Passenger, caught 23/9/2006 (National moth night).

Mothing at St Margaret's

Most of the Moth lists and Photographs are from my garden (TR359450) in the village of St Margaret's at Cliffe in Kent. It is situated about 1Km from the sea and has farmland with in 100 metres. The garden is well shrubbed and about 1600 sq metres. I normally run a 125 MV lamp and a 15W actinic light over-night and once the season gets going a couple of other traps. At the moment both are 25W black Lamps. previously I used a 160W blended lamp in one of them. All traps are home made. Trapping dates refer to the date the trap was put out.

Trap Update in 2017. A new 125W MV Robinson was added to a 125W MV Skinner, 15W Actinic Skinner, two 80W MV Morris modified Skinners and a 80W MVMorris Box trap.
Traps are now (2020 onwards) 2x 125W Robinsons, 2x 80W Skinner type and 1x 15W Actinic strip light on a Skinner type .

I try and identify all the Macro Moths, with the micros I am not at all systematic, I do more than I used to with the help of the new book, but there are some that do get through.


Saturday 30 April 2011

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)

Friday 29 April 2011

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

Thursday 28 April 2011

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.)

Tuesday 26 April 2011

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.)

Monday 25 April 2011

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.)

Sunday 24 April 2011

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.

Saturday 23 April 2011

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)

Friday 22 April 2011

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.

Thursday 21 April 2011

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)

Monday 18 April 2011

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)

Sunday 17 April 2011

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)

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