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.


Friday 30 September 2016

Species List for 29/9/2016

A few moths but nothing special.


464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 6
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 16
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 91
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 4
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 30
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 4
2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 1
2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 2
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 6
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 8
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 5
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 63
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 3

Thursday 29 September 2016

Species List for 28/9/2016

A very windy night, and I really don't do well in these conditions.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 1
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 44
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 11
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 2
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 3
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 1
2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 1
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 40
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1

Wednesday 28 September 2016

Species List for 27/9/2016

The first three species are all similar and can be confusing. Beaded Chestnut and Lunar Underwing are both variable and any that do confuse can be separated by a quick check of the hind wing.

Beaded Chestnut


Lunar Underwing


Brown-spot Pinion

I thought that this Feathered Ranunculus was particularly stunning.


Gold Spot, as always stunning.

Just a Common Marbled Carpet, but a stunning example.

Delicate is one of my favourite migrants.


998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 10
1342 Eudonia angustea 2
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 7
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 4
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 78
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 8
2117 Eugnorisma glareosa Autumnal Rustic 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 35
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 2
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2166 Hadena rivularis Campion 1
2195 Mythimna vitellina Delicate 1  
2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 1
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 3
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 5
2266 Agrochola litura Brown-spot Pinion 1
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 4
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 34
2297 Amphipyra pyramidea Copper Underwing 1
2298 Amphipyra berbera Svensson's Copper Underwing 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 3
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 3
2439 Plusia festucae Gold Spot 1

Tuesday 27 September 2016

Species List for 26/9/2016

 Autumnal Rustic

 Scarce Bordered Straw ( a very pale individual)

Campion 


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 13
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 5
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 6
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 2
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 3
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 59
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 8
2117 Eugnorisma glareosa Autumnal Rustic 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 39
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 4
2166 Hadena rivularis Campion 1
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 2
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 4
2266 Agrochola litura Brown-spot Pinion 1
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 37
2298 Amphipyra berbera Svensson's Copper Underwing 1  
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 2
2400 Helicoverpa armigera Scarce Bordered Straw 1

Monday 26 September 2016

Species List for 25/9/2016

One very worn Scarce Bordered Straw and an number of Lunar Underwings, but a cold night brought nothing major.


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 15
1048 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 1
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 8
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 3
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 61
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 5
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 37
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 8
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 2
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 1
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 2
2266 Agrochola litura Brown-spot Pinion 1
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 1
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 52
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 3  
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 2
2400 Helicoverpa armigera Scarce Bordered Straw 1

Sunday 25 September 2016

Species List for 24/9/2016

 Scarce Bordered Straw

 Scarce Bordered Straw

 Barred Sallow

 Beaded Chestnut, a bit tatty

 Scarce Bordered Straw, no2 

Scarce Bordered Straw no2


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 21
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 3
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 2
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 6
1883 Acasis viretata Yellow-barred Brindle 1
2026 Orgyia antiqua Vapourer 2
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 47
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 11
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 43
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 5
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 1
2267 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 1
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 34
2272 Xanthia aurago Barred Sallow 1
2297x Amphipyra pyramidea agg. Copper Underwing agg. 2
2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1
2400 Helicoverpa armigera Scarce Bordered Straw 2  
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1

Saturday 24 September 2016

Species List for 23/9/2016

A male Gem was the best moth last night, but one of my favourites was also the first for the year, a Red Underwing.

 Red Underwing - just showing a hint.

 Red Underwing - I love the underside!

Red Underwing - It landed on my work table.
a male Gem


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 2
647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House Moth 1
874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 5
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 4
1707 Idaea seriata Small Dusty Wave 2
1720 Orthonama obstipata Gem 1
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 5
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1
2026 Orgyia antiqua Vapourer 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 62
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 5
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 45
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 4
2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 1
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 2
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 2
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 27  
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1
2449 Abrostola triplasia Dark Spectacle 1
2452 Catocala nupta Red Underwing 1

Friday 23 September 2016

Species List for 22/9/2016

Scarce Bordered Straw


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 15
1041 Acleris sparsana 1
1048 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 3
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 2
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 4
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 3
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 4
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 3
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 3
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 60
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 49
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 8
2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 2
2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 2  
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 1
2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 4
2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 1
2270 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 19
2298 Amphipyra berbera Svensson's Copper Underwing 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 3
2400 Helicoverpa armigera Scarce Bordered Straw 1
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 3

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