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 31 May 2014

Species List for 30/5/2014

A cooler night with the min temp of 9.3 deg C. Four new species for the year, two micros and two macros, in  total of 111 moths.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
17 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 2
697 Agonopterix arenella 1
874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1 NFY
970 Pandemis cerasana Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 1 NFY
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 5
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 1
1063 Celypha striana 2
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 4
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 1
1711 Idaea trigeminata Treble Brown Spot 1 NFY
1724 Xanthorhoe spadicearia Red Twin-spot Carpet 1
1727 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 4
1819 Eupithecia exiguata Mottled Pug 2
1835 Eupithecia tripunctaria White-spotted Pug 1
1883 Acasis viretata Yellow-barred Brindle 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 4
1992 Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk-moth 1
2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 2
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 40
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 3
2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 3
2147 Hada plebeja Shears 1
2157 Lacanobia w-latinum Light Brocade 2
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 2
2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 2
2331 Apamea unanimis Small Clouded Brindle 1
2334 Apamea sordens Rustic Shoulder-knot 1
2337x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 2
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 9
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 2
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1
2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 1 NFY

Friday 30 May 2014

Species List for 29/5/2014

Another reasonable night with a min temp of 12.7 deg C. Six new moths for the year, two micros and four macros in 209 moths of 47 species, 11 micros and 36 macros.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
17 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 5
647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House Moth 3
697 Agonopterix arenella 2
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 27
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 5
1063 Celypha striana 2
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 1
1301 Crambus lathoniellus 1
1333 Scoparia pyralella 2 NFY
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 2 NFY
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 1
1707 Idaea seriata Small Dusty Wave 1
1709 Idaea subsericeata Satin Wave 1 NFY
1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 1 NFY
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 8
1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1
1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 2
1807 Perizoma albulata Grass Rivulet 1
1819 Eupithecia exiguata Mottled Pug 2
1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 10
1837 Eupithecia subfuscata Grey Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1920 Odontopera bidentata Scalloped Hazel 1
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 2
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 2
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 3
1976 Sphinx ligustri Privet Hawk-moth 1 NFY
2043 Eilema sororcula Orange Footman 2
2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 3
2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 4
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 46
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 6
2098 Axylia putris Flame 5
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 1
2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 1 NFY
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2
2147 Hada plebeja Shears 7
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2334 Apamea sordens Rustic Shoulder-knot 7
2337x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 5
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 16
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 8
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1
2422 Pseudoips prasinana Green Silver-lines 1
2450 Abrostola tripartita Spectacle 1

Thursday 29 May 2014

Species List for 28/5/2014

A better evening with a min temp of 12.2 deg C.127 moths of 37 species, the only "new for the year" was a Dark Arches.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
17 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 4
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 13
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 5
1376 Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie 1
1724 Xanthorhoe spadicearia Red Twin-spot Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 10
1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 1
1819 Eupithecia exiguata Mottled Pug 1
1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 3
1837 Eupithecia subfuscata Grey Pug 2
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 2
1936 Menophra abruptaria Waved Umber 1
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 3
1957 Lomographa bimaculata White-pinion Spotted 1
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 1
1992 Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk-moth 3
2043 Eilema sororcula Orange Footman 1
2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 3
2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 3
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 18
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 3
2098 Axylia putris Flame 1
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2
2147 Hada plebeja Shears 5
2157 Lacanobia w-latinum Light Brocade 1
2164 Hecatera bicolorata Broad-barred White 1
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 3
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 1 NFY
2334 Apamea sordens Rustic Shoulder-knot 3
2337x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 2
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 16
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 6
2387 Caradrina morpheus Mottled Rustic 1
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1

Wednesday 28 May 2014

Species List for 27/5/14

A cooler day and a min temp of  11.3 deg C. 70 moths of 21 species, White-point being the only year addition.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
17 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 6
697 Agonopterix arenella 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 2
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 1
1835 Eupithecia tripunctaria White-spotted Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1920 Odontopera bidentata Scalloped Hazel 1
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 1
1936 Menophra abruptaria Waved Umber 1
2043 Eilema sororcula Orange Footman 1
2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 2
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 17
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 5
2098 Axylia putris Flame 2
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 4
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 5
2147 Hada plebeja Shears 1
2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 1 NFY
2334 Apamea sordens Rustic Shoulder-knot 1
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 15

Tuesday 27 May 2014

Species List for 26/5/2014

A wet day, followed by a damp night and soggy egg boxes. A min temp of 12.7 deg C and a moderate to fresh breeze gusting up to a strong breeze meant that the catch was a very moderate 66 moths of 18 species. The main interest for my two apprentice mothers, Jack and Josh, was the black Peppered Moth that compared nicely with the more normal ones also caught.


17 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 7
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1342 Eudonia angustea 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 3
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 4
1936 Menophra abruptaria Waved Umber 1
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 1
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1
2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 2
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 13
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 7
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 4
2334 Apamea sordens Rustic Shoulder-knot 1
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 14
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Monday 26 May 2014

Species List for 25/5/2014

A total of 136 individuals of 37 species, including three new for the year was a reasonable catch last night. The min temp was 12.5 deg C. I've adjusted the total number of moths down five for last year after finding a typing error while doing my year return for Kent. 


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
17 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 3
697 Agonopterix arenella 4
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 19
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 2    
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 5
1301 Crambus lathoniellus 2 NFY
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 2
1376 Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie 1
1707 Idaea seriata Small Dusty Wave 1
1727 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 1    
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 2
1819 Eupithecia exiguata Mottled Pug 1
1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 4
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 1
1936 Menophra abruptaria Waved Umber 1
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 4
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 2
1992 Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk-moth 1
2043 Eilema sororcula Orange Footman 4
2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 7
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
2078 Nola confusalis Least Black Arches 1
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 21
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 7
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
2147 Hada plebeja Shears 1
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 2
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 2
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 1 NFY
2334 Apamea sordens Rustic Shoulder-knot 3
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 22
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 2
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1
2399 Pyrrhia umbra Bordered Sallow 1 NFY

Sunday 25 May 2014

Species List for 24/5/2014

Slightly cooler, 11.8 deg C with just a gentle breeze. 44 moths of 23 species, including four new for the year.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
17 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 2
714 Agonopterix yeatiana 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1063 Celypha striana 1 NFY   
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 1
1342 Eudonia angustea 1
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 1 NFY
1651 Cilix glaucata Chinese Character 2
1724 Xanthorhoe spadicearia Red Twin-spot Carpet 2
1819 Eupithecia exiguata Mottled Pug 1    
1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 1
1837 Eupithecia subfuscata Grey Pug 1 NFY
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1 NFY
2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 1
2078 Nola confusalis Least Black Arches 1
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 3
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 5
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 1
2147 Hada plebeja Shears 2
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 2
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 8
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1

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