11
0873 Blastobasis adustella 10

Best of the rest:
0294 Aspilapteryx tringipennella 1
1207 Pine Leaf-mining Moth (Clavigesta purdeyi) 4
1356 Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis) 1
1398 Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella) 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 6
1919 Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria) 2
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 2
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 1
2049 Buff Footman (Eilema depressa) 3
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 4
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2289 Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis) 3
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 4
2443 Plain Golden Y (Autographa jota) 2

And awaiting confirmation, a possible British Tick for me:
1848 Ash Pug (Eupithecia innotata f. fraxinata) 1

Rosy Footman - if this is not the smartest British moth, then what is!?
13 in one night is more than I've seen in total previously

Brussels Lace - one of my hoped-for species, and one I've only ever seen in this garden

Sharp-angled Carpet - ditto the above

Four-spotted Footman - a slightly knackered female,
but an unexpected one and the first time I've actually seen a female

Nut-tree Tussock - another one I've only ever seen in this garden

Twin-spot Carpet

Scorched Carpet