From the garden trap - 04/08/2008

Another garden first micro, and the 52nd pyralid species recorded in this modest suburban space. Nothing too exciting though, it's a Mediterranean Flour Moth - an synanthropic pest species, especially of flour mills and warehouses. Strictly speaking it will need to be confirmed by gen det, but I expect this to be a formality. Mediterranean Flour Moth - trouble at t'mill Total catch 217 of 62sp. (125W MV 72 of 35sp., 80W actinic 145 of 43sp.) First for garden: Mediterranean Flour Moth (Ephestia kuehniella) 1 First for year in garden: Pine Leaf-mining Moth (Clavigesta purdeyi) 1 Agriphila geniculea 1 Dusky Thorn (Ennomos fuscantaria) 1 Six-striped Rustic (Xestia sexstrigata) 1 Gold Spot (Plusia festucae) 1 Highest counts: Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 37 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 20 Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 17 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 14 Gold Spot - very shiny and smart Dusky Thorn - rapidly declining (but still common)

Rutland Water 02/08/2008

I joined Ron Follows for what we hoped would be a decent overnight trap around the reedbed at the back of lagoon 3 at Rutland Water. Traps were literally in amongst the reeds utilising the tracks and access points estabilshed for ringing nets. Lagoon 3 was jst visible from the trap positions at first light over the swathes of reeds. As could only be expected when trapping by water, there were one or two Caddis flies in amongst the catch! We ran a 125W MV light over a sheet, 7 x 125W MV traps and 1 x 80W actinic trap in and around the reedbeds, both the older establish bed and alongside the newer sections. The total catch from these lights was a very respectable 1845 of 137sp. We also ran 2 x 125W MV traps and 1 x 8W actinic trap at the N0rth Arm Marsh (just off the Hambleton Road across sheep fields), with the catch totalling 502 of 91sp. - excellent going. The lists from these two areas are uploaded to the VC55 Moth Group for subscribers. By far the main highlight from the traps was an Epinotia caprana. It seems likely that this will be confirmed as the first post-VCH record of this tortrix for VC55 (ie no records since the Victoria County History in 1907). It will therefore also be the first fully documented record ad voucher specimen. Shame it wasn't the freshest/smartest individual. Epinotia caprana Otherwise, the main highlights were reedbed species, Caryocolum fraternella, Phalonidia manniana, Chocolate-tip, Black Arches and a Small Mottled Willow. Silky Wainscot Brown-veined Wainscot - nominate form on left, form arundineta on right. This form is actually more typical in the UK. Bulrush Wainscot Calamatrohpa paludella on left, Chilo phragmitella on right Southern Wainscot Orthotelia sparganella Small Mottled Willow - a migrant Mompha propinquella Yellow-barred Brindle - a nice fresh one

Red Admiral - 02/08/2008

A Red Admiral nectaring in the garden early in the afternoon on 02/08/2008 caught my eye as I think, remarkably, that it was the first I've seen this year. Underlines just how shit this year has been generally for butterflies (or perhaps just how shit I am at noticing them!). By the time I'd grabbed my cameras it had settled on the shed, allowing a close approach with the CoolPix before it fecked off for good. A Comma and c4 Peacocks were also in the garden during the afternoon. Red Admiral - click for big detail.

Harlequin Ladybird 31/07/2008

Light traps seem to attract a few ladybird species, especially Orange Ladybird which was thought to be rare in VC55 until recent years when hundreds have turned up at light traps all over the two counties. Last year I recorded the first Harlequin Ladybird for the garden, and another one turned up in the trap on 31st. Not sure I'm pleased about it, these aggresive bastards maybe the only common ladybird species around in a few years time! I'd urge anyone seeing this species to send the details to the Harlequin Ladybird Survey. Harlequin Ladybird, form spectabilis

Fat Frog

The excellent garden catch on 31/07/2008 was in spite of heavy rain during the night, and the attentions of a few fat bastard frogs loitering around the trap. Best fast-food outlet for miles around One big fat bastard speckled frog

From the garden trap - 31/07/2008

Another great night with big numbers and two more garden first macros.


Knot Grass - maybe a surprise that it hasn't occurred before

The other first was a Svensson's Copper Underwing which conveniently occurred alongside a Copper Underwing to allow a good comparison of the palp colouration and the underside of the hindwing. Seems that all features that may be used to separate the two are not 100%, but I think any individual showing the right underside of hindwing and matching palps is good for recording as Copper or Svensson's - otherwise it's another aggregate species. I'll try and get photos of the hindwing underside of this pair when I have time / can be arsed.

Total catch 443 of 84sp.
(125W MV 223 of 59sp., 80W actinic 220 of 54sp.)

First for garden:
Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis) 1
Svensson's Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera svenssoni) 1
First for year in garden:
Phyllonorycter platanoidella 2
Ringed China-mark (Parapoynx stratiotata) 1
Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 1
Highest counts:
Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 99
Blastobasis adustella 29
Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 26
Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 24
Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 21
Other highlights:
Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 1


Udea lutealis


Pyrausta purpuralis

The July totals were pretty good considering that yet again there was a period of crappy weather. From 13 nights trapping, 3234 of 219sp. Totals for 2008 to end July were 5404 of 301sp.