SP9326: 29/06/11 - Can't complain

Four new*  species reflected a good catch for the garden.

List for SP9326: 29/06/11

  424    Bird-cherry Ermine 1

  647    Brown House-moth    1

1036    Acleris forsskaleana    1

1048*  Garden Rose Tortrix    1

1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    4

1304    Agriphila straminella    1

1306    Agriphila inquinatella    2

1344    Eudonia mercurella    3

1424    Endotricha flammealis    2

1428    Bee Moth    1

1634    The Lackey    1

1653*  Buff Arches    1

1690*  Small Blood-vein    1

1705    Dwarf Cream Wave    3

1713    Riband Wave    3

1728    Garden Carpet    2

1817    Foxglove Pug    1

1834    Common Pug    1

1921    Scalloped Oak    1
1922    Swallow-tailed Moth    1

1931    Peppered Moth    2
1961    Light Emerald    1

1980*   Eyed Hawk-moth    1

1994    Buff-tip    1

2050    Common Footman    6

2061    Buff Ermine    4

2077    Short-cloaked Moth    2

2088    Heart and Club    5

2089    Heart and Dart    20

2155    Dot Moth    1

2170    Varied Coronet    1
2280    The Miller    1

2321    Dark Arches    8

2322    Light Arches    1

2381x  Uncertain/Rustic agg.    8

2441    Silver Y    1

Total: 36 species

SP9326: 21/06/11

Well, that's mid-summer gone ! Minimum 12 Celsius, with wind increasing overnight - must see my GP about that...

Ypsolopha scabrella was new for the garden, and welcome returns for The Lackey - ten of which were seen last year between 24/06 and 18/07 - and Varied Coronet with a single last year.

455* Ypsolopha scabrella

1634 The Lackey

2155 Dot Moth

2170 Varied Coronet

List for SP9326: 21/06/11 

  455*  Ypsolopha scabrella    1
1076    Celypha lacunana    1
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    3
1301    Crambus lathoniellus    1

1634    The Lackey    1
1713    Riband Wave    1   (f. remutata)
1994    Buff-tip    1
2050    Common Footman    1
2088    Heart and Club    5
2089    Heart and Dart    24
2155    Dot Moth    1
2170    Varied Coronet    1
2321    Dark Arches    1
2322    Light Arches    1
2333    Large Nutmeg    1
2381x  Uncertain/Rustic agg.    6

Total: 16 species

SP9326: 19/06/11

Light airs with a low of 7 Celsius.

The first Swallow-tailed Moth this year, and a Rustic Shoulder-knot which didn't quite look right for Clouded Brindle - thanks Matt !!

1994 Buff-tip

2050 Common Footman

2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot

1922 Swallow-tailed Moth

List for SP9326: 19/06/11

1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    4

1304    Agriphila straminella    1

1344    Eudonia Mercurella    1

1705    Dwarf Cream Wave    1

1707    Small Dusty Wave    1

1713    Riband Wave    1

1728    Garden Carpet    1

1922    Swallow-tailed Moth    1

1937    Willow Beauty    1

1994    Buff-tip    1

1999    Common Emerald    1

2050    Common Footman    1

2088    Heart and Club    6

2089    Heart and Dart    9

2160    Bright-line Brown-eye    1

2278    Poplar Grey    1

2321    Dark Arches    1

2333    Large Nutmeg    1

2334    Rustic Shoulder-knot    1
2381x  Uncertain/Rustic agg.    3

2477    The Snout    1

2489    The Fan-foot    1

Total 22 species
+ 2 TBI

SP9326: 15/06/11

A low of 12.5 Celsius, with a slight breeze. A full Moon and a total lunar eclipse would have been visible if it were not for the blanket cloud cover.  The best catch of the year so far for both numbers and variety.

The two new* to the garden were Scythropia crataegella (Hawthorn Moth) of which there are fifty-four records since 1983 when it was first recorded in Bedfordshire, and Broad-barred White.

450* Scythropia crataegella
Hawthorn Moth

2164* Broad-barred White

2280 The Miller

2278 Poplar Grey

List for SP9326: 15/06/11

  450*  Scythropia crataegella    1    (Hawthorn Moth)
1033    Tortrix viridana    2    (Green Oak Tortrix)
1076    Celypha lacunana    1
1083    Hedya nubiferana    2    (Marbled Orchard Tortrix)
1261    Cydia pomonella    1    (Codling Moth)
1293    Chrysoteuchia cullmella    9
1301    Crambus lathoniellus    1
1304    Agriphila straminella    2
1344    Eudonia mercurella    1
1428    Bee Moth    2
1707    Small Dusty Wave    1
1713    Riband Wave    3    (2 f. remutata)
1911    Treble Brown Spot    1
1958    Clouded Silver    1
1994    Buff-tip    1
2050    Common Footman    1
2060    Buff Ermine    1
2088    Heart and Club    2
2089    Heart and Dart    40
2098    The Flame    1
2107    Large Yellow Underwing    1
2128    Double Square-spot    1
2164*  Broad-barred White    1
2278    Poplar Grey    1
2280    The Miller    1
2321    Dark Arches    7
2333    Large Nutmeg    2
2337x  Marbled Minor agg.    5
2340    Middle-barred Minor    1
2343    Common Wainscot    1
2381x  Uncertain/Rustic agg.    3
2387    Mottled Rustic    1
2489    The Fan-foot    1

