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.


Thursday 31 July 2014

Species List for 30/7/2014

After the Diamond-back surplus, it's the turn of Blastobasis adustella to appear in increasing numbers. The star of the show today was my first Dusky Hook-tip, an uncommon immigrant. There was a total of 350 moths of 70 species, including 106 micros of 21 species.

 Dusky Hook-tip

Pebble Prominent

Early Thorn

Swallow Prominent


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
455 Ypsolopha scabrella 1
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House Moth 1
787 Bryotropha terrella 1
873 Blastobasis adustella 58
937 Agapeta hamana 1
970 Pandemis cerasana Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 1
972 Pandemis heparana Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 8
1036 Acleris forsskaleana 1
1063 Celypha striana 4
1260 Cydia splendana 5
1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 3
1304 Agriphila straminella 9
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 1
1344 Eudonia mercurella 2
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 1
1424 Endotricha flammealis 3
1428 Aphomia sociella Bee Moth 1
1438 Trachycera suavella 1 NFY
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2
1649 Drepana curvatula Dusky Hook-tip 1 NFS
1669 Hemithea aestivaria Common Emerald 1
1699 Idaea rusticata atrosignaria Least Carpet 1
1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 3
1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 18
1724 Xanthorhoe spadicearia Red Twin-spot Carpet 1
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 1
1804 Perizoma bifaciata Barred Rivulet 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 2
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
1921 Crocallis elinguaria Scalloped Oak 1
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 2
2003 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 1
2007 Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent 1
2044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 5
2047 Eilema complana Scarce Footman 1
2050 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 2
2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 1
2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 2
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 1
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 2
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 18
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 3
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 12
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 5
2110 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2
2110a Noctua janthina Langmaid's Yellow Underwing 1
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 37
2112 Noctua interjecta Least Yellow Underwing 7
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2
2128 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot 12
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 1
2154 Mamestra brassicae Cabbage Moth 1
2164 Hecatera bicolorata Broad-barred White 2
2193 Mythimna ferrago Clay 3
2284x Acronicta tridens/psi Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger 2
2291 Craniophora ligustri Coronet 1
2295 Cryphia muralis Marbled Green 4
2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 3
2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 1
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 5
2341 Mesoligia furuncula Cloaked Minor 1
2343 Mesapamea secalis Common Rustic 47
2381 Hoplodrina alsines Uncertain 2
2382 Hoplodrina blanda Rustic 8
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 12
2449 Abrostola triplasia Dark Spectacle 1
2489 Zanclognatha tarsipennalis Fan-foot 1

Wednesday 30 July 2014

Species List for 29/7/2014

Good to have a reasonable night, albeit a bit colder, down to 16 deg C, than the previous few nights. Another Cochylis species, but this one looked different around the head and thorax, being whiter. I've not chopped it up, but it looks more like pallidana to me. Altogether there were 404 moths of 72 species, of which there were 112 micro moths of 22 species.

 Amblyptilia punctidactyla

 Dark Spectacle

 Cochylis pallidana - My identification from pictures, I've not dissected it, as it now has its freedom.

 Lathronympha strigana

Iron Prominent

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
426 Yponomeuta malinellus Apple Ermine 3
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
787 Bryotropha terrella 2
873 Blastobasis adustella 35
874 Blastobasis lacticolella 2
937 Agapeta hamana 3
967 Cochylis pallidana 1 NFS
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 21
1010 Ditula angustiorana Red-barred Tortrix 1
1048 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 1
1063 Celypha striana 1
1219 Lathronympha strigana 1
1260 Cydia splendana 1
1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 1
1302 Crambus perlella 2
1304 Agriphila straminella 15
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 2
1344 Eudonia mercurella 8
1375 Ostrinia nubilalis European Corn Borer 1
1424 Endotricha flammealis 7
1438 Trachycera suavella 1
1498 Amblyptilia punctidactyla 2
1651 Cilix glaucata Chinese Character 1
1673 Hemistola chrysoprasaria Small Emerald 1
1682 Timandra comae Blood-vein 1
1699 Idaea rusticata atrosignaria Least Carpet 5
1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 7
1708 Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave 4
1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 41
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 1
1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 1
1825 Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck Pug 3
1830 Eupithecia absinthiata Wormwood Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
1921 Crocallis elinguaria Scalloped Oak 1
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 1
2000 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1
2026 Orgyia antiqua Vapourer 1
2044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 9
2047 Eilema complana Scarce Footman 2
2050 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 4
2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 2
2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 1
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 14
2098 Axylia putris Flame 1
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 11
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 7
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 6
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 35
2112 Noctua interjecta Least Yellow Underwing 4
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 5
2155 Melanchra persicariae Dot Moth 2
2193 Mythimna ferrago Clay 6
2279 Acronicta aceris Sycamore 1
2284x Acronicta tridens/psi Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger 4
2289 Acronicta rumicis Knot Grass 2
2291 Craniophora ligustri Coronet 4
2295 Cryphia muralis Marbled Green 3
2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 1
2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 2
2319 Cosmia pyralina Lunar-spotted Pinion 1
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 13
2343 Mesapamea secalis Common Rustic 67
2352 Eremobia ochroleuca Dusky Sallow 1
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 1
2381 Hoplodrina alsines Uncertain 2
2382 Hoplodrina blanda Rustic 2
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 4
2449 Abrostola triplasia Dark Spectacle 1
2489 Zanclognatha tarsipennalis Fan-foot 1

Tuesday 29 July 2014

Rain Stopped play, resumption tonight.

