Pull out the Pin

Not much about the garden today. Warm during sunny spells, nippy during cloudy spells, and constantly blustery. Whilst out on a phone call though I noticed what appeared to be a small (c5mm) male hoverfly sitting doing nothing. I went in to grab a pot and refound it in the same area but now on a buttercup flower. Whilst it looked distinctly like a hoverfly, it wasn't acting like one and potting it was easy. No distinct markings as far as I could see, though it resolutely sat with wings folded over the abdomen. A quick flick through the guide make it clear that it wasn't going to get an ID without close scrutiny. Sorry fly.

I managed to pin it badly with a D3 when an A1 would have been better. No way of pulling out the pin and starting again, but still I could now check it out and seek confirmation on the facebook group. Wing venation, antennal structure and bits all looked at.

I reckoned it was Pipizella viduata, which is new for me, and Roger Morris agreed. I need to practise opening up the genital capsule and pinning it to dry in the future, but this was just about good enough.

No moth trap last night, but here's a selection from Saturday night's bumper catch - 84 of 34sp across the two traps (125W MV trap 33 of 23sp, synergetic/actinic combo trap 51 of 19sp) including 15sp NFY.

Gold Spot

Broad-barred White

Nutmeg

Knot Grass

Lime Hawk-moth

Pale Prominent

Scalloped Hazel

Seraphim

Spruce Carpet

Grey Pine Carpet

My traps are not usually bothered by the birds until there are fledgling Blackbirds and Robins knocking about. We've got at least three pairs of Blackbirds nesting somewhere nearby, and a couple of pairs of Robins, but until today no sign of any early fledglings. One of the Blackbird pairs were mating repeatedly yesterday, as they were about a month ago. I wondered if the nests have been predated, but today came the familiar squeeks and squawks of fledgling Blackbirds and at least two were in and out of the garden. Any trapping from now until later in the summer will mean extra egg-boxes around the outside and early mornings.

Smart Malachite

Found this down the lane today during a very brief stop en route from dropping Alex off at a party.

Common Malachite Beetle

Probably the smartest thing I've seen all week. Garden mothing has remained rubbish on every attempt. I've rounded it up here more out of some odd sense of duty rather than it being interesting. It can only get better!

09/05/2011
Netted late afternoon
0247 Tinea trinotella 2
0409a Argyresthia trifasciata 20
0647 Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 1
0883 Mompha raschkiella 1 (NFY)
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 1
1288 Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) 1


09/05/2011
Total catch 16 of 10sp.
(125W MV 6 of 5, 80W/11W actinic/compact flourescent 10 of 7)
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 1 (NFY)
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 1
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 2
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 2
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 4
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 2
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 1

11/05/2011
Total catch 22 of 15sp.
(125W MV 11 of 9, 80W/11W actinic/compact flourescent 11 of 9)
0247 Tinea trinotella 1
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 2
0822 Scrobipalpa acuminatella 1
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 1
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 1
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1 (NFY)
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 1
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 3
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 3
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 2

14/05/2011
Total catch 12 of 9sp.
(125W MV 2 of 2, 80W/11W actinic/compact flourescent 10 of 8)
0409a Argyresthia trifasciata 1
0822 Scrobipalpa acuminatella 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 1
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 2
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 3
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1 (NFY)
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 1

From the garden trap - 06/06/2008

Total catch 111 of 42sp.
(125W MV 41 of 24sp., 80W actinic 70 of 34sp.)

First for year in garden:
Blastobasis lacticolella 1
Agapeta hamana 1
Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis cerasana) 1
Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana) 1
Epiblema trimaculana 1
Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) 1
Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellata) 1
Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1
Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1
Highest counts:
Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 16
Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 8
Freyer's Pug (Eupithecia intricata arceuthata) 8
Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 7
Other highlights:
May Highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata) 3
Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) 1


Lime Hawk-moth - this is a fat reddish female


May Highflyer - this individual is very well marked and of the typical form but is actually unusual for my garden


Grey Pug


Pale Prominent - or piece of wood