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.


Monday 20 October 2014

Species List for 19/10/2014

just 22 moths of 12 species was disappointing on such a mild night. Single Diamond-backed moth and Delicate and two Silver Y's were the only migrants.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 1
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 1
2195 Mythimna vitellina Delicate 1
2245 Allophyes oxyacanthae Green-brindled Crescent 1
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 5
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 2
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 3
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 2

Sunday 19 October 2014

Species List for 18/10/2014

49 moths of 22 species, with no less than seven species of migrants, including two more Scarce-bordered Straws. 


 Scarce Bordered Straw

Scarce Bordered Straw
 
 Silver Y
 Four-spotted Footman (male)
Merveille du Jour

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 2
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
2051 Lithosia quadra Four-spotted Footman 1
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 5
2195 Mythimna vitellina Delicate 1
2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 1
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 1
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 3
2245 Allophyes oxyacanthae Green-brindled Crescent 2
2247 Dichonia aprilina Merveille du Jour 1
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 4
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 2
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 3
2400 Helicoverpa armigera Scarce Bordered Straw 2
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 9

Saturday 18 October 2014

Species List for 17/10/2014

Only 34 moths of 18 species, but a nice selection of migrants, including my first Scarce Bordered Straw of the year. 

 Scarce Bordered Straw

Delicate

 Rusty-dot Pearl

Palpita vitrealis



Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 8
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 4
1408 Palpita vitrealis 1
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1
1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2
2195 Mythimna vitellina Delicate 1
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 3
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 2
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2400 Helicoverpa armigera Scarce Bordered Straw 1 NFY
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Wednesday 15 October 2014

Species List for 14/10/2014

Three pristine Rusty-dot Pearls, seven Diamond-back Moths and two Silver Ys were a good increase in the migrant representatives. In total there were 58 moths of 18 species.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 7
994 Clepsis consimilana 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 4
1041 Acleris sparsana 1
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 3
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 5
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2
2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 1
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 2
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 2
2245 Allophyes oxyacanthae Green-brindled Crescent 1
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 3
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 14
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 6
2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 2

Monday 13 October 2014

Species List for 11/10/2014

A one night break in the deluge allowed a mothing night. Although I ran all five traps there were on 29 moths of 13 species. There were however two migrants, a Pearly Underwing and a Delicate, and another the first Green-brindled Crescent for the year. 

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2
2119 Peridroma saucia Pearly Underwing 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2
2195 Mythimna vitellina Delicate 1 NFY
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 3
2245 Allophyes oxyacanthae Green-brindled Crescent 1 NFY
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 4
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 3
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 5
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 2

Monday 6 October 2014

species List for 5/10/2014

The cooler weather and windy night has brought a halt the three figure counts I've been having this Autumn. One new species for the year, a Blair's Shoulder-knot and the return of Red-green Carpet. This moth over winters and then flies again in the spring. Most of my records are in the Autumn, and only in this year, 2011 and 2004 have I recorded it in spring. In total there were 55 moths of 15 species, and Beaded Chestnut was the most numerous for the first time.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 2  
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 4
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 3
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 1
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 1
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1 NFY
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 7
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 15
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 14
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Sunday 5 October 2014

Species List for 3/10/2014

I didn't moth last night (4th) so here's a belated list for 3/10/2014. Total number of moths 156 of 19 species.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 7
1682 Timandra comae Blood-vein 1
1745 Larentia clavaria Mallow 4
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 5
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 23
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
2110 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 23
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 2
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 4
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 2
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 12
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 62
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 2
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 2
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1
2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 1

Friday 3 October 2014

Species List for 2/10/2014

Lunar Underwings still lead the way. In total there were 195 moths of 34 species. A non moth visitor, a Western Conifer Seed Bug was a first.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
246 Tinea semifulvella 1
464 Plutella Costello Diamond-back Moth 2
994 Clepsis consimilana 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 4
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2
1682 Timandra comae Blood-vein 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 7
1767 Thera firmata Pine Carpet 1
1914 Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn 1
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 1
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 18
2117 Eugnorisma glareosa Autumnal Rustic 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 35
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 4
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 2
2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 1
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 8
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 5
2266 Agrochola litura Brown-spot Pinion 1
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 17
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 64
2272 Xanthia aurago Barred Sallow 2
2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 1
2275 Xanthia gilvago Dusky-lemon Sallow 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 3
2434 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 1
2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 2

Thursday 2 October 2014

Species List for 1/10/2014

Ben remarked the other day that I was catching a lot more moths than he is at the moment. The main reason is that I'm still running five traps. The house sits surrounded by bits of gardens, of various sizes. Fortunately because of hedges and trees I am able to run 4 MV traps without affecting any neighbours. That's useful as we have a total of 11 of them. The yellow line marks out the borders (not as wobbly as I've drawn it).

 


Trap 1 is an 80W MV trap of an odd design. It is a box of the standard Skinner type size, and fitted in that way, but with a solid top with a large funnel with the bulb set in the funnel. The electrics came from an old abandoned large strip light, with a 75W ballast, that runs an 80W bulb OK. It is in an area of shrubs and trees and occasional does quite well despite not being visible for a great distance.
Trap 2 is a home made Skinner with a 125W MV lamp and electrics from ALS. It is in the biggest area of garden and is often the best trap, but fares badly when it's windy.
Trap 3 is in our side garden, and is well sheltered. It is pretty much identical to trap one in construction, it has at times had the largest catch.
Trap 4 is a 15W Actinic Trap. It is our small front garden and taps why I don't run an MV here. Often has the smallest catch, but can have moths not caught else where.
Trap 5 is in a small garden which has a greenhouse and a small vegetable patch. It is a smallish plastic box with a funnel in a plywood top. It has an 80W MV lamp with similar electrics to the other two 80W traps. I knocked up as a temporary effort when I realised Pam's greenhouse was attracting moths but I haven't got round to making something better.
 Back to Last night's mothing.
Lots of Lunar Underwings, but nothing particularly exciting. In total there were 248 moths of 30 species.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 2
658 Carcina quercana 1
874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
994 Clepsis consimilana 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 16
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1745 Larentia clavaria Mallow 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 4
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 3
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 2
2030 Euproctis similis Yellow-tail 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 18
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 6
2117 Eugnorisma glareosa Autumnal Rustic 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 52
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 1
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 1
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 3
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 4
2266 Agrochola litura Brown-spot Pinion 1
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 13
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 102
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 3
2375 Rhizedra lutosa Large Wainscot 1
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 4
2434 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 1
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1

Total Pageviews

StatCounter