SP9326: 28/08/11 - Quiet

Another cool night with little of note. Minimum temperature 10.8 Celsius.

List for SP9326:  28/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    4
1304    Agriphila straminella    1
1305    Agriphila tristella    4
1309    Agriphila geniculea    1
1497    Amblyptilia acanthadactyla    1
1707    Small Dusty Wave    1
1742    Yellow Shell    2
1776    Green Carpet    1
1906    Brimstone Moth    2
1937    Willow Beauty    2
2107    Large Yellow Underwing    5
2134    Square-spot Rustic    2
2293    Marbled Beauty    3
2353    Flounced Rustic    4
2384    Vine's Rustic    2

Total: 15 species

SP9329: 28/08/11 - Sandhouse Lane NR

The following field observations were recorded around the site today. Only my second Silver Y of the year.

169 Six-spot Burnet

1345 Brown China-mark

1867 Treble-bar

List for SP9329: 28/08/11

  169    Six-spot Burnet    1
1304    Agriphila straminella    3
1305    Agriphila tristella    3
1345    Brown China-mark    1
1867    Treble-bar    1
2069    The Cinnabar    1    larva
2441    Silver Y    1

Total: 7 species

Stockgrove CP: 26/08/11 - Feathered Gothic

After another rain soaked day I joined a VC30 moth-meet at Stockgrove. It was already misty, cold, and expectations were low - we weren't disappointed on that front  ! There were very few moths around as the temperatures plummeted. The star of the show was a Feathered Gothic.

2178 Feathered Gothic

2033 Black Arches

Seurat and Van Gogh may have used the technique of pointillism, but nature got there first, as seen in this shot of Ypsolopha parenthesella.

460 Ypsolopha parenthesella

SP9326: 25/08/11 - Rain stopped play

The trap was run until 23:45 when rain set in.


List for SP9326: 25/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    1
1304    Agriphila straminella    1
1305    Agriphila tristella    7
1306    Agriphila inquinatella    1
1497    Amblyptilia acanthadactyla    1
1713    Riband Wave    1
1728    Garden Carpet    1
1738    Common Carpet    1
1742    Yellow Shell    1
1862    Double-striped Pug    1
1906    Brimstone Moth    1
1937    Willow Beauty    2
2092    Shuttle-shaped Dart    1
2107    Large Yellow Underwing    5
2109    Lesser Yellow Underwing    1
2111    Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing    2
2126    Setaceous Hebrew Character    2
2134    Square-spot Rustic    2
2297    Copper Underwing    2
2384    Vine's Rustic    1

Total: 20 species

SP9326: 24/08/11 - New carpet bagged

Although a common moth, the Green Carpet was new* for the garden. The first Copper Underwing and Six-striped Rustic for the year.

1331 Water Veneer

1776* Green Carpet

2087 Turnip Moth

2133 Six-striped Rustic

Dusk

List for 24/08/11


    15    Orange Swift    7
  658    Carcina quercana    1
1076    Celypha lacunana    1
1304    Agriphila straminella    2
1305    Agriphila tristella    25
1309    Agriphila geniculea    3
1331    Water Veneer    1
1356    Garden Pebble    1
1728    Garden Carpet    1
1742    Yellow Shell    4
1776*  Green Carpet    1
1862    Double-striped Pug    2
1906    Brimstone Moth    1
2087    Turnip Moth    1
2092    Shuttle-shaped Dart    1
2107    Large Yellow Underwing    8
2126    Setaceous Hebrew Character    2
2133    Six-striped Rustic    1
2134    Square-spot Rustic    1
2297    Copper Underwing    1
2353    Flounced Rustic    2
2384    Vine's Rustic    3

Total: 22 species

SP9326: 23/08/11 - Reasonable numbers

The first Old Lady of the year appeared, but did not stay.

