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.


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

Friday 7 November 2014

Mothing at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, 28/10/2014

Another good night, with three Gems and a Scarce Bordered Straw adding to the migrant count. In total there were 287 moths, plus the ever present Opogona omoscopa, of 30 species.

 Rusty-dot Pearl

 Gem

 Scarce Bordered Straw

  Vestal

 Vestal

 Opogona omoscopa

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
0278a Opogona omoscopa present
648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 12
1157 Crocidosema plebejana 2
1342 Eudonia angustea 3
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 84
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 3
1408 Palpita vitrealis 1
1716 Rhodometra sacraria Vestal 7
1720 Orthonama obstipata Gem 3
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 2
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 2
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 10
1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 5
1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 2
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 5
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 47
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2
2203 Mythimna unipuncta White-speck 4
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 24
2255 Polymixis lichenea scillonea Feathered Ranunculus 51
2262 Agrochola circellaris Brick 1
2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 3
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 2
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 3
2375 Rhizedra lutosa Large Wainscot 3
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 2
2400 Helicoverpa armigera Scarce Bordered Straw 1

Wednesday 5 November 2014

Mothing at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, 27/10/2014

One of the most exciting mothing sessions I can remember, not least because of the enthusiasm of Jack and Josh, surely amongst the most knowledgeable naturalists for their ages.In total there were 248 moths, including one mega, one very rare, a scarce hawk-moth in  a total of nine migrant species. Jack found the Hawk-moth by the trap and Josh quickly added to the excitement by finding the Crimson Speckled on the decking by their Heath Trap. As they emptied the trap Jack immediately recognised the Slender Burnished Brass, probably the rarest moth of the trip.

 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella)

 Crimson Speckled (Utetheisa pulchella)

 Palpita vitrealis

 Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria)

 Delicate (Mythimna vitellina)

 Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli)

Slender Burnished Brass (Thysanoplusia orichalcea)

Slender Burnished Brass (Thysanoplusia orichalcea)


0278a Opogona omoscopa present
648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House Moth 3
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 6
1157 Crocidosema plebejana 1
1342 Eudonia angustea 4
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 63
1408 Palpita vitrealis 1
1716 Rhodometra sacraria Vestal 2
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 5
1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1
1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 2
1771a Thera cupressata Cypress Carpet 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 2
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
1972 Agrius convolvuli Convolvulus Hawk-moth 1
2054 Utetheisa pulchella Crimson Speckled 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 11
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 44
2119 Peridroma saucia Pearly Underwing 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
2195 Mythimna vitellina Delicate 1
2203 Mythimna unipuncta White-speck 7
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 24
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
2255 Polymixis lichenea scillonea Feathered Ranunculus 47
2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 1
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 6
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 7
2375 Rhizedra lutosa Large Wainscot 2
2433 Thysanoplusia orichalcea Slender Burnished Brass 1

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Mothing at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, 26/10/2014

124 moths was a large increase on the previous night.

 White-speck (Mythimna unipuncta)


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
0278a Opogona omoscopa present,
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
1395 Udea ferrugalis 22
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 6
1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1
1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1
1771a Thera cupressata Cypress Carpet 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 3
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 23
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 1
2203 Mythimna unipuncta White-speck 2
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 17
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 2
2255 Polymixis lichenea scillonea Feathered Ranunculus 33
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 4
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 2

Mothing at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, 25/10/2014

Just back from a week on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. Pam and I, with Pete, Nina, Jack and Josh were able to moth each night as the weather was much better than the same week last year  We stayed at Grenofen, a house with a large garden, over looking Porth Thomas. We ran three traps, a 15W Actinic tube, resting on a pastic box, a small Actinic Heath trap and a home made collapsible 80W MV trap. In addition we had a guest trap from Sam Perfect on two nights.
The 25th  was a bit of a wild and blowy night, and consequently not spectacular, with just 70 moths. In addition Pete found a Bloxworth Snout at Porthmellon, flying in daylight. This is a RDB species and was formally a rare immigrant and now a scarce resident. Both Bloxworth Snout and White-speck were new moths for me.

Bloxworth Snout (Hypena obsitalis)


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 2
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 9
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 4
1771a Thera cupressata Cypress Carpet 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 6
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
2195 Mythimna vitellina Delicate 1
2203 Mythimna unipuncta White-speck 1
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 18
2255 Polymixis lichenea scillonea Feathered Ranunculus 21
2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 1
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 3
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2375 Rhizedra lutosa Large Wainscot 1


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