Oranges and Lemons

The garden trap over the last couple of nights has been overwhelmingly brown, with Large and Lesser Yellow Underwings, Vine's Rustics, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Square-spot Rustics dominating. There is a bit of colour, including a glut of Brimstone Moths, a smattering of Green Carpets and a couple of Dusky Thorns. Though better still were these ....

Orange Sallow - perhaps the freshest I've seen, and the first here since 2014

Sallow - typical form

Sallow - form flavescens

Centre-barred Sallow

Frosted Orange

Autumn Mothing

I usually find that garden mothing in September brings a fresh burst of enthusiasm after a typically dull and disappointing period from mid-August. But last year, and so far this year, I feel like I'm missing out on a few things. Still no Sallow, only a couple of Centre-barred Sallows and one Barred Sallow so far. Also missed Pale Eggar this year I think. Still whilst I'm missing out on those, I did get this one last night ...

Orange Sallow - first since 2011

I've also picked up a few of these over the last couple of nights ....

Small Blood-vein

I don't always get any second-brood individuals for this species, and the last one was (coincidentally) in 2011. Usually just the odd one of two when I do get them, apart from 2006 when I had a significant second-brood appearance.

Garden Mothing Update

Here are the summaries for the last four nights, including a couple of garden firsts.

31/08/2011 : Total catch 156 of 27 sp.
(125W MV 62 of 24, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 94 of 16)

0015 Orange Swift (Hepialus sylvina) 3
0422 Argyresthia albistria 1
0462 Ypsolopha sequella 1
0658 Carcina quercana 1
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 1
1138 Epinotia nisella 1
1305 Agriphila tristella 2
1309 Agriphila geniculea 19
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 3
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 1
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 8
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 3
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 2
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 7
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 41
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 36
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 1
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 10
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 1
2269 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago) 2 (NFY)
2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 1
2299 Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis) 1
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 1
2353 Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea) 2
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 5


01/09/2011 : Total catch 164 of 37 sp.
(125W MV 77 of 28, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 87 of 24)

0443 Cedestis subfasciella 1 (FIRST FOR GARDEN)

0647 Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 1
0658 Carcina quercana 1
0873 Blastobasis adustella 1
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 1
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 2
1076 Celypha lacunana 2
1138 Epinotia nisella 7
1305 Agriphila tristella 1
1309 Agriphila geniculea 32
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 1
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 2
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 3
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 4
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 7
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 35
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 24
2110 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata) 1
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 1
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 3
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 11
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 1
2269 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago) 3
2274 Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 1 (NFY)
2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 2
2299 Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis) 2
2300 Old Lady (Mormo maura) 1
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1
2353 Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea) 1
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 2
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) 1

Cedestis subfasciella - a bit faded/worn, but markings correct. Good to add this to the garden list as there are only six previous VC55 records, and four of those are from Andy Mackay's old Markfield garden. Coincidentally I only saw this for the first time earlier in the year in Devon.

02/09/2011 : Total catch 215 of 32 sp.
(125W MV 79 of 21, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 136 of 25)

0015 Orange Swift (Hepialus sylvina) 2
0411 Argyresthia goedartella 1
0455 Ypsolopha scabrella 1
0462 Ypsolopha sequella 2
0647 Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 3
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1

0843 Aproaerema anthyllidella 1 (FIRST FOR GARDEN)

0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 3
1043 Acleris aspersana 1 (NFY)
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 7
1138 Epinotia nisella 14
1305 Agriphila tristella 1
1309 Agriphila geniculea 53
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 1
1439 Trachycera advenella 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2
1707 Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata) 1
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 7
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 2
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 6
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 2
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 11
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 40
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 24
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 2
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 12
2269 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago) 3
2274 Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 1
2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 1
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 6

Possible Eulamprotes immaculatella. Only c9mm wingspan which is too small for the most likely similar species, and otherwise seems to fit the description in MBGBI4. If confirmed, it will not only be a first for me and the garden, but VC55 and quite likely the whole of the midlands.

Aproaerema anthyllidella - gen. det. by Jon Clifton Jan 2012

03/09/2011 : Total catch 238 of 41 sp.
(125W MV 97 of 31, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 141 of 28)

0125 Emmetia marginea 1
0263 Apple Leaf Miner (Lyonetia clerkella) 1
0332a Firethorn Leaf Miner (Phyllonorycter leucographella) 1
0422 Argyresthia albistria 3
0455 Ypsolopha scabrella 1
0647 Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 1
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 4
0658 Carcina quercana 1
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 2
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 7
1138 Epinotia nisella 6
1304 Agriphila straminella 1
1305 Agriphila tristella 2
1309 Agriphila geniculea 25
1439 Trachycera advenella 2
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1690 Small Blood-vein (Scopula imitaria) 1
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 4
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 4
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 4
1867 Treble-bar (Aplocera plagiata) 1 (NFY)
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 6
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 6
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 62
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 38
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 2
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 3
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 21
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 2
2269 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago) 1
2271 Orange Sallow (Xanthia citrago) 1 (NFY)
2274 Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 2
2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 4
2299 Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis) 1
2300 Old Lady (Mormo maura) 1
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 2
2353 Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea) 1
2361 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 1
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 8
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 2

Treble-bar

Treble-bar - showing the long pointed abdomen (versus short and rounded in Lesser Treble-bar)

Orange Sallow - I'll get a really nice fresh one to photograph one of these days!

Mouse Moth - let's face it, if moth conservation depended on the public opinion of moths like this then there would be no moth conservation!

From the garden trap - 13/09/2008 to 15/09/2008

I planned to catch up on a bit of moth photography this evening, and when I got home from work this Skin Moth was loitering on the front door so I potted it for a shot whilst I was at it. Skin Moth - like a few members of this group, eats animal debris, dried shit and pellets, and debris in birds nests. Nice.

Although the day-time weather and temps have been good over the last few days, it's been clear and cool at night. The traps have been out but the catches have been a bit uninspiring. 13/09/2008 Total catch 33 of 13sp. (125W MV 17 of 10sp., 80W actinic 16 of 6sp.) Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 8 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 1 Emmelina monodactyla 1 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 1 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 3 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 2 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 10 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 1 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 2 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) 1 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1 14/09/2008 Total catch 64 of 18sp. (125W MV 36 of 16sp., 80W actinic 28 of 9sp.) Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 1 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 16 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 1 Nut Bud Moth (Epinotia tenerana) 1 [First for year] Rusty-dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis) 1 [First for year] Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 6 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 1 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 3 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 13 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 8 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 2 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 5 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 1 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 1 [First for year] Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea) 1 Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago) 1 Rusty Dot Pearl - an immigrant pyralid Lunar Underwing 15/09/2008 Total catch list 47 of 14sp. (125W MV 27 of 12sp., 80W actinic 20 of 7sp.) White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 8 Rhomboid Tortrix (Acleris rhombana) 1 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 4 Rusty-dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis) 1 Emmelina monodactyla 3 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 4 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 5 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 2 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 7 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 5 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 4 Orange Sallow (Xanthia citrago) 1 [First for year] Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1 Orange Sallow - one of my favourites although this individual is a bit rubbed