1742 Yellow Shell

List for SP9326: 23/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    9
  972    Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix    1
1305    Agriphila tristella    23
1309    Agriphila geniculea    2
1344    Eudonia mercurella    1
1388    Udea lutealis    1
1524    Emmelina monodactyla    2
1728    Garden Carpet    1
1738    Common Carpet    1
1742    Yellow Shell    3
1862    Double-striped Pug    2
1937    Willow Beauty    4
2092    Shuttle-shaped Dart    1
2107    Large Yellow Underwing    9
2126    Setaceous Hebrew Character    2
2134    Square-spot Rustic    3
2293    Marbled Beauty    1
2300    Old Lady    1
2303    Straw Underwing    3
2321    Dark Arches    1
2353    Flounced Rustic    5
2384    Vine's Rustic    5

Total: 22 species

SP9326: 21/08/11 - Pyralid trio

After a fine day, the temperature dropped to 9 Celsius, with light airs.

A quiet night, the trap was unattended throughout, and not checked until well after day-break. Three members of the Pyraustinae were represented, Udea lutealis, Pyrausta purpuralis and a rather brown Pyrausta aurata.

1361 Pyrausta aurata

1362 Pyrausta purpuralis

1388 Udea lutealis

2134 Square-spot Rustic

2134 Square-spot Rustic

2160 Bright-line Brown-eye

List for SP9326: 21/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    8
1304    Agriphila straminella    1
1305    Agriphila tristella    9
1361    Pyrausta aurata    1
1362    Pyrausta purpuralis    1
1388    Udea lutealis    1
1738    Common Carpet    1
1742    Yellow Shell    2
1862    Double-striped Pug    1
1937    Willow Beauty    3
2092    Shuttle-shaped Dart    1
2111    Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing    1
2134    Square-spot Rustic    2
2160    Bright-line Brown-eye    1
2293    Marbled Beauty    3
2353    Flounced Rustic    1
2384    Vine's Rustic    3

Total: 17 species

SP9326: 19/08/11 - Lesser Wax Moth

Low of 12.2 Celsius, mild breeze at times.

Two new* moths for the garden - Lesser Wax Moth shows only 10 records on the NBN Gateway, and Cream-bordered Green Pea which, considering the amount of  Salix nearby, was overdue.

1426* Lesser Wax Moth

2418* Cream-bordered Green Pea

List for SP9326: 19/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    11
  648    White-shouldered House-moth    1
  658    Carcina quercana    1
  974    Argyrotaenia ljungiana    2
1048    Garden Rose Tortrix    1
1063    Celypha striana    1
1245    Grapholita Janthinana    1
1260    Cydia splendana    1
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    1
1304    Agriphila straminella    3
1305    Agriphila tristella    9
1309    Agriphila geniculea    1
1426*   Lesser Wax Moth    1
1439    Trachycera advenella    1
1713    Riband Wave    1
1742    Yellow Shell    1
1838    Tawny Speckled Pug    1
1906    Brimstone Moth    1
1937    Willow Beauty    4
2092    Shuttle-shaped Dart    1
2107    Large Yellow Underwing    3
2126    Setaceous Hebrew Character    4
2293    Marbled Beauty    6
2303    Straw Underwing    1
2343    Common Rustic    1
2384    Vine's Rustic    1
2418*   Cream-bordered Green Pea    1

Total: 27 species

Apple Leaf Miner - Cherry chomper

Although I've not seen the adult Apple Leaf Miner I did discover a leaf mine of this specie on a Prunus sp. forty yards from the garden. The mines are narrow and winding on various fruit trees, the frass is broken.

263 Apple Leaf Miner

SP9326: 18/08/11 Soap-Box

Grim reality hit home today as Mr Postie delivered a copy of a planning proposal to build 2160 dwellings and other associated concrete paraphernalia on greenbelt land east of my garden.
Key words such as 'Country Park' (read: 'dog turds/bite wounds'), 'Great-crested Newt mitigation' (read: 'never to be seen again') and 'Neutral Grassland' (read: 'shorn to within an inch of its life every 45 seconds') leapt from the page.

As a full-time NIMBY-ist, I didn't (as you may expect) leap on the keyboard and compose an email of fiery rhetoric about 'how it should be'.
No. Instead, I sought my 'Crystal Ball for the Pragmatist' and saw a vision of the future - it was a blog entry !
I couldn't quite see all of the detail due to swirling mist, and poor eyesight, but the entry went something like this:

The coolest night since early February - minimum 25 Celsius

List for SP9326: 20/07/2021

  647    Brown House-moth    17
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    250

Total: 2 species
+ 4 East-European sp. TBI 

Anyway - mustn't grumble  :-(

Back to the present -
Minimum 8.0 Celsius.

