VC First Macro....

... but it's not mine. I've added quite a good number of moths to the VC55 list over the years, but all have been micros. I've never had the pleasure of finding and adding a macro. This morning a photo was posted onto a local facebook group, and I immediately recognised the species having seen it a few times before. The poster is a complete novice and was oblivious to the potential importance of the species. I managed to contact her, and thankfully the moth was still in situ and she was able to secure it in a washed out yoghurt pot. Most incredibly of all, the moth was noticed having been attracted to a porch light left on all night. Anyway, I collected the moth and grabbed some shots for posterity in lieu of the county recorder who is away on holiday. I don't keep a VC55 list as such, but this wouldn't be on mine anyway: not my record, not present when taken, not recorded as part of a group effort. I am the determiner though! I am sure this is a first for VC55, unless there is another lurking in someone's records from earlier this year (doubtful).

Cypress Pug, Kirby Muxloe (recorder Lyn Bull) - presumed first for VC55

No idea on the status in neighbouring counties at present, other than I know it has been recorded at least once in Northants in the last few years. Quite likely a recent colonist that's has moved in rather than a wanderer from afar, given the circumstance of the record.

Nothing quite so exciting in my garden traps, all standard fare including the now obligatory Scarce Bordered Straw ......

Scarce Bordered Straw

Subtly different to both of yesterday's in terms of markings .... and the complete lack of any wear on thorax! Two in the preceding 17 years, now five in a week.

Otherwise there is a subtle shift, still a lot of brown but some yellow coming in.

Centre-barred Sallow

Dusky Thorn

Rosy Rustic

Light Brown Apple Moth

 Garden Rose Tortrix

24/09/2011 Mothing

Last night we were free of the boys, duly incarcerated at my Mum's (Isabelle opted out, a teenage privilege). Nichola had very clearly indicated that we should take advantage and get out, but I had already clearly indicated to myself that it would be good to get out mothing. So, I made a suggestion that we loaded the car up with a few traps, headed out east to dump them and then go for a nice rustic pub meal and drinks before heading back to retrieve the traps. Gladly, this mothing plan masquerading as compromise and the best of both worlds was duly accepted and we headed out to Ketton Quarry. Even the appearance of Adrian Russell at Ketton to run a sheet and a couple more traps was overlooked.

The forecast was for a dry mild night. As good as Ketton usually is, it can at times turn very cool and damp there on clear nights and sadly last night was one of them. Of course, having set up five traps and departed to enjoy a good meal at The Collyweston Slater, and a couple of pints of Batemans XXXB, I was generally unaware of this until we got back.

Adrian had managed to pick up 77 of 29sp from a sheet and two traps, but my five traps were on the cooler side and the catch was pretty poor. Neither of the hoped-for targets appeared and not even anything new for the year (strictly speaking - though good to see an adult Brindled Green having recorded it in the larval stage earlier in the year).

Total catch 37 of 18sp.
(3 x 125W MV traps, 1 x 40W/20W actinic/CFL combo & 1 x 80W/11W actinic/CFL combo)

1138 Epinotia nisella 3
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 1
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 4
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 2
2110 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata) 1
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 3
2248 Brindled Green (Dryobotodes eremita) 1
2266 Brown-spot Pinion (Agrochola litura) 1
2269 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago) 2
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 9
2273 Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata) 1
2274 Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 2
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) 1
2477 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1

Brindled Green

The garden fared a little better, though again nothing new for the year.

Total catch 87 of 29sp.
(125W MV 26 of 15, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 61 of 21)

0227 Skin Moth (Monopis laevigella) 1
0246 Tinea semifulvella 1
0462 Ypsolopha sequella 1
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1
0697 Agonopterix arenella 1
0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 2
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 1
1042 Rhomboid Tortrix (Acleris rhombana) 1
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 2
1138 Epinotia nisella 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 3
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 2
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 22
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 15
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 5
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 1
2232 Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra) 2
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri hesperica) 2
2267 Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) 1
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 4
2272 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 6
2273 Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata) 4
2274 Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 2
2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 1
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1
2361 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 1
2364 Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago) 1

Rosy Rustic - a huge female, Large Yellow Underwing sized

Large Yellow Underwing - a nice colour form, shame about the wing damage

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Garden Mothing Update

I haven't posted any garden mothing results from August - not that I've done much. The following summaries being everything up to date.

