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, 15 April 2011

Species List for 13/4/2011

Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)

A couple of firsts for the year, Garden Carpet and a migrant that seems to have been widespread already, Dark Swordgrass.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
1747 Anticlea derivata Streamer 1
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 6
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 8
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2

21 Moths of 8 Species (8 Macro)

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Species Lists for 12/4/2011 and a Pug (Edited again!)

Again a poor night but one new species for the year, a pug. I believe(d) this to be a Brindled Pug, but would like to know if I'm wrong! The wing span is 20mm.

It seems I might be wrong, and that Oak Tree Pug is possibly the identification. The first telling ID character (from Steve on the UKMoths group) is "the orange streak on the leading edge and trailing edge of the forewing". This is not a character I knew about and is not mentioned in "British and Irish Pug Moths" by A.M.Riley & G.Prior, but I'm now told can also be seen in Brindled. The second is given by Bill Dykes in the comment below. On the other hand Mike on UKMothsgroup says " I was happy that your pug was Brindled. I've found that Oak-tree tends to have more rounded wings and looks smaller than Brindled as a result. ak-tree also shows a broader, more definite discal spot. In saying that, the middle photo of Oak-tree on UKmoths looks very like a Brindled to me. "
So at the moment I'm not sure, and I've let the moth go. Nigel Jaman and Ben are on the side of Oak-tree and I think that is it on balance.


Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata )

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1853 Eupithecia dodoneata Oak-tree Pug 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 9
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 1
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 12
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 3

29 Moths of 9 Species (9 Macro)

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

Tawny Pinion?

I've added a picture of the underside of the pinion.

Tawny Pinion (Lithophane semibrunnea)?

As usual when I catch a pinion I take a few looks at it before tentatively deciding which it is. I think this one is Tawny, but I would value a second (or third) opinion, no pun intended.

Tawny Pinion (Lithophane semibrunnea)?

Tawny Pinion (Lithophane semibrunnea)?

I've had a couple of Pine Beauties in the last two days. These are the earliest dates I've recorded this species here.

Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea)

Species List for 11/4/2011

It makes you wonder if it's worth it?

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2179 Panolis flammea Pine Beauty 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 2
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 8
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 8
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1

21 Moths of 6 Species (6 Macro)

Monday, 11 April 2011

Species List for 10/4/2011

Another cold clear night brought few moths, but a Pine Beauty added a bit of variety. It was also the earliest record I have of this species by three days.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
663 Diurnea fagella
1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
2179 Panolis flammea Pine Beauty 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 2
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 16
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 3
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 14
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 6

45 Moths of 9 Species (8 Macro, 1 Micro)

Sunday, 10 April 2011

Species Lists for 09/4/2011

The cold clear night certainly had an affect on the catch.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1663 Alsophila aescularia March Moth 1
1746 Anticlea badiata Shoulder Stripe 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 2
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 17
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 9
2235 Lithophane semibrunnea Tawny Pinion 1
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 8

42 Moths of 9 Species (9 Macro)

Species Lists for 05/4/2011 to 08/4/2011

Numbers picked up with the warm weather and on the 8th I ran all four traps. On the 7th I caught two Lead-coloured Drabs, my first for 10 years!

Lead-coloured Drab (Orthosia populeti)

Lead-coloured Drab (Orthosia populeti)
08/04/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume Moth 1
1746 Anticlea badiata Shoulder Stripe 2
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 2
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 8
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 3
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 36
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 8
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 8




07/04/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
663 Diurnea fagella
1
672 Depressaria heraclei Parsnip Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 1
1663 Alsophila aescularia March Moth 2
1747 Anticlea derivata Streamer 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 3
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 21
2185 Orthosia populeti Lead-coloured Drab 2
2186 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 40
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 5
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 7
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2
2256 Eupsilia transversa Satellite 1




06/04/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume Moth 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla
3
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 2
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 8
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 23
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 23
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 15
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2




05/04/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Blossom Underwing

Blossom Underwing (Orthosia miniosa )

This is only the second Blosson Underwing I've caught here. The first was on April 1st 2006.

Species Lists for 30/3/2011 to 04/4/2011

The last few days have been mainly disappointing, largely due to the weather. One surprise was a Blossom Underwing on the 2nd, only the second that I have caught here. A diamond back on the 4th was the first migrant I've recorded this year.

04/04/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 2
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 1
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2




03/04/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 2
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 6
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2




02/04/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2183 Orthosia miniosa Blossom Underwing 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 7
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 2
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 9
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1




01/04/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 2
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 5
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 3
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 5




31/03/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1930 Biston strataria Oak Beauty 2
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 4
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 2




30/03/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1

Wednesday, 30 March 2011

Species Lists for 23/3/2011 to 29/3/2011

I finally got round to sorting my moth traps out and have run the MV 125W Skinner each night since the 23rd. Last night (29th) I also ran a 25W Blacklight. My actinic tube trap tripped all the fuses, so I cleaned it up, and it seems OK now, and I've swapped it with the Blacklight for tonight. So far the results have been poor, but then I'm not in a woodland like the chaps at Farningham woods and numbers are always dependant on migrants here. Things can only get better(I hope).

29/03/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
663 Diurnea fagella
1
1663 Alsophila aescularia March Moth 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 3
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 5
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 18
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 4
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 13
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1








28/03/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 1
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 3
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 8
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2








27/03/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 7
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 11








26/03/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 6
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 2
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 3
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1








25/03/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 15
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 12
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 12
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 2








24/03/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1663 Alsophila aescularia March Moth 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 6
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 4
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 10








23/03/2011


Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 4
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 3
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 6

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