North Devon Moths

Whilst down in Devon last week I ran the 22W/20W Synergetic/Actinic trap on a few nights. I've moth-trapped at the inlaws house very sporadically over the last decade or so, but the last time was back in July 2011. I have trapped there in spring before so whilst I had some good catches last week, most species were either expected or at least previously recorded. I did manage to add three new species to the list though (in bold text). I tweeted some of the scores but my mental maths is crap - the real scores are here with a total of 245 of 27sp. over four nights.

06/04/2015
45 of 13sp.
0464  Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella)  1
0663  Diurnea fagella  1
1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  4
1881  Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata)  1
1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  1
1927  Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria)  3
1930  Oak Beauty (Biston strataria)  1
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  11
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  5
2189  Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda)  1
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  13
2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  2
2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  1

Brindled Beauty

07/04/2015
75 of 17sp.
0663  Diurnea fagella  1
1524  Emmelina monodactyla  1
1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  2
1746  Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata)  4
1775  Mottled Grey (Colostygia multistrigaria)  1
1852  Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata)  2
1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  2
1927  Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria)  3
1930  Oak Beauty (Biston strataria)  2
1934  Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria)  4
2139  Red Chestnut (Cerastis rubricosa)  1
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  18
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  2
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  22
2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  8
2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  1
2259  Dark Chestnut (Conistra ligula)  1

Mottled Grey

Red Chestnut

08/04/2015
62 of 18sp.
0288  Caloptilia stigmatella  1
1524  Emmelina monodactyla  1
1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  1
1746  Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata)  1
1750  Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata)  1
1852  Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata)  1
1881  Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata)  1
1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  1
1930  Oak Beauty (Biston strataria)  1
1934  Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria)  2
2139  Red Chestnut (Cerastis rubricosa)  1
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  13
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  10
2189  Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda)  1
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  14
2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  9
2258  Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)  2
2425  Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)  1

Early Tooth-striped

Water Carpet

Nut-tree Tussock

09/04/2015
63 of 18sp.
0663  Diurnea fagella  1
1524  Emmelina monodactyla  1
1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  1
1746  Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata)  2
1747  Streamer (Anticlea derivata)  1
1750  Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata)  2
1852  Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata)  1
1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  5
1927  Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria)  1
1947  Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata)  1
2102  Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)  1
2139  Red Chestnut (Cerastis rubricosa)  1
2182  Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)  4
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  11
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  8
2189  Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda)  1
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  20
2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  1

Streamer

Twin-spotted Quaker f. immaculata

Despite the very ad-hoc nature of my trapping down there, I've built up quite a decent list versus the effort with some excellent species.The list total is now 274 species (83 micros, 191 macros), with macro highlights (VC55 context) such as Chevron, Sharp-angled Carpet, Ash Pug, Barred Umber, Brussels Lace, Great Prominent, Four-spotted Footman, Triple-spotted Clay, Marbled Green, Small Mottled Willow and Dark Spectacle. Not sure if I'll be able to add to the list now though, as the house is on the market and my inlaws are likely to have moved before the summer when I'm next likely to go down. Still - may be the start of a new list.

Charnwood Lodge 24/03/2012

Superbly warm and sunny yesterday. I headed over to Charnwood Lodge last night with both Josh and Alex in tow to help put out a few traps and pot a few moths. When we left home it was still showing 16°C on the car dash. By the time we arrived at Charnwood Lodge, after stopping for a bite and fuel on the way, it was already down to 10°C. It was crystal clear and felt just like the temps would plummet further. I only had one target in mind, Mottled Grey, so we set up anyway on the basis that if it was really quiet we'd pack up early.

We lit up just before 19:00, and after an hour we'd picked up a few moths but overall it was pretty quiet. I had a sheet and three traps running, so by 20:30 I decided we'd pack up knowing that would take a good 45 minutes or so. At the first trap, I found a Mottled Grey sitting on the outside so it was at least a successful trip even if brief and quiet. I'd emptied all the egg trays and tipped the trap on to its side to check around the underside of the lip at the top ...... WTF!!!!!

Superb Dotted Chestnut - British Tick for me

I really couldn't believe my luck - it was such a marginal night to go out at all, but to pick up a new macro was the last thing I expected. That it is only the second post-VCH record for VC55 was also pretty good. The other traps and the sheet were less exciting, but the overall total [261 of 15sp.] wasn't too bad for such a short session on a rapidly cooling night.

