Pug for ID

I can't make my mind up about this pug, is at a Common?. Advice would be helpful. It has a wing span of 24mm.

A rather nicer picture of the same pug.

Species List for 29/4/2011

A few more moths including the first Orange Footman of the year, my earliest record by 15 days. Also the inevitable, what pugs that? see above.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
1651	Cilix glaucata	Chinese Character	1
1724	Xanthorhoe spadicearia	Red Twin-spot Carpet	1
1760	Chloroclysta siterata	Red-green Carpet	1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	2
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1
1906	Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	2
1936	Menophra abruptaria	Waved Umber	1
2043	Eilema sororcula	Orange Footman	1
2063	Diaphora mendica	Muslin Moth	1
2078	Nola confusalis	Least Black Arches	2
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	7
2186	Orthosia gracilis	Powdered Quaker	1
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	4
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	3
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	1

29 Moths of 15 Species, (15 Macro)

Species List for 28/4/2011

Only three moths of two species! Shuttle-shaped Dart is the 10th most common moth I've caught in the garden and Heart and Dart the 3rd.

Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)

Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	1
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	2

3 Moths of 2 Species, (2 Macro)

The top twenty most caught moths in the Hidden House Garden (2001-2011).

Rank	Code	Taxon	Vernacular
1	2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing
2	2126	Xestia c-nigrum	Setaceous Hebrew Character
3	2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart
4	2111	Noctua janthe	Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
5	2321	Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches
6	2441	Autographa gamma	Silver Y
7	2384	Hoplodrina ambigua	Vine's Rustic
8	2381	Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain
9	2343	Mesapamea secalis	Common Rustic
10	2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart
11	2109	Noctua comes	Lesser Yellow Underwing
12	2050	Eilema lurideola	Common Footman
13	1713	Idaea aversata	Riband Wave
14	2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker
15	2102	Ochropleura plecta	Flame Shoulder
16	2088	Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club
17	2134	Xestia xanthographa	Square-spot Rustic
18	2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character
19	2353	Luperina testacea	Flounced Rustic
20	2087	Agrotis segetum	Turnip Moth

Just for fun

I've added the list of moths I've caught every year we've been here. The change in the amount of effort is obvious. Each year has gaps while I've wandered the world birding. I've added, and will add more, pictures of some of the best, or my favourite moths from each year. Click on the year in the table on the right to access each year.

Species List for 27/4/2011

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse!

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
2063	Diaphora mendica	Muslin Moth	1
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	3
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	1

5 Moths of 3 Species, (3 Macro)

Species List for 26/4/2011

Heart and Dart was new for the year, but the rest have hibernated in the NE wind!

	Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
1	2063	Diaphora mendica	Muslin Moth	1
2	2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	1
3	2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	3
4	2186	Orthosia gracilis	Powdered Quaker	1
5	2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	1

7 Moths of 5 Species, (5 Macro.)

Species List for 25/4/2011

Exactly a year ago I wrote "I was disappointed this morning, after such a beautiful day yesterday I had hoped for a more interesting catch this morning. The temperature dropped to about 7 deg last night and the skies remained clear, resulting in another low number of both species and total number." I could have written exactly the same this morning! Last year I had 11 moths of seven species, but today it was worse, just 7 moths of 5 species!

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
1834	Eupithecia vulgata	Common Pug	1
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	2
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	2
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	1
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	1

7 Moths of 5 Species, (5 Macro.)

Species List for 24/4/2011

Currant Pug (Eupithecia assimilata)

A cooler night, clear and a 20mph N wind had a marked affect on the number of moths around. Only one geometer in 26 moths of just nine species.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
1832	Eupithecia assimilata	Currant Pug	1
2063	Diaphora mendica	Muslin Moth	1
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	6
2186	Orthosia gracilis	Powdered Quaker	2
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	9
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	1
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	2
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	3
2450	Abrostola tripartita	Spectacle	1

16 Moths of 9 Species, (9 Macro.)

Incurvaria oehlmanniella? No I. masculella.

I caught this micro last night. It's first for the site and seems a bit earlier than expected. Confirmation would be helpful. Thanks to Keith Tailby this is re-identified as a female Incurvaria masculella. The moths are similar but oehlmanniella has a larger yellowish marking on the costa, near the wing tip than the very small marking on this moth. Male masculella have comb-like or 'pectinate' antennae, a feature unusual amongst the 'micros'.