Total: 100 moths of 33 species
+ 2 pugs TBI

SP9326: 14/06/11 - A good spot

Double Square-spot was new for the garden on an otherwise quiet night.


List for SP9326: 14/06/11:

    17    Common Swift    1
1033    Tortrix viridana    1    (Green Oak Tortrix)
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    11
1302    Crambus perlella    1
1428    Bee moth    4
1524    Emmelina monodactyla    1
1669    Common Emerald    1
1713    Riband Wave    2    (f. remutata)
1817    Foxglove Pug    1
1862    Double-striped Pug    1
1937    Willow Beauty    1
1976    Privet Hawk-moth    1
1994    Buff-tip    3
2088    Heart and Club    5
2089    Heart and Dart    25
2107    Large Yellow Underwing    1
2128*   Double Square-spot    1
2321    Dark Arches    1
2489    The Fan-foot    1

Total: 19 species

SP9326: 13/06/11 - A real Gem

The minimum temperature recorded was 5.5 Celsius.

Quite a few moths around, then tailing off around 01:00, then, with a collection of moths potted up for identification in the morning, it was up the stairs to Bedfordshire.

A Gem of a Moth!

One of the 'unknowns' proved to be The Gem (Orthonama obstipata). Not wishing to make any schoolboy errors, confirmation was sought from the macro recorders.

It is a sexually dimorphic immigrant, distributed over much of Europe, and is an annual migrant to the UK. The last 'Gem' year was in 2006, apparently, when it was generally good for migrants as a whole (Bedfordshire Naturalist 2006, Part 1: Macro Moths 2006 by Andy & Melissa Banthorpe or *Here*). The recorders state that there are nine previous records in the database in Bedfordshire.

Udea olivalis and Celphya lacunana were also new for the garden.

1720* The Gem
female

1705 Dwarf Cream Wave

1742 Yellow Shell

1931 Peppered Moth

2489 The Fan-foot

List for SP9326: 13/06/11

  874    Blastobasis lacticolella    1
  989    Aphelia paleana    1    (Timothy Tortrix)
1076*  Celphya lacunana    1
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    1
1392*  Udea olivalis    2
1428    Bee Moth    2
1524    Emmelina monodactyla    1
1669    Common Emerald    1
1705    Dwarf Cream Wave    1
1720*  The Gem    1    (female)
1728    Garden Carpet    1
1742    Yellow Shell    1
1834    Common Pug    1
1906    Brimstone Moth    1
1931    Peppered Moth    1
1976    Privet Hawk-moth    1
2089    Heart and Dart    24
2101    Large Yellow Underwing    1
2160    Bright-line Brown-eye    1
2321    Dark Arches    3
2387    Mottled Rustic    2
2489    The Fan-foot    3

Total: 22 species
+ 1 micro TBI

SP9326: 12/06/11 - Consolation food

It was one of those rare nights where the temperature rose after dusk. Returned home from work after a day of 'proper' rain and, as the threat of further showers still hung in the air, decided on DC rather than AC. Thus the 15w actinic Heath trap was deployed with low expectations...
The result was a (not unexpected) box of Heart and Darts, and thus no disappointment was felt - mind games eh?
The temptation to present to the world yet another blurry image of one was quickly overcome in favour of a toasted cheese sandwich :~)

Toasted Cheese Sandwich

The Lodge, Sandy: 09/06/11 - Pempelia palumbella

There were ten traps set about the reserve; at Matt and "Trent's" lamp and sheet a largish micro appeared and Matt duly suspected Pempelia palumbella - after a bit of Googling on his mobile he confirmed a 'second' for Bedfordshire following the first one discovered by Colin Campbell at this site on the 2nd June.

1442 Pempelia palumbella

SP9326: 07/06/11 - New micro

Fairly cool with a minimum of 7 Celsius.

Tinkered with the 'Ratface Special' by replacing the 15w actinic blacklight with a second 15w UV lamp.The result - over-subscription to the Heart and Dart disco ! Large Nutmeg numbers were down. The plan is to try this set-up for a while to see what effect it has on variety/numbers, if any.
Cyclamen Tortrix was new* for the garden.

