Sugar, do do do do do do

Ah honey, honey, do do do do do do ....... sorry, is it just me that remembers the popular music hit by the manufactured band The Archies - loved that when I was a toddler.

I've not gone completely mad by the way, it's just that I've had the mothing sugar out a couple of times lately. It's not a new batch of sugar, in fact it's the same recycled batch that I've had going for years - the same batch I was using back in 2009 at least. I've re-heated it, given it a stir and added some more alcohol (Drambuie this time) which helps give it a lift as the alcohol evaporates and carries the scent. Anyway, it still works .....

Old Lady - two on 14/07/2017

Old Lady - one of three to the dried-up dregs on 15/07/2017

Both these shots were complete point, shoot and hope efforts with my phone - not too shabby I reckon. I'll keep trying the sugar through the autumn, leading up to the National Moth Night Ivy & Sugar theme. So far just the Old Ladies and one Large Yellow Underwing. And one mahoosive unidentified Teg.

Doubt it was actually imbibing!

Otherwise, here's a few recent noctuids from the garden traps .....

Knot Grass

Rustic

Nutmeg

Least Yellow Underwing

Lesser Common / Common Rustic agg.

Although I'd bet a large sum on this actually being Lesser if detted.

Dot Moth

At Last!!

I've got a couple of garden lists to get onto the database and summarise, but last nights catch included a long-awaited and superb garden tick so I couldn't wait to show off ...

Small Ranunculus - get in!

This species first turned up in Leicester in 2006 and has fairly rapidly spread around the city turning up in various moth recorder's gardens on the way. I've been expecting it ever since but frustratingly no sign either in the garden or when out and about - until last night. Shame it has a knackered wing, but like the Pine Hawk last week I'll take it!

Bordered Pug

Common / Lesser Common Rustic - these very dark brown individuals with pale reniform stigma are the best candidates for confirming as Lesser Common.

Also in the trap last night was this click beetle, subsequently identified as Stenagostus rhombeus thanks to 'Boris' on Flickr.

Not sure yet of this species VC55 status.

06/07/2010 Garden Trap

It's been a busy week at work, badly timed to match the superb developing conditions. It means that the garden traps have been doing well but I've not been able to keep up with reporting. I ran the traps on 06/07, off on 07/07 as I was out, back on last night which was mega, and they are on tonight with more traps left at a local site. It's going to be a very busy early start I think! I'll summarise 6th and catch up over the weekend.

06/07/2010 : Total catch 292 of 80sp
(125W MV 150 of 69sp; 80W/100W actinic/tungsten combo 142 of 46sp)

First for year in garden:
0440 Paraswammerdamia albicapitella 1
0866 Brachmia blandella 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 3
1439 Trachycera advenella 2
1726 Large Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata) 1
1754 Phoenix (Eulithis prunata) 1
2031 White Satin (Leucoma salicis) 1
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 1

Phoenix - first since 2006

White Satin

Highest counts:
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 55
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 32
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 12
2381 Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 12
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 11
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 10

Best of the rest:
1378 Phlyctaenia coronata 1
1669 Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria) 1
1690 Small Blood-vein (Scopula imitaria) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 3
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1

Common / Lesser Common Rustic - one of the nicer variants

From the garden trap 05/07/2010

Last night the garden traps were back out though the conditions were not great (clear and cool) and the catch this morning showed a marked decline from a few days ago.

Total catch 129 of 50sp.
(125W MV 73 of 34, 80W/100W actinic-tungsten combo 56 of 33)

First for year in garden:
0426 Apple Ermine (Yponomeuta malinellus) 1
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 4

Highest counts:
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 23
2381 Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 11
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 6
2098 Flame (Axylia putris) 6

Best of the rest:
1168 Gypsonoma sociana 1
1634 Lackey (Malacosoma neustria) 2
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1

Gothic

Lesser Common / Common Rustic

Crystal Moth, 19/08/2009

Last night was another good one for the garden sugar, with the coated fence panel dealing out the evening fix to the addicted. 13 individuals of 7 species in total: 5 Large Yellow Underwing 3 Gold Spot 1 Straw Dot 1 Mouse Moth 1 Common Rustic agg. 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1 Old Lady Can't ever see too many Gold Spots - superb ... ... unlike the Mouse Moth, 'dull' is not descriptive enough Common Rustic / Lesser Common Rustic (or aggregate for sake of ease)