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.


Sunday, 7 June 2015

Species List for 6/6/2015

51 moths of 24 species, including another Bordered Straw.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
17 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 3
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
1342 Eudonia angustea 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 2
1823 Eupithecia venosata Netted Pug 1
1825 Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck Pug 1
1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 1
1920 Odontopera bidentata Scalloped Hazel 1
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 1
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 1
1992 Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk-moth 1
2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 2
2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 1
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 11
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 2
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 2
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 9
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 2
2403 Heliothis peltigera Bordered Straw 1

Saturday, 6 June 2015

Species List for 5/6/2015

Fewer moths than yesterday, 45 of 26 species, but some real quality. A striped haw moth was only the second I've caught, the last was on 30/6/2012. Four Bordered Straws in one night is exceptional, making this the third best year have had for this species, after just one catch!

 Striped Hawk-moth

 Bordered Straw

 Iron Prominent

Small Elephant Hawk-moth

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 1
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 1
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 2
1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1920 Odontopera bidentata Scalloped Hazel 1
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 1
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1
1990 Hyles livornica Striped Hawk-moth 1
1992 Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk-moth 2
2000 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1
2028 Calliteara pudibunda Pale Tussock 1
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 4
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 5
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
2147 Hada plebeja Shears 2
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 6
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 2
2403 Heliothis peltigera Bordered Straw 4
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1
2450 Abrostola tripartita Spectacle 1
2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 1

Species List for 4/6/2015

103 moths of 30 species is the best so far this year. Two of my favourite Small Elephant Hawk-moths were good to see.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
17 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 2
648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House Moth 1
998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 16
1063 Celypha striana 1
1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 2
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 7
1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1
1819 Eupithecia exiguata Mottled Pug 3
1825 Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck Pug 1
1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 8
1920 Odontopera bidentata Scalloped Hazel 1
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 1
1936 Menophra abruptaria Waved Umber 1
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 3
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1
1992 Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk-moth 2
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 15
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 5
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 3
2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 1
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
2147 Hada plebeja Shears 2
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 2
2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 1
2334 Apamea sordens Rustic Shoulder-knot 1
2337x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 5
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 12
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 2
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Species List for 3/6/2015

My first moth session since May 2nd, and a month long trip to China. Good to see some moths. new for the year, including a splendid Privet Hawk-moth.

 
17 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 1
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 1
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 2
1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 1
1976 Sphinx ligustri Privet Hawk-moth 1
2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 1
2078 Nola confusalis Least Black Arches 1
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 4
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 2
2126 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
2147 Hada plebeja Shears 1
2380 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 3
2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1

Sunday, 3 May 2015

Species List for 2/5/2015

My last mothing until June 1st, providing BA get me back from China on time, turned out to be another disappointing catch.

Code Taxon Ve rnacular Individuals
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 6
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 1

Saturday, 2 May 2015

Species List for 1/5/2015

The minimum temperature was 8.1 deg C. Streamer and Flame Shoulder were new for the year. I don't catch many Streamers, about three per year, but 78% have been in April, the average date being the 11th. There are also several blank years, perhaps too cold?
Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
1524 Emmelina monodactyla
1
1747 Anticlea derivata Streamer 1
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 3
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 2
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 3

Friday, 1 May 2015

Species List for 30/4/2015

The last day of April, and almost the last day for me for a while. I'll miss most of May but will be back for some goodies in June. Almost a heatwave with a minimum of 7.0 deg.C. A welcome bit of colour from the Brimstone Moth.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
697 Agonopterix arenella 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 6
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 7
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1

Species List for 29/4/2015

Slightly warmer overnight, minimum 5.3 deg C.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
697 Agonopterix arenella 1
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 2
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1

Species List for 28/4/2015

Another night when the temperature fell to 3.9 deg C. This time it was the 125W MV  that was empty.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 1
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 1
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 1

Species List for 27/4/2015

All four traps on, but the Actinic "zero'ed". The temperature fell to 3.9 deg C.

Code Taxon Vernacular Individuals
2063 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 1
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 5

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