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.


Sunday 7 December 2014

Species List for 6/12/2014


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1

Species "list" for 5/12/2014


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1

Species List for 4/12/2014

After two blank nights, two moths.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1

Species "list" for 1/12/2014



Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998Epiphyas postvittanaLight Brown Apple Moth1

Species "list" for 30/11/2014

A single moth for the last day of November.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1

Species List for 29/11/14

A Turnip Moth was a surprise. Six moths of six species.


1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1
1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1

Species List for 28/11/2014

26 moths with four migrant species is exceptional for me. A change in wind diredtion and a cooler forecast may change all this.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 2
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 9
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 6
1631 Poecilocampa populi December Moth 2
1795x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 1
1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 2
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 1
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1
2259 Conistra ligula Dark Chestnut 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Species List for 27/11/2014

Another good moth night, and another six Rusty-dot Pearls. More surprisingly a Dark Arches.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 7
1631 Poecilocampa populi December Moth 1
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 1
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
2360x Amphipoea oculea agg. Ear Moth agg. 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Species List for 26/11/2014

Another food night for November with 16 moths of eight species, three of them migrants. Seven Rusty-dot Pearls was surprising.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 7
1631 Poecilocampa populi December Moth 1
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 1
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
2360x Amphipoea oculea agg. Ear Moth agg. 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Species List for 25/11/2014


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1

Species List for 24/11/2014

Still running two traps. I wonder how long this will go on for?


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 2
1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1

Species List for 23/11/2014

An indistinct Ear Moth. Since I don't do dissections it went on its way unidentified.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1
1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 3
2360x Amphipoea oculea agg. Ear Moth agg. 1

Species List for 22/11/2014

Wow! 38 moths including one new for the site.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 4
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 8
1157 Crocidosema plebejana 1 NFS
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 14
1631 Poecilocampa populi December Moth 1
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 2
1795x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 1
1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 3
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 1
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 2

Species List for 21/11/2014

Another four RDP's


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 2
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 4

Species List for 20/11/2014

A late DarkSword-grass and a cracking green-brindled Crescent.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 1
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1
2245 Allophyes oxyacanthae Green-brindled Crescent 1

Species List for 19/11/2014


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
714 Agonopterix yeatiana   1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 2
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 3
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1

Species List for 18/11/2014

A milder night andeight moths.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 2
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 2
1631 Poecilocampa populi December Moth 1
1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 1
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 1

Species List for 17/11/2014

Another six of the best but only one migrant.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 2
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1
1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 1
2259 Conistra ligula Dark Chestnut 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1

Species List for 16/11/2014

Six moths of five species, with three migrants, riches galore!


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 2
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1
2259 Conistra ligula Dark Chestnut 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Species List for 12/11/2014


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
1795 Epirrita dilutata November Moth 1

Species "list" for 9/11/2014

Another one!
 
Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1

Species "list" for 7/11/2014

Just one moth. The Rusty-dot Pearl invasion continues.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1

Species List for 3/11/2014

I thought it was about time I caught up with the mothing I've done here since The Scillies. I've run traps most dry nights, but there have been few moths on some.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1
1408 Palpita vitrealis 1

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Mothing at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, 31/10/2014

A windy night and therefore few moths, just 36 of ten species. In addition Jack found a Convoluvulus Hawk moth on a cottage wall down the road.

Convolvulus Hawk-moth

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 2
1716 Rhodometra sacraria Vestal 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 5
1972 Agrius convolvuli Convolvulus Hawk-moth 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 7
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 2
2255 Polymixis lichenea scillonea Feathered Ranunculus 13
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

 The various "traps" used over the week varied from the sophisiticated to the crude.

 I brought the Actinic tube and el;ectrics with the intention of finding a cardboard box in the shop to make a temporary trap, but on the way up from the Scillonian I found this plastic box in the dust-bin enclosure on Porth Mellon beach. During the week it attracted 384 moths of 27 species.


 A collapsible garden waste container, a piece of thin ply and a sawn off plastic funnel were the basis for this 80W MV trap. The electrics were taken from an old strip light and the cheapest waterproof box I could find. I fixed it on my tripod at night. It was usually higher than this, but I lowered it in the high wind. This is a "Heath Robinson" trap (my joke!). Rather disappointing in it's performance, as it missed all the real goodies, but did have the Mecyna asinalis, a tick for me. I placed it a sheltered part of the garden, where the light didn't shine in any windows, possible it was too hidden for the best results. During the week it attracted 341 moths of 28 species.

Pete, Jack and Josh's Heath trap came up with the goods, including the Slender Burnished Brass, Speckled Crimson and one of the Convolvulus Hawk-moths (the one today was on the wall of the cottage down the road where our friends, Alex, Jason and Katie, were staying). I was in a prime position, and although the vanes are nor good in high wind, it was well sheltered and stable.A clear view across the sea probably made it the number one target. During the week it attracted 491 moths of 38 species.


Sam's Heath trap was on site on the 29th and 30th, During two days it attracted 94 moths of 17 species.

Mothing at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, 30/10/2014

A slightly windier night produced a reduction in moth numbers. In total there were 225 moths of 28 species, using the four traps including Sam's Heath trap.The Vestals and P. vitiealis fest continued and the first, and only Small Mottled Willow arrived. Sam was pleased with two Pearly Underwings in his trap.

 Pearly Underwing
 
 Small Mottled Willow

 Grey Pine Carpet

Pearly Underwing and Dark Sword-grass


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
0278a Opogona omoscopa Present
648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 17
1157 Crocidosema plebejana 3
1342 Eudonia angustea 7
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 79
1408 Palpita vitrealis 3
1716 Rhodometra sacraria Vestal 2
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 7
1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 7
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 31
2119 Peridroma saucia Pearly Underwing 2
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 6
2203 Mythimna unipuncta White-speck 8
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 6
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 2
2255 Polymixis lichenea scillonea Feathered Ranunculus 23
2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 2
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 4
2375 Rhizedra lutosa Large Wainscot 4
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1
2385 Spodoptera exigua Small Mottled Willow 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 3

Mothing at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, 29/10/2014

Another new moth for me, a rather plain looking Pyralid, Mecyna asinalis. Three more Vestals demonstrated their variability, two more Vitrialis, one of my favourite Pyralids and first Dark Sword-grass of the week. The Lesser Yellow Underwings we caught were very distinctive, perhaps a particular Scilly colour morph. In total there were 318 moths of 34 species.We had an extra trap with Sam Perfect bringing his Heath trap to the garden.

Lesser Yellow Underwing

 Mecyna asinalis

 Rush Veneer

 Palpita vitrealis

Vestal

Dark Sword-grass


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
0278a Opogona omoscopa present
648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 5
1157 Crocidosema plebejana 6
1342 Eudonia angustea 8
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 108
1397 Mecyna asinalis 1
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 2
1408 Palpita vitrealis 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2
1716 Rhodometra sacraria Vestal 3
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 2
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 14
1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 6
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 6
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 1
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 60
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
2119 Peridroma saucia Pearly Underwing 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
2195 Mythimna vitellina Delicate 2
2203 Mythimna unipuncta White-speck 9
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 25
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
2255 Polymixis lichenea scillonea Feathered Ranunculus 30
2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 7
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 4
2375 Rhizedra lutosa Large Wainscot 3
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 2
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

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