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 27 April 2018

Species List for 26/04/2018

A small up turn and two new species for the year.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 1 NFY
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1 NFY
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 2
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 4
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 3
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2

 Lesser Swallow Prominent

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Species List for 25/04/2018

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
  Agonopterix sp. Agonopterix species 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 1
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1

Wednesday 25 April 2018

Species List for 24/04/2018

Down and down we go!

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1747 Anticlea derivata Streamer 1
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 1

Tuesday 24 April 2018

Species List for 23/04/2018


The decline in numbers mirrored the change in weather. Only 12 moths, but including a Swallow Prominent NFY,

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1524 Emmelina monodactyla Common Plume 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
2007 Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent 1 NFY
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 3
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 2
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1




Monday 23 April 2018

Species List for 22/04/2018

Returning to April normal numbers.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1747 Anticlea derivata Streamer 1
1852 Eupithecia abbreviata Brindled Pug 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 2
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 23
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 3
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 5
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2

Sunday 22 April 2018

Species List for 21/04/2018

I think last night marks a turnig point in this spell of extra warm weather. At Midnight it was still 16 deg C, but by 4 pm today it had dropped to 12 deg and felt much colder. However last night produced three new moths for the year including the long overdue Powdered Quaker.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
Agonopterix sp. Agonopterix species 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla Common Plume 1
1852 Eupithecia abbreviata Brindled Pug 1 NFY
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 10
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1 NFY
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 13
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 1 NFY
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 65
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 5
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 6

 Powdered Quaker

 Muslin Moth, male

 Muslin Moth, underside

 Brindled Pug

Saturday 21 April 2018

Species List for 20/04/2018

Two more new species for the year, but the total number of moths dropped.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
0 Agonopterix sp. Agonopterix species 3
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 4
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 6
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1 NFY
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 4
1936 Menophra abruptaria Waved Umber 1 NFY
2179 Panolis flammea Pine Beauty 2
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 5
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 67
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 7
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 12
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 3
2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 1
2425 Colocasia coryli Nut-tree Tussock 1

 V-pug (from yesterday)

 Nut-tree Tussock

Waved Umber

Agonopterix sp.

Friday 20 April 2018

Species List for 19/04/2018

More fun,I put all my traps out to try and capitalise on the fine weather.  Six traps yielded 216 moths of 18 species, and only the trap in the"greenhouse" garden was a real disappointment. Four new species for the year including an tatty Nut-tree Tussock.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 4
1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume Moth 1
1342 Eudonia angustea 1 NFY
1524 Emmelina monodactyla Common Plume 5
1663 Alsophila aescularia March Moth 1
1747 Anticlea derivata Streamer 2
1819 Eupithecia exiguata Mottled Pug 2 NFY
1858 Chloroclystis v-ata V-Pug 1 NFY
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 29
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
2179 Panolis flammea Pine Beauty 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 11
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 128
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 4
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 19
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 4
2425 Colocasia coryli Nut-tree Tussock 1 NFY

Thursday 19 April 2018

Species List for 18/04/2018

For once my intuition was right and the extra trap was worthwhile. It was the best night of the year with 141 moths of 17 species, with six new for the year and a Pine Beauty in good nick, that made it seem like a NFY.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House Moth 1 NFY
648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House Moth 1 NFY
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 4
1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume Moth 2 NFY
1524 Emmelina monodactyla Common Plume 2
1747 Anticlea derivata Streamer 1 NFY
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 20
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 2 NFY
2019 Clostera curtula Chocolate-tip 1 NFY
2179 Panolis flammea Pine Beauty 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 9
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 72
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 10
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 10
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 3
2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 1

Streamer 

 Chocolate-tip

 Early Thorn

 Early Thorn (second moth).

 Pine Beauty

Wednesday 18 April 2018

Species List for 17/04/2018

A few more moths, but no new species. Optimistically I've moved the Actinic Skinner to the front garden and put a 125W MV Skinner in the Pond Garden.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 2
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 19
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 8

Tuesday 17 April 2018

Species List for 16/04/2018

My optimism for was misplaced as there were even fewer moths!

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 2
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 4

Species List for 15/04/2018

A slightly warmer night, but as yet not improvement in the moth numbers, a good forecast for the nest few nights.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 2
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 4
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 5
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2

Sunday 15 April 2018

Species List for 14/04/2018

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 5
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 10
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 4
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 3

Species List for 13/04/2018

Another mediocre return.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 4
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 7
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 6

Friday 13 April 2018

Species List for 12/04/2018

The forecast for the next few days is promising, so fingers crossed.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 1
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 4
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1

Thursday 12 April 2018

Species List for 11/04/2018

The fourth misty night on the trot and it looks as if the moths are as fed up with as I am. Just eight individuals of three species.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 5
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2

Species List for 10/04/2018

Two new species for the year, but unfortunately the Pine Beauty was in a puddle, on a flower pot nest to the trap and it is very tatty.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
688 Agonopterix heracliana 2 NFY
2179 Panolis flammea Pine Beauty 1 NFY
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 2
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 5
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 8
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 6
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 6

Sorry about these two dreadful photos, but it didn't get light here today. I thought these two moths were Agonopterix heracliana, but now I'm wondering about Agonopterix ciliella, for them.



The tattiest Pine Beauty I've seen. I fished it out of a puddle in a flower pot near the trap.

Tuesday 10 April 2018

Species List for 09/04/2018

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1775 Colostygia multistrigaria Mottled Grey 1 NFY
1880 Trichopteryx polycommataBarred Tooth-striped 1 NFY
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 2
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 4
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 4

Barred Tooth-striped


Mottled Grey

A very poor photo. I took this quickly with my phone as I emptied the trap. As usual I set up to take some "proper photos" later and managed OK with the Barred Tooth-striped, but the Mottled Grey flew as I went to click. This doesn't usually matter as I and in my mothing conservatory, and catching and re-setting up is no problem. However this time it found a spiders web in the corner and the spider was quicker than me. So it is my hasty phone shot. I will have to take these more seriously in future.

Monday 9 April 2018

Species List for 08/04/2018

The only new moth for the year was the first Light-brown Apple Moth, a less than welcome or inspiring in the garden.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1 NFY
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 3
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 18
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 19
2236 Lithophane hepatica Pale Pinion 1
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 3




Species List for 07/04/2018

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1524 Emmelina monodactyla Common Plume 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 4
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 4
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 4
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 5

Saturday 7 April 2018

Species List for 06/04/2018

 A better day with 33 moths of eight species including two Ypsolopha mucronella, new for the site and two others new for the year.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
451 Ypsolopha mucronella 2 NFS
1663 Alsophila aescularia March Moth 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1 NFY
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 4
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 10
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 12
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 3 NFY
m
 A Clouded Drab that was rather different to most of the individuals that I catch, had be wondering at first.


The first Double-striped Pug of the year. 

 One of two Ypsolopha mucronella,the first I've recorded here.


 Early Grey, the first of the year.

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