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 31 August 2020

Species List for 30/08/2020

A bit better with 262 moths of 36 species.
Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1063 Celypha striana 1
1305 Agriphila tristella 7
1309 Agriphila geniculea 7
1365 Pyrausta despicata 1
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 1
1408 Palpita vitrealis 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1651 Cilix glaucata Chinese Character 1
1682 Timandra comae Blood-vein 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
1825 Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck Pug 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 3
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 3
1911 Ennomos autumnaria Large Thorn 1
1914 Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn 29
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 3
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 2   
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 34
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 6
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 3
2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 2
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 42
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 13
2154 Mamestra brassicae Cabbage Moth 1
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 10
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 2
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 50
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 22
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 3
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1
..

Sunday 30 August 2020

Species List for 29/08/2020

You don't need a weather man to tell you that this is the coldest August Bank Holiday weekend on record, but he did. My worst ever August night with just 107 moths of 13 species in five traps.
Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1305 Agriphila tristella 7
1309 Agriphila geniculea 3
1914 Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 4
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 12
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 15
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 3
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 2
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 2
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 28
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 28

Species List for 28/08/2020

A cold night (the heating came on this morning), brought just 255 moths of 31 species. A rather tatty Maiden's Blush was new for the year.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
15 Hepialus sylvina Orange Swift 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 6
1260 Cydia splendana 1
1303 Agriphila selasella 1
1305 Agriphila tristella 14
1309 Agriphila geniculea 7
1342 Eudonia angustea 1
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1680 Cyclophora punctaria Maiden's Blush 1 NFY
1855 Eupithecia phoeniceata Cypress Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1914 Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn 5
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 3
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 31
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 4
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 44   
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 9
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 2
2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 4
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 54
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 50
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 4
2449 Abrostola triplasia Dark Spectacle 1
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1
..
Maiden's Blush

Friday 28 August 2020

Species List for 27/08/2020

A wet and cold night produced 346 moths of just 37 species. There were two NFY, a Humming-bird Hawk-moth that was a surprise as I hadn't seen one nectaring in the garden and a Large Thorn, the earliest record I have by one day, but about 10 days earlier than the usual first record.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
15 Hepialus sylvina Orange Swift 2
647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House Moth 2
648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House Moth 2
873 Blastobasis adustella 3
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
1048 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 1
1305 Agriphila tristella 12
1309 Agriphila geniculea 6
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 1
1408 Palpita vitrealis 1
1651 Cilix glaucata Chinese Character 2
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 1
1830 Eupithecia absinthiata Wormwood Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1911 Ennomos autumnaria Large Thorn 1 NFY
1914 Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn 2
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1
1984 Macroglossum stellatarum Humming-bird Hawk-moth 1 NFY
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 9   
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 34
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
2110 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 3
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 94
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 9
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 1
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 17
2303 Thalpophila matura Straw Underwing 2
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 5
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 66
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 47
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 5
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 2
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 2

 Large Thorn

 Large Thorn

 Humming-bird Hawk-moth, 

Humming-bird Hawk-moth, 

Thursday 27 August 2020

Species List for 26/08/2020

With the wind gusting up to 58 mph, well past the blow the moth traps to bits force, I didn't moth on the 26th. Last night was surprisingly calm and quite warm.  648 moths of 54 species with Setaceous Hebrew Character numbers dominating. Two NFY were both interesting, a Centre-barred Sallow was the earliest I've caught here and an Obscure Wainscot, my fourth was on an exceptionally late date.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
15 Hepialus sylvina Orange Swift 2
647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House Moth 2
873 Blastobasis adustella 2
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 43
1048 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 1
1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume Moth 1
1304 Agriphila straminella 4
1305 Agriphila tristella 22
1309 Agriphila geniculea 3
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 1
1365 Pyrausta despicata 3
1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 2
1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 3
1408 Palpita vitrealis 2
1428 Aphomia sociella Bee Moth 1
1439 Trachycera advenella 1
1470 Euzophera pinguis 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2
1707 Idaea seriata Small Dusty Wave 4   
1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 3
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 2
1825 Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck Pug 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 6
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 8
1914 Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn 11
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 4
2044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 1
2067 Euplagia quadripunctaria Jersey Tiger 3
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 5
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 21
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 5
2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 2
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 198
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 20
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 2
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 58
2204 Mythimna obsoleta Obscure Wainscot 1 NFY
2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 1 NFY
2284x Acronicta tridens/psi Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger 1
2292 Cryphia algae Tree-lichen Beauty 1
2295 Cryphia muralis Marbled Green 1
2297 Amphipyra pyramidea Copper Underwing 2
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 6
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 3
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 73
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 93
2389 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 7
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 2
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1
.
 Obscure Wainscot

 Obscure Wainscot

 Centre-barred Sallow

Species List for 24/08/2020

Due to the deteriorating weather I only ran the back garden Robinson, and the result was as expected in a near gale, with 107 moths of only 19 species.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House Moth 2
873 Blastobasis adustella 2
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
1305 Agriphila tristella 1
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 8
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 6
2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 42
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 2
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 1
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 5
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 2
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 4
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 9
2361 Hydraecia micacea Rosy Rustic 1
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 16

Monday 24 August 2020

Species List for 23/08/2020

I had a date with Tesco's click and collect for early am, so gien the poor weather I only ran the two Robinson traps, and had a scan of the fields on the way home. No Dotterels were found, and the two Robinsons had just 257 moths of 32 species, including the third Delicate of the year and the first since June.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
15 Hepialus sylvina Orange Swift 1
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House Moth 1
648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House Moth 1
873 Blastobasis adustella 3
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 6
1304 Agriphila straminella 1
1305 Agriphila tristella 20
1309 Agriphila geniculea 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2
1651 Cilix glaucata Chinese Character 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1914 Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn 3
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2
2087 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 3
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 1
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 7
2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 84
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 6
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 1
2195 Mythimna vitellina Delicate 1
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 20
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 3
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 1
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 43
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 35
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 2
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1
.

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