Ticks and Migrants

Okay, I've got behind! I've got a few bits to post about but I'll use this one to catch up on some garden moth news.

First up a completely knackered looking tortrix that isn't actually dead despite appearances! From what's left of it, and from experience of this species, I'm 100% sure that this is a garden tick Cochylis hybridella - one I've been expecting.

Cochylis hybridella

682nd garden moth, 364th micro, 107th tortrix

I thought this one was also a garden tick, but on checking I've had a couple before on 31/05/2008 and 19/06/2013.

Bactra lancealana

And this one, if confirmed, will be a full British tick! From an 80W trap left on the front of the house last night in full view of the neighbours plum tree.

Post-script: Grapholita funebrana - confirmed by gen. det.

Last night also turned out to be good for migrants for a change ......

Scarce Bordered Straw - one of two

Third garden record to light, with singles on 23/09/2006 and 05/09/2009.

Rusty Dot Pearl - again one of two

Dark Sword-grass - second so far this year

Silver Y - not seeing many of these so far this year

And here's some fillers whilst I'm posting.

Gracillaria syringella (name change ....)

Six-striped Rustic

From the garden trap - 31/05/2008

Back home and out came the garden traps. Pretty good overall, with a garden tick being the highlight.

Total catch 140 of 34sp.
(125W MV 81 of 27sp., 80W actinic 59 of 20sp.)

First for the garden:
Bactra lancealana 1
First for the year:
Paraswammerdamia nebulella 1
Timothy Tortrix (Aphelia paleana) 1
Celypha striana 1
Celypha lacunana 4
Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 1
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe ferrugata) 1
Lime-speck Pug (Eupithecia centaureata) 1
Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 2
Green Pug (Pasiphila rectangulata) 6
Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps) 1
Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 1
Highest counts:
Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 28
Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 14
Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 13
Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 11
Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 10

I should point out that there are a few species groups which are not reliably separable from each other unless a genitalia determination is carried out. Sacrificing every individual for the sake of recording is a non-starter, so these are listed as aggregate species. The three main groups as far as my garden goes are Marbled/Tawny Marbled/Rufous Minors, Dark/Grey Dagger and Common/Lesser Common Rustic.

The garden total for May 2008 was 617 of 87sp. from 16 nights trapping.

As ever - click on images for bigger versions.


Bactra lancealana - garden tick!


Lime-speck Pug


Bee Moth


Green Pug


Freyer's Pug


Bright-line Brown-eye