01/08/2010 - total catch 183 of 59sp.
(125W MV 105 of 41; 80W/100W actinic/tungsten combo 78 of 35)

FIRST FOR GARDEN:
1303 Agriphila selasella 1

First for year in garden:
0438 Swammerdamia pyrella 1
1038x Acleris laterana/comariana 1
1313 Catoptria pinella 1
2305 Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara) 1

Highest counts:
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 32
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 13
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) 10
1036 Acleris forsskaleana 9
1439 Trachycera advenella 9
1304 Agriphila straminella 7
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 7
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 7
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 7

Best of the rest:
1424 Endotricha flammealis 2
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1883 Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 2
2008 Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina) 1
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 2


07/08/2010 - total catch 266 of 57sp.
(125W MV 118 of 37; 160 MBT 148 of 44)

First for year in garden:
0460 Ypsolopha parenthesella 1
0789 Bryotropha domestica 1
1309 Agriphila geniculea 1
1913 Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) 2
2361 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 1
2439 Gold Spot (Plusia festucae) 2

Highest counts:
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 37
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 33
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 32
0873 Blastobasis adustella 19
1439 Trachycera advenella 14
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 12
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 11

Best of the rest:
0266 Bucculatrix nigricomella 1
1001 Lozotaeniodes formosanus 1
1303 Agriphila selasella 2
1424 Endotricha flammealis 5
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 2
1839 Bordered Pug (Eupithecia succenturiata) 2
1883 Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata) 3
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1

Gold Spot

Rosy Rustic

Canary-shouldered Thorn

08/08/2010 - total catch 291 of 58sp.
(125W MV 183 of 50; 80W/100W actinic/tungsten combo 108 of 34)

First for year in garden:
0287 Caloptilia robustella 1
0969 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis corylana) 1
1914 Dusky Thorn (Ennomos fuscantaria) 1

Highest counts:
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 40
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 34
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 27
0873 Blastobasis adustella 16
1138 Epinotia nisella 14
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 13
1439 Trachycera advenella 13
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 10
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 10

Best of the rest:
0125 Emmetia marginea 3
1424 Endotricha flammealis 3
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae) 1
1883 Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata) 1
1913 Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) 2


11/08/2010 - total catch 142 of 39sp.
(125W MV 773 of 31; 80W/100W actinic/tungsten combo 65 of 22)

First for year in garden:
0419 Argyresthia semifusca 1
2300 Old Lady (Mormo maura) 1

Highest counts:
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 26
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 21
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 11
1439 Trachycera advenella 9
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 8

Best of the rest:
0363 Phyllonorycter platanoidella 1
1424 Endotricha flammealis 1
1452 Phycita roborella 1
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1

Phycita roborella

Least Yellow Underwing

Shuttle-shaped Dart

From the (inlaws) garden trap, 22/08/2009

Back down to North Devon this weekend to pick up the kids - although with Nichola having to work we didn't get going until late on Saturday afternoon and arrived in time to get a couple of traps out. Conditions weren't great - a bit too cool especially with the garden being in a valley with a stream running through. Nothing spectacular in the catch, with the main highlights being a migrant Pearly Underwing and a really smart micro that I currently haven't identified. I'll post more detail tomorrow along with the micro ID. Here's a couple of badly photographed moths - forgot to take the coolight and it was a bit dull and overcast this morning! Pearly Underwing Rosy Rustic - nothing special but this one was relatively fresh Also found a Mothing Mate in the trap - a Forest Bug. Quite like these although the Green Shield Bugs I get in my garden can be annoying when they inexpertly buzz into your face. Forest Bug

From the garden trap - 25/08/2008

Extremely good numbers overall, even when discounting the locust-like Large Yellow Underwings. No fun when every egg box has a pile of LYUs in each recess - there are 11 in this small space. Another garden first micro was sadly not photographed before release - Caloptilia robustella is relatively common and I hadn't realised it was a garden first. Total catch a whopping 615 of 43sp. - highest ever total of individuals in garden (125W MV 238 of 34sp., 80W actinic 377 of 33sp. - highest total of individuals from a single trap in garden) First for garden: Caloptilia robustella 2 First for year in garden: Rhomboid Tortrix (Acleris rhombana) 1 Pale Eggar (Trichiura crataegi) 1 Old Lady (Mormo maura) 2 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 1 Highest counts: Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 350 [242 act, 108 MV] Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 45 [34 act, 11 MV] Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 42 [23 act, 19 MV] Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 31 [17 MV, 14 act] Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 17 [11 MV, 6 act] Other highlights: Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) 1 Gold Spot (Plusia festucae) 4 Second Dark Sword-grass this year Something oddly satisfying about having an Old Lady in your garden, even when they have obviously been around the block a bit like this one. Pale Eggar Rosy Rustic - a properly dull late summer noctuid