0663 Diurnea fagella 96
1659 Yellow Horned (Achlya flavicornis galbanus) 1
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 2

1775 Mottled Grey (Colostygia multistrigaria) 10

1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 12
1930 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 6
1947 Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata) 13
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 24
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 37
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 14
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 27
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 3
2256 Satellite (Eupsilia transversa) 3
2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 12

2260 Dotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginea) 1

Mottled Grey

The garden traps were actually better than I thought they would be, with a total of 42 of 13sp., though nothing new for the year:

0663 Diurnea fagella 1
0688 Agonopterix heracliana 2
1053 Acleris hastiana 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 9
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 1
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 2
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 4
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 7
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 9
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 2

Early Thorn

Garden traps are staying off tonight - it's been very warm and sunny again but it will plummet pretty quickly and be close to freezing overnight.

01/04/2011 Mothing

Following on from the post this morning, here are the summaries and photos from mothing on Friday night.

First up, the result from 3 x 125W MV traps operated at Gisborne's Gorse within Charnwood Lodge from dusk till dawn. The mild conditions with partial cloud cover and no rain were good, with most of the wood sheltered from the strong breeze that was in force in open areas. It was just about constant at 11°C from lighting up until first light this morning. The total catch was 1075 of 23sp. Not bad eh? The catch included 8 yearticks as indicated in the list.

0006 Eriocrania subpurpurella 4 (NFY)
0461 Ypsolopha ustella 1 (NFY)
0663 Diurnea fagella 31
1044x Acleris ferrugana/notana 4
1054 Acleris cristana 2
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1
1775 Mottled Grey (Colostygia multistrigaria) 11 (NFY)
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 406 (NFY)
1930 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 8
1934 Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) 1
1947 Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata) 5
2139 Red Chestnut (Cerastis rubricosa) 5
2179 Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea) 2 (NFY)
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 171
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 226
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 19
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 60
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 47
2236 Pale Pinion (Lithophane hepatica) 1 (NFY)
2237 Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus lactipennis) 1 (NFY)
2256 Satellite (Eupsilia transversa) 5
2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 61
2423 Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana) 3 (NFY)



Most numerous moth of the night - Brindled Pug


Mottled Grey - a species I've only ever seen at Charnwood Lodge


Pine Beauty - Ben's favourite .....


Pale Pinion - nowhere near as rare as it used to be


Grey Shoulder-knot - ditto the above


Red Chestnut - not sure why but this is a favourite of mine


Oak Nycteoline - another favourite


Once I got around to emptying the garden traps it highlighted how different the results can be when trapping in the garden versus trapping in prime habitat in the same general conditions. The garden is not sheltered from the wind, but was maybe a degree warmer. The total catch was pants - just 22 of 11sp. This did however include a couple of garden yearticks, including an Acleris hastiana. It was only last week that I mentioned to Adrian that I hadn't seen one in the garden for a few years (last one was 2006).

0663 Diurnea fagella 2 (NFY)
0688 Agonopterix heracliana 1
1053 Acleris hastiana 1 (NFY)
1054 Acleris cristana 1
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 2
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 9
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1


Acleris hastiana

More migrants and the moth photos

This morning as I left the house, just after posting the trapping summaries, the first garden Chiffchaff of the year was in song. Not actually in the garden, but viewable on the scrubby embankment that runs adjacent to us. Much later on, on the way home from work, I dropped past Grove Park again. The pair of LRPs were still milling about, but I was really pleased to find a superb bright male Wheatear knocking about close to the pathway with a few Meadow Pipits and Linnets. Typically the camera was at home - I'm going back again tomorrow with the DSLR, when no doubt nothing will be in range.

As promised, here's a selection of photos from last nights efforts:

All of the Brindled Pugs were superbly fresh, like these two

Red-green Carpet - nice

Mottled Grey - subtle

Pine Beauty - superb

Oak Nycteoline - you'd look knackered if you lived in the woods overwinter

Acleris cristana - ditto the Nycteoline

When out and about, it's always good to double-check you have everything you need in the car before setting off ...

Gennies - check
Cable reels - check
Traps - check
Tripod light - check
Catch box - check
Net & pots - check
Torches - check
Coffee - check
Folding seat ... bollocks




And from the garden:

Garden Tick

and a slightly smarter variant of Shoulder Stripe

I've not bothered with the garden traps tonight - crystal clear skies and plummeting temps after a good previous night generally means poor results.