Long over-due mothing update

I have at long last overcome the now regular summer MapMate malaise and have finally got the mothing records up to date (though the traps are out again as I type so I'm only up to date for a few hours!). Here are the headline summaries for the garden just before and after the Devon weekend:

28/07/2011
Total catch 358 of 81sp.
(125W MV 143 of 56, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 215 of 60)

NEW FOR GARDEN:
0401 Argyresthia laevigatella 1
1804 Barred Rivulet (Perizoma bifaciata) 1

First for year in garden:
0015 Orange Swift (Hepialus sylvina) 2
0363 Phyllonorycter platanoidella 1
0366a Cameraria ohridella 1
0602 Elachista apicipunctella 1
0695 Agonopterix alstromeriana 1
0993 Cyclamen Tortrix (Clepsis spectrana) 1
1016 Cnephasia longana 1
1197 Eucosma campoliliana 1
1260 Cydia splendana 2
1309 Agriphila geniculea 1
1838 Tawny Speckled Pug (Eupithecia icterata subfulvata) 2
1919 Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria) 1
2112 Least Yellow Underwing (Noctua interjecta caliginosa) 1

Highest counts:
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 49
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 32
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) 25
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 18
1424 Endotricha flammealis 16
1304 Agriphila straminella 11
1036 Acleris forsskaleana 10
1439 Trachycera advenella 10

Best of the rest:
0125 Emmetia marginea 1
0878 Batrachedra praeangusta 3
1038x Acleris laterana/comariana 3
1378 Phlyctaenia coronata 1
1417 Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis) 1
1470 Euzophera pinguis 1
1651 Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata) 1
1811 Slender Pug (Eupithecia tenuiata) 3
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 4
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 2
2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 1


31/07/2011
Total catch 467 of 72sp.
(125W MV 176 of 44, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 291 of 59)

First for year in garden:
Nothing!

Highest counts:
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 84
1304 Agriphila straminella 28
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 27
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) 25
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 25
1036 Acleris forsskaleana 23
1439 Trachycera advenella 22
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 20
1424 Endotricha flammealis 18
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 12
0647 Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 11
1138 Epinotia nisella 11

Best of the rest:
0411 Argyresthia goedartella 1
1016 Cnephasia longana 1
1313 Catoptria pinella 1
1452 Phycita roborella 1
1742 Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) 5
1811 Slender Pug (Eupithecia tenuiata) 1
1883 Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata) 1
1884 Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata) 1
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 1
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2112 Least Yellow Underwing (Noctua interjecta caliginosa) 4
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 2
2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 1
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1


01/08/2011
Total catch 503 of 87sp.
(125W MV 261 of 71, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 242 of 51)

NEW FOR GARDEN:
0360 Phyllonorycter kleemannella 1

(Actually this may well be a VC55 first aswell!)

First for year in garden:
0284 Caloptilia rufipennella 1
1113 Eudemis profundana 1
1126 Ancylis badiana 1
1348 Ringed China-mark (Parapoynx stratiotata) 1
2452 Red Underwing (Catocala nupta) 1

Highest counts:
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 71
1304 Agriphila straminella 58
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 28
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 24
1036 Acleris forsskaleana 22
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 22
1439 Trachycera advenella 20
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) 18
0263 Apple Leaf Miner (Lyonetia clerkella) 16
1138 Epinotia nisella 16
1424 Endotricha flammealis 16
0647 Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 12
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 11

Best of the rest:
0015 Orange Swift (Hepialus sylvina) 1
0266 Bucculatrix nigricomella 1
0363 Phyllonorycter platanoidella 1
0366a Cameraria ohridella 2
1415 Orthopygia glaucinalis 1
1452 Phycita roborella 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1742 Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) 1
1777 July Highflyer (Hydriomena furcata) 1
1811 Slender Pug (Eupithecia tenuiata) 3
1884 Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata) 2
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2110 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata) 1
2112 Least Yellow Underwing (Noctua interjecta caliginosa) 4
2145 Nutmeg (Discestra trifolii) 1
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 2
2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 1


03/08/2011
Total catch 263 of 59sp.
(125W MV 106 of 39, 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 157 of 46)

First for year in garden:
1842 Plain Pug (Eupithecia simpliciata) 1
1913 Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) 1
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 1

Highest counts:
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 33
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 32
1304 Agriphila straminella 18
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 16
1424 Endotricha flammealis 15
1439 Trachycera advenella 14
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 11
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 11

Best of the rest:
0015 Orange Swift (Hepialus sylvina) 2
0411 Argyresthia goedartella 2
1113 Eudemis profundana 1
1316 Catoptria falsella 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1742 Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) 2
1825 Lime-speck Pug (Eupithecia centaureata) 1
2030 Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) 1
2112 Least Yellow Underwing (Noctua interjecta caliginosa) 2
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 3
2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) 3


I haven't done too much photography lately either, though I grabbed one or two earlier this evening. The main disappointment on that front was losing the Plain Pug in the kitchen - a bit of a bugger that one as it's only the second I've ever seen, the first being from the garden way back in July 2000 before I had a digital camera. I need to have another go at photographing the Phyllonorycter kleemannella aswell.