Incurvaria masculella

Common Pug

As this it the first of the year and the earliest date I've recorded this species confirmation that I've managed to get a pug right would be good. Nigel Jarman agrees, so I'm happy with that ID.

Species List for 23/4/2011

Eight new for the year, although the Dagger remains a species pair at the moment. The Incurvaria masculella is the first record for the site (confirmed above). |Nice to see the Puss moth.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
**130	Incurvaria mascullela		1
1724	Xanthorhoe spadicearia	Red Twin-spot Carpet	1
*1834	Eupithecia vulgata	Common Pug	1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	10
1858	Chloroclystis v-ata	V-Pug	1
*1887	Lomaspilis marginata	Clouded Border	1
1906	Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	2
1936	Menophra abruptaria	Waved Umber	2
*1995	Cerura vinula	Puss Moth	1
*2003	Notodonta ziczac	Pebble Prominent	1
*2007	Pheosia tremula	Swallow Prominent	1
*2060	Spilosoma lubricipeda	White Ermine	2
2063	Diaphora mendica	Muslin Moth	1
2078	Nola confusalis	Least Black Arches	1
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	4
2179	Panolis flammea	Pine Beauty	3
2186	Orthosia gracilis	Powdered Quaker	2
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	28
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	2
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	15
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	4
*2284x	Acronicta tridens/psi	Grey Dagger / Dark Dagger	1
2425	Colocasia coryli	Nut-tree Tussock	1

* new for year.
** new for site
85 Moths of 23 Species, (22 Macro and 1 Micro.)

Away from the Garden I say a Common Heath on the cliff-top at Langdon.

Species List for 22/4/2011

Eight new species for the year. The Brindled Pug explosion continued and the earliest Bordered Sallow I've recorded by 5 weeks. Still a couple of micros to sort out.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
998	Epiphyas postvittana	Light Brown Apple Moth	1
*1465	Nephopterix angustella		1
*1651	Cilix glaucata	Chinese Character	2
*1724	Xanthorhoe spadicearia	Red Twin-spot Carpet	1
1747	Anticlea derivata	Streamer	2
1760	Chloroclysta siterata	Red-green Carpet	2
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	42
1853	Eupithecia dodoneata	Oak-tree Pug	2
1858	Chloroclystis v-ata	V-Pug	1
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	2
*1883	Acasis viretata	Yellow-barred Brindle	2
*1906	Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	3
*1936	Menophra abruptaria	Waved Umber	4
*1958	Lomographa temerata	Clouded Silver	1
2078	Nola confusalis	Least Black Arches	6
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	2
2186	Orthosia gracilis	Powdered Quaker	7
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	37
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	2
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	13
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	6
2389	Paradrina clavipalpis	Pale Mottled Willow	1
*2399	Pyrrhia umbra	Bordered Sallow	1

* new for the year
141 Moths of 23 Species (21 Macro, 2 Micro)

Micro for ID. - White-shouldered House Moth

I caught this micro last night, it is about 9mm long. Any help welcome. Paul Boswell replied that it was White-shouldered House-moth, Endrosis sarcitrella, amoth that I of course and have caught before. It looked different to ones I remember, but it is quite an obvious moth.

Species List for 21/4/2011

Apart from the micro in the post above (now added) this was the list for last night. Like buses, new moths for the garden appear in groups, and last night a Grey shoulder-knot was my first record. Also new for the year were Endrosis sarcitrella, Agonopterix arenella, Scorched Carpet, Lunar Marbled Brown and Knot Grass.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
648	Endrosis sarcitrella	White-shouldered House Moth	2
697	Agonopterix arenella		1
998	Epiphyas postvittana	Light Brown Apple Moth	1
1747	Anticlea derivata	Streamer	1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	46
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	3
1888	Ligdia adustata	Scorched Carpet	1
2015	Drymonia ruficornis	Lunar Marbled Brown	1
2078	Nola confusalis	Least Black Arches	6
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	2
2186	Orthosia gracilis	Powdered Quaker	1
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	35
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	4
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	8
**2237	Lithophane ornitopus	Grey Shoulder-knot	1
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	1
2289	Acronicta rumicis	Knot Grass	1

** new for the site
112 Moths of 17 Species (14 Macro, 3 Micro)

Who Am I? - A Common Footman

This chap was on my MV trap this morning. It was about 16mm long.