A dismal showing - not surprising after the rain set in for the day.

1076 Celypha lacunana

2087 Turnip Moth

2353 Flounced Rustic

List for SP9326: 18/08/11

  647    Brown House-moth    1
1076    Celypha lacunana    1
1305    Agriphila tristella    4
1742    Yellow Shell    1
2087    Turnip Moth    1
2111    Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing    2
2353    Flounced Rustic    3

Total: 7 species

SP9326: 17/08/11 - A reasonable catch

Minimum temp. 9 Celsius.
An interesting sallow sky at dusk preceded the first Centre-barred Sallow of the year - Autumn is surely not far off.

Dusk

2269 Centre-barred Sallow

1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla

1707 Small Dusty Wave

List for SP9326: 17/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    1
  647    Brown House-moth    2
1020x  Cnephasia agg.    1
1304    Agriphila straminella    7
1305    Agriphila tristella    4
1306    Agriphila inquinatella    1
1344    Eudonia mercurella    1
1405    Mother of Pearl    1
1497    Amblyptilia acanthadactyla    1
1524    Emmelina monodactyla    1
1707    Small Dusty Wave    1
1728    Garden Carpet    1
1738    Common Carpet    1
1906    Brimstone Moth    1
1937    Willow Beauty    6
2111    Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing    1
2269    Centre-barred Sallow    1
2293    Marbled Beauty    1
2303    Straw Underwing    2
2321    Dark Arches    1
2343x  Common Rustic agg.    1
2353    Flounced Rustic    1
2384    Vine's Rustic    1

Total: 23 species

SP9326: 15/08/11 - Oblique Carpet

There was a small Geometrid in the trap that I didn't recognise when I got home from work at 02:30. I potted it for further study the following morning and it turned out to be a complete surprise - Oblique Carpet !

It frequents bogs, fens and marshes, the larvae feeding on bedstraws. There are two generations: months 5/6 and 7/8.

The recorders have agreed, in principle, with the ID, but will view the specimen for confirmation. The last county record was in 1973.

1719* Oblique Carpet
Orthonama vittata

1719* Oblique Carpet
Orthonama vittata

Previous records for Bedfordshire on the NBN Gateway are:

Date	Site	GridRef	Recorder	Habitat
1964	Bedford, Rosamond Rd	TL04	Champkin, W.J.	garden
1965	Stevington	SP991535	Champkin, W.J.	water meadows
1965	Putnoe Wood	TL069526	Champkin, W.J.	small mixed wood
1972	Whipsnade Zoo	TL01	Arnold, V.	chalk downland
1972/73	Whipsnade Zoo	TL005175	Martin, A.	chalk downs
1973	Bromham, Moor End	TL05	Arnold, V.	garden

List for SP9326: 15/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    4

1304    Agriphila straminella    3

1305    Agriphila tristella    6

1306    Agriphila inquinatella    1

1313    Catoptria pinella    2

1719*  Oblique Carpet    1

1738    Common Carpet    2

1825    Lime-speck Pug    2

1906    Brimstone Moth    2

1937    Willow Beauty    4

2107    Large Yellow Underwing    1

2293    Marbled Beauty    1

2303    Straw Underwing    2

2321    Dark Arches    1

Total: 14 species

SP9326: 14/08/11 - Two new additions

The temperature dropped rapidly to 9.8 Celsius, the wind rose, and the moon was three-quarters. Despite all this it was a fair turnout.

The pyralid Orthopygia glaucinalis and a Tawny-barred Angle were new* to the garden. A second appearance of Gelechia senticetella.