Orthopygia glaucinalis

Anclyis badiana

Epinotia nisella

And here's a few hoverflies from the garden on Wednesday evening - loads of Episyrphus balteatus knocking about at the moment, and also a fair few of what I think are Eupeodes corollae (I may well be wrong on that one though!).

Pied Hoverfly - Scaeva pyrastri

Migrant Hoverfly - Eupeodes corollae

Marmalade Hoverfly (shit vernacular name) - Episyrphus balteatus

Also noticed Median Wasps building up again nectaring, like this one face deep in whatever the bush is that is really good for bees, wasps and hoverflies (must find out what it is exactly).

Median Wasp

Narborough Bog 23/05/2010 + Garden 24/05/2010

It was with a great sense of expectation that I headed out to Narborough Bog at stupid-o-clock on Monday morning to retrieve and empty the 3 x 125W MV traps I'd left running overnight. It was 20°C when I left the traps running at 22:15, and was already up to 13°C at 05:30.

Before I'd entered the reserve I was already pleased - a Sedge Warbler was manically singing on Sunday night and was still present. Whilst a common species, it was a first for me at this site and one that I had expected (though I was perplexed to find no previous records of it here over the last few years).

The first trap I checked had 2 Chocolate-tips sitting on the outside amongst others - I knew it was going to be a good overall catch. I gathered the 3 traps by the car and started the process of checking egg boxes and counting moths with pots at the ready for any goodies.

The total catch was a splendid 311 of 76 sp., with a gelechiid still to confirm (which could be the best moth of the night for me) plus a Gold Swift lekking at dusk. Aside from the obvious personal highlight below, 26 May Highflyers in one session is the highest ever count in VC55.

County Tick
0310 Callisto denticulella 1

Yearticks
0266 Bucculatrix nigricomella 2
0305 Parornix scoticella 1
0333 Phyllonorycter salictella viminiella 2
0696 Agonopterix propinquella 1
0883 Mompha raschkiella 1
0947 Aethes smeathmanniana 1
0993 Cyclamen Tortrix (Clepsis spectrana) 1
1501 Platyptilia gonodactyla 1
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 8
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1
1808 Sandy Carpet (Perizoma flavofasciata) 2
1830 Wormwood Pug (Eupithecia absinthiata) 1
1874 Dingy Shell (Euchoeca nebulata) 5
1955 Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria) 1
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 1
2145 Nutmeg (Discestra trifolii) 1
2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala) 1
2289 Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis) 2
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata) 1
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 1
2492 Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis) 1

Highest Counts (>5)
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 35
1778 May Highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata) 26
1076 Celypha lacunana 23
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 17
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 12
0986 Syndemis musculana 10
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 10
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 9
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 8
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 8
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 8
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 8
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 6
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 6
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 6

Other Highlights
0293 Caloptilia syringella 4
0357 Phyllonorycter stettinensis 2
1979 Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) 2
2019 Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula) 5

Dingy Shell

Knot Grass

Poplar Grey

Agonopterix propinquella

Cyclamen Tortrix

Ancylis badiana

The garden traps were not quite so busy last night, unsurprising with the slightly cooler temps and light breeze. Still not a bad night though, with the total catch being 73 of 30sp. (125W MV 36 of 21, 80W actinic 37 of 20). The actinic held its own again.

0266 Bucculatrix nigricomella 1 [first for year in garden]
0294 Aspilapteryx tringipennella 1 [first for year]
0332 Phyllonorycter corylifoliella 1
0409a Argyresthia trifasciata 3
0544 Coleophora albicosta 2
0697 Agonopterix arenella 1
0892 Mompha subbistrigella 1
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 2
1136 Epinotia immundana 1 [first for year]
1176 Epiblema trimaculana 1 [first for year]
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 1
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia) 2
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 2 [first for year]
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1 [first for year in garden]
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 7
1778 May Highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata) 1
1817 Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata) 1
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 10
1825 Lime-speck Pug (Eupithecia centaureata) 1
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 15
1835 White-spotted Pug (Eupithecia tripunctaria) 2
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 2
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 2
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 4
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 2
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 1 [first for year]
2450 Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1

I'm leaving the traps off tonight - the conditions have turned and it has been run over a fair few consecutive nights so time for a rest! When I do re-start, I'm going to back off the trap reports to just the highlights rather than endless lists of anywhere between 30 - 100 species.

We had our first juv Robin in the garden this morning, obviously picking up habits from the parents by loitering around the trap position. Also Woodpigeons actively rebuilding their nest for another brood on the embankment, Common Whitehroat singing away up there (though the Lesser seems to have departed), and Blackbirds still carrying food all over the place.

One unusual thing yesterday evening was a Blue Tit dropping purposefully into the aperture at the top of the kids basketball net stand. This is only c2" diameter and only drops to c6" depth before there is a threaded 'stop' going through the post. I can't believe the tits would use this for nesting, and it seems an unlikely place to forage for insects, but what else could it have been doing? I haven't noticed them going in before or again today.