After two days when the weather was bad enough to deter me from mothing I've got the traps out tonight. I have still managed to add one species to the year list by having a good look at some photos from a couple of nights ago.
 Cochylis dubitana

Providing I've got it right this is 964 -Cochylis dubitana. I've actually caught this for the last two or three nights, but only managed a proper photo for an identification from the last trapping session.

Sunday 27 July 2014

Species List for 26/7/2013

A total of 675 moths of 99 species, including 215 micro moths of 36 species. It was a warm night with a minimum temp of 18.1 deg C.

 Tree-lichen Beauty

 Chocolate-tip

Agapeta zoegana


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
389 Choreutis pariana Apple Leaf Skeletoniser 1 NFS
424 Yponomeuta evonymella Bird-cherry Ermine 5
426 Yponomeuta malinellus Apple Ermine 1
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 21
647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House Moth 2
658 Carcina quercana 1
697 Agonopterix arenella 1
787 Bryotropha terrella 3
873 Blastobasis adustella 60
874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
937 Agapeta hamana 2
938 Agapeta zoegana 1 NFY
970 Pandemis cerasana Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 1
973 Pandemis dumetana 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 17
1001 Lozotaeniodes formosanus 1
1036 Acleris forsskaleana 3
1063 Celypha striana 3
1201 Eucosma cana 1
1260 Cydia splendana 10
1262 Cydia amplana 1
1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 6
1302 Crambus perlella 12
1304 Agriphila straminella 28
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 4
1344 Eudonia mercurella 7
1361 Pyrausta aurata 3
1363 Pyrausta ostrinalis 1 NFY
1376 Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie 1
1378 Phlyctaenia coronata 3
1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 2
1415 Orthopygia glaucinalis 1
1424 Endotricha flammealis 5
1441 Oncocera semirubella 2
1458 Myelois circumvoluta Thistle Ermine 1
1483 Phycitodes binaevella 2
1651 Cilix glaucata Chinese Character 2
1653 Habrosyne pyritoides Buff Arches 3
1673 Hemistola chrysoprasaria Small Emerald 2
1682 Timandra comae Blood-vein 1
1690 Scopula imitaria Small Blood-vein 1
1699 Idaea rusticata atrosignaria Least Carpet 11
1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 3
1707 Idaea seriata Small Dusty Wave 2
1708 Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave 5
1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 47
1724 Xanthorhoe spadicearia Red Twin-spot Carpet 1
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 2
1825 Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck Pug 2
1830 Eupithecia absinthiata Wormwood Pug 1
1835 Eupithecia tripunctaria White-spotted Pug 1
1883 Acasis viretata Yellow-barred Brindle 1
1888 Ligdia adustata Scorched Carpet 1 NFY
1922 Ourapteryx sambucaria Swallow-tailed Moth 2
1976 Sphinx ligustri Privet Hawk-moth 1
1981 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 1
2007 Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent 1
2019 Clostera curtula Chocolate-tip 1 NFY
2030 Euproctis similis Yellow-tail 2
2044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 8
2047 Eilema complana Scarce Footman 1
2049 Eilema depressa Buff Footman 2
2050 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 7
2057 Arctia caja Garden Tiger 1
2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 2
2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 2
2067 Euplagia quadripunctaria Jersey Tiger 1
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 4
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 23
2098 Axylia putris Flame 1
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 7
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 36
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 18
2110 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 68
2112 Noctua interjecta Least Yellow Underwing 3
2128 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot 2
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 2
2155 Melanchra persicariae Dot Moth 5
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 2
2193 Mythimna ferrago Clay 9
2198 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 4
2284x Acronicta tridens/psi Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger 9
2289 Acronicta rumicis Knot Grass 3
2291 Craniophora ligustri Coronet 5
2292 Cryphia algae Tree-lichen Beauty 2
2297 Amphipyra pyramidea Copper Underwing 1 NFY
2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 13
2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 3
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 24
2343 Mesapamea secalis Common Rustic 51
2352 Eremobia ochroleuca Dusky Sallow 3
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 2
2381 Hoplodrina alsines Uncertain 9
2382 Hoplodrina blanda Rustic 12
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 16
2450 Abrostola tripartita Spectacle 1
2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 1
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 2

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