801a Gelechia senticetella

1354 Small China-mark

1415*    Orthopygia glaucinalis

1893* Tawny-barred Angle

List for SP9326: 14/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    4
  801a  Gelechia senticetella    1
  998    Light Brown Apple Moth    1
1260    Cydia splendana    1
1304    Agriphila straminella    8
1305    Agriphila tristella    7
1306    Agriphila inquinatella    3
1331    Water Veneer    1
1344    Eudonia mercurella    1
1354    Small China-mark    1 f
1356    Garden Pebble    1
1415*  Orthopygia glaucinalis    1
1424    Endotricha flammealis    1
1439    Trachycera advenella    1
1713    Riband Wave    3
1825    Lime-speck Pug    1
1862    Double-striped Pug    3
1893*  Tawny-barred Angle    1
1906    Brimstone Moth    1
1936    Waved Umber    1
1937    Willow Beauty    2
2011    Pale Prominent    1
2064    Ruby Tiger    1
2092    Shuttle-shaped Dart    1
2107    Large Yellow Underwing    1
2111    Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing    1
2293    Marbled Beauty    2
2303    Straw Underwing    4
2321    Dark Arches    1
2343x  Common Rustic agg.    1

Total: 30 species

SP9326: 10/08/11 - Decent catch

Warmer, with a minimum of 13.3 Celsius accompanied by a blustery south-westerly wind.

No surprises, but first of year for Vine's and Flounced Rustics.

647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella

2384 Vine's Rustic

List for SP9326: 10/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    1
  453    Honeysuckle Moth    1
  647    Hofmannophila pseudospretella    1
  648    White-shouldered House-moth    1
  974    Argyrotaenia ljungiana    1
1304    Agriphila straminella    4
1305    Agriphila tristella    4
1306    Agriphila inquinatella    2
1344    Eudonia mercurella    1
1405    Mother of Pearl    2
1424    Endotricha flammealis    1
1742    Yellow Shell    1
1862    Double-striped Pug    1
1906    Brimstone Moth    1
1937    Willow Beauty    5
2006    Lesser Swallow Prominent    1
2064    Ruby Tiger    2
2102    Flame Shoulder    1
2111    Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing    2
2126    Setaceous Hebrew Character    1
2293    Marbled Beauty    2
2303    Straw Underwing    3
2321    Dark Arches    4
2341    Cloaked Minor    2
2343x  Common Rustic agg.    1
2353    Flounced Rustic    1
2381x  Uncertain/Rustic agg.    1
2384    Vine's Rustic    1

Total: 28 species

SP9326: 09/08/11 - Cramming

Minimum temperature: 8.6 Celsius.

As with the last few nights it was quiet - most of the moths arrived before 01:00. It is only my third season and new moths are expected each night - but not always realised ! So, after an hour of research on one tortricid, Epinotia nisella was identified as new* for the garden. A variable moth, this individual has a broad, orange mark halfway down the forewing (form decorana). What I have noticed is the very fine dark vermiculations, towards the termen, on many of the images.

1138 Epinotia nisella

A closer look at some of the  commoner Crambinae - well... those that turned up in the trap last night !

1293 Chrysotuechia culmella

1304 Agriphila straminella

1305 Agriphila tristella

1306 Agriphila inquinatella

1313 Catoptria pinella

List for SP9326: 09/08/11

1138*   Epinotia nisella    1
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    1
1304    Agriphila straminella    4
1305    Agriphila tristella    8
1306    Agriphila inquinatella    1
1313    Catoptria pinella    1
1331    Water Veneer    2
1344    Eudonia mercurella    1
1405    Mother of Pearl    2
1428    Bee Moth    1
1738    Common Carpet    1
1862    Double-striped Pug    2
1937    Willow Beauty    2
2006    Lesser Swallow Prominent    1
2092    Shuttle-shaped Dart    3
2102    Flame Shoulder    1
2126    Setaceous Hebrew Character    1
2293    Marbled Beauty    2
2303    Straw Underwing    2
2343    Common Rustic    1

Total: 20 species
+ 1 TBI

SP9326: 08/08/11 - New: Ypsolopha dentella

After an early rain shower the weather settled down, but the bothersome wind remained. The minimum temperature was a lousy 10.3 Celsius.

It was not exactly a 'riot' in SP9326 with only one new* for the garden - Honeysuckle Moth.

453* Ypsolopha dentella

List for SP9326: 08/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    2
  453    Ypsolopha dentella    1    (Honeysuckle Moth)
  873    Blastobasis adustella    1
  974    Argyrotaenia ljungiana    1
1036    Acleris forsskaleana    1
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    2
1304    Agriphila straminella    6
1305    Agriphila tristella    3
1306    Agriphila inquinatella    2
1344    Eudonia mercurella    1
1356    Garden Pebble    1
1497    Amblyptilia acanthadactyla    1
1713    Riband Wave    1
1742    Yellow Shell    3
1937    Willow Beauty    4
2092    Shuttle-shaped Dart    3
2107    Large Yellow Underwing    1
2303    Straw Underwing    5
2321    Dark Arches    1
2343x  Common Rustic agg.    2

Total: 20 species

SP9326: 07/08/11

Unable to set trap for the last five nights - and now the weather has turned cool and showery ! Minimum of 9 Celsius...