Roger C. Kendrick said on UKMoths group: Looks like common footman. And it looks like he was right.

Species List for 20/4/2011

Two of my lights only ran for part of the night because of a tripped "fuse". Still a good number of Brindled Pugs and a Fern, new for the year.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
1747	Anticlea derivata	Streamer	3
1782	Horisme tersata	Fern	1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	16
1858	Chloroclystis v-ata	V-Pug	1
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1
2078	Nola confusalis	Least Black Arches	5
2179	Panolis flammea	Pine Beauty	1
2186	Orthosia gracilis	Powdered Quaker	1
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	23
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	3
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	9
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	1

65 Moths of 12 Species (12 Macro)

Species List for 19/4/2011

More Brindled Pugs, and new for the year, Pyrausta despicata, Currant Pug and Mullein.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
1288	Alucita hexadactyla	Twenty-plume Moth	1
1365	Pyrausta despicata		1
1728	Xanthorhoe fluctuata	Garden Carpet	1
1746	Anticlea badiata	Shoulder Stripe	1
1747	Anticlea derivata	Streamer	2
1832	Eupithecia assimilata	Currant Pug	1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	27
1858	Chloroclystis v-ata	V-Pug	1
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	6
2078	Nola confusalis	Least Black Arches	1
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	2
2186	Orthosia gracilis	Powdered Quaker	2
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	37
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	6
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	4
2221	Shargacucullia verbasci	Mullein	1
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	1
2306	Phlogophora meticulosa	Angle Shades	1
2425	Colocasia coryli	Nut-tree Tussock	1

97 Moths of 19 Species (17 Macro, 2 Micro)

Species List for 18/4/2011 Start of the Pug fest!

I haven't posted the list for the last three days until this evening as I've been waiting to sort out the Pugs that have appeared in increasing numbers. Nigel Jarman came round, and pleasingly confirmed that the majority were, as I thought, Brindled Pugs. They are a bit variable, especially as they seem to wear quite quickly. There were several new for the year, Red-green Carpet, Lime-speck, Brindled and V Pugs, Pale Mottled Willow and Seraphim, which was also new for the site. A second Blossom Underwing was a surprise, as were the eggs it laid in the tube.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
1524	Emmelina monodactyla		1
1760	Chloroclysta siterata	Red-green Carpet	1
1825	Eupithecia centaureata	Lime-speck Pug	1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug	6
1858	Chloroclystis v-ata	V-Pug	2
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	4
**1879	Lobophora halterata	Seraphim	1
1917	Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn	1
2063	Diaphora mendica	Muslin Moth	2
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	1
2183	Orthosia miniosa	Blossom Underwing	1
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	24
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	3
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	3
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	3
2389	Paradrina clavipalpis	Pale Mottled Willow	1

**New for the site
55 Moths of 16 Species (15 Macro, 1 Micro)

Species List for 17/4/2011

Looking though past years the catches I'm getting at the moment are typical for the date, and every year I feel some what disappointed hoping for more! In 2007 I did catch several Pearly Underwings in the first half of April, this was after the big influx in the second half of 2006. Apart from that the lists are pretty standard. Yesterday saw three new for the year, Nut-tree Tussock (second earliest I've had here), Shuttle-shaped Dark, the earliest since 2007, but only by a day or so and Muslin Moth, again 2007 was the earliest I've had but this year is about average.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
1746	Anticlea badiata	Shoulder Stripe	2
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1
2063	Diaphora mendica	Muslin Moth	2
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	2
2186	Orthosia gracilis	Powdered Quaker	1
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	7
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	1
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	2
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	4
2425	Colocasia coryli	Nut-tree Tussock	1

23 Moths of 10 Species (10 Macro)

Species List for 16/4/2011

Not a lot!

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
1728	Xanthorhoe fluctuata	Garden Carpet	1
1747	Anticlea derivata	Streamer	1
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	3
2078	Nola confusalis	Least Black Arches	1
2186	Orthosia gracilis	Powdered Quaker	2
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	11
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	4
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	5
2243	Xylocampa areola	Early Grey	4

32 Moths of 9 Species (9 Macro)