993 Clepsis spectrana
Cyclamen Tortrix

1010 Ditula angustiorana
Red-barred Tortrix

1994 Buff-tip

2088 Heart and Club

2089 Heart and Dart

List for SP9326: 07/06/11

  993    Clepsis spectrana    1    (Cyclamen Tortrix)
1010    Ditula angustiorana    1    (Red-barred Tortrix)
1428    Bee Moth    1
1711    Treble Brown Spot    1
1728    Garden Carpet    2
1937    Willow Beauty    2
1994    Buff-tip    1
2088    Heart and Club    1
2089    Heart and Dart    31
2333    Large Nutmeg    4
2321    Dark Arches    1
2337x  Marbled Minor agg.    1
2387    Mottled Rustic    1

Total: 13 species
+ Coleophra sp. (1)

SP9326: 06/06/11 - New micro

The temperature dropped to 11 Celsius and thus a modest catch. Aleimma loeflingiana was new* for the garden.

1032* Aleimma loeflingiana

List for 06/06/11: SP9326

  874    Blastobasis lacticolella    1
1032    Aleimma loeflingiana    1
1063    Celypha striana    1
1713    Riband Wave    1    (form: remutata - first of year)
2089    Heart and Dart    11
2333    Large Nutmeg    9
2334    Rustic Shoulder-knot    1
2337x  Marbled Minor agg.    1

Total: 8 species

SP9326: 03/06/11 - Early Pale Prominent

Minimum temperature: 11.5 Celsius - quite windy.

The Pale Prominent was the second of the year after one on the 20th April, which is a candidate for the earliest ever Bedfordshire record. Dark Arches beginning to appear after the first one yesterday, but still Large Nutmeg and Heart and Dart dominate in numbers.

2011 Pale Prominent

List for SP9326: 03/06/11

    17    Common Swift    1

1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    1

1727    Silver-ground Carpet    1

2011    Pale Prominent    1

2088    Heart and Club    1

2089    Heart And Dart    22

2321    Dark Arches    2

2333    Large Nutmeg    16

2387    Mottled Rustic    1

2337x  Marbled Minor agg.   1

2380    Treble Lines    1

2384    Vine's Rustic    1

Total: 12 species

+ Tortricidae sp. (2)

SP9326: 02/06/11 - Unknown larva

A moderate breeze with a minimum temperature of 10.5 Celsius.

A new* addition to the garden was Small Clouded Brindle, which was rather tatty and had me thinking for a while. There was another Lime Hawk-moth after one yesterday.

1979 Lime Hawk-moth

2106 Bright-line Brown-eye

2331* Small Clouded Brindle

Larva lurking in the Lupins

Something has been munching on the Lupin leaves - any ideas would be gratefully considered...

Unknown Larva

List for SP9326: 02/06/11

1428    Bee Moth    1

1711    Treble Brown Spot    1

1937    Willow Beauty    1
1979    Lime Hawk-moth    1

2089    Heart And Dart    23

2098    The Flame   1

2102    Flame Shoulder    1

2160    Bright-line Brown-eye    1

2199    Common Wainscot    1
2321    Dark Arches    1

2331*  Small Clouded Brindle    1

2333    Large Nutmeg      8

2337x  Marbled Minor agg.     2

2387    Mottled Rustic    2

Total: 14 species
+ pug sp. (2)

SP9326: 01/06/11

Warm early on, with a low of 9 Celsius.

Marbled Orchard Tortrix  and Straw Dot were new* for the garden.

1083* Marbled Orchard Tortrix
Hedya nubiferana

1979 Lime Hawk-moth

2088 Heart and Club

2333 Large Nutmeg

2334 Rustic Shoulder-Knot

List for SP9326: 01/06/11

  998    Epiphyas postvittana    1    (Light Brown Apple Moth)
1083*  Hedya nubiferana    2    (Marbled Orchard Tortrix)

1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    1

1301    Crambus lathoniellus    2

1711    Treble Brown Spot    1

1728    Garden Carpet    1

1817    Foxglove Pug    1

1937    Willow Beauty    2
1979    Lime Hawk-moth    1

2088    Heart and Club    1

2089    Heart And Dart    21

2098    The Flame    1

2126    Setaceous Hebrew Character    1

2333    Large Nutmeg    16
2334    Rustic Shoulder-knot    1

2337x  Marbled Minor agg.   2

2474*  Straw Dot    1

Total: 17 species
+ pug sp. (2)

SP9326: 31/05/11 - Silver line in (trap)

Another cool night with a minimum of 5.5 Celsius. The Brown Silver-line was new* for the garden.

1902 Brown Silver-line

List for SP9326: 31/05/11

1834    Common Pug    2
1902*  Brown Silver-line    1
1937    Willow Beauty    1
2089    Heart and Dart    8
2126    Setaceuos Hebrew Character    2
2333    Large Nutmeg    1

Total: 6 species