A poor catch, but Currant Pug was new for the garden. A worn specimen, but enough information to separate from Wormwood - larger discal spot, a forewing of 9mm and narrower wing breadth, etc.

1832* Currant Pug

List for SP9326: 07/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    3
  647    Brown House-moth    1
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    4
1305    Agriphila tristella    2
1306    Agriphila inquinatella    3
1713    Riband Wave    3
1832*  Currant Pug    1
1937    Willow Beauty    3
2064    Ruby Tiger    2
2092    Shuttle-shaped Dart    1
2111    Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing    1
2293    Marbled Beauty    1
2303    Straw Underwing    1
2321    Dark Arches    1

Total: 14 species

SP9326: 01/08/11

The year marches on and a small heatwave saw another warm night, with a minimum of 15.5 Celcius.

A large catch by chez moi standards - close attention to the trap in to the small hours, combined with an early rise near dawn, resulted in a good selection of micros.

Six new* moths for the garden were as follows:

Hiding under the last egg tray, and the sole new macro, was Bulrush Wainscot.

What appears to be Argyresthia semifusca - which i'll double-check with DVM - showing a hint of the characteristic slight purplish tinge; the larvae feed on hawthorn and rowan of which both are close by.

The white head/palps of Cochylis dubitana separate this moth from two other similar species.
A Rhomboid Tortrix which I'd last seen in TL0024 a week back.

A long overdue Gold Triangle was very flighty - but complimented the wallpaper !

I'd spent some time identifying (unsuccessfully) Eudemis profundana - only to see one staring out of the page while surfing Trent's blog - thanks Trent !

419*    Argyresthia semifusca

964* Cochylis dubitana

1042* Rhomboid Tortrix

1113* Eudemis profundana

1413* Gold Triangle

2369* Bulrush Wainscot

List for SP9326: 01/08/11

    15    Orange Swift    1
  419*   Argyresthia semifusca    1
  464    Diamond-back Moth    1
  642    Batia unitella    3
  658    Carcina quercana    1
  870x   Oegoconia agg.    1
  964*   Cochylis dubitana    1
  974    Argyrotaenia ljungiana    3
  994    Clepsis consimilana    2
  998    Light Brown Apple Moth    1
1010    Red-barred Tortrix    2
1042*   Rhomboid Tortrix    1
1108    Lobesia abscisana    1

1113*   Eudemis profundana    1
1183    Epiblema foenella    1
1261    Codling Moth    2
1293    Chrysoteuchia culmella    7
1304    Agriphila straminella    8
1305    Agriphila tristella    2
1306    Agriphila inquinatella    5
1313    Catoptria pinella    2
1344    Eudonia mercurella    5
1361    Pyrausta aurata    3
1405    Mother of Pearl    2
1413*   Gold Triangle    1
1424    Endotricha flammealis    4
1439    Trachycera advenella    1
1452    Phycita roborella    1
1634    The Lackey    1
1690    Small Blood-vein    1
1708    Single-dotted Wave    1
1713    Riband Wave    4
1738    Common Carpet    3
1742    Yellow Shell    2
1825    Lime-speck Pug    1
1906    Brimstone Moth    1
1936    Waved Umber    1
2006    Lesser Swallow Prominent    1
2031    White Satin Moth    1
2050    Common Footman    1
2064    Ruby Tiger    5
2092    Shuttle-shaped Dart    5
2110    Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing    1
2134    Square-spot Rustic    2
2193    The Clay    1
2293    Marbled Beauty    3
2303    Straw Underwing    6
2321    Dark Arches    2
2341    Cloaked Minor    2
2343x  Common Rustic agg.    1
2369*   Bulrush Wainscot    1
2381x  Uncertain/Rustic agg.    1

Total: 52 species
+ 2 TBI