Mothing at The Hidden House, St Margaret's at Cliffe, Tony Morris


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, 18 May 2026

Species List for 17/05/2026

 Four traps. A 125W Robinson in the Back Garden, a 125W MV Robinson in the Pond Garden, a 15W Actinic in the Front Garden, and a 80W MV Skinner in the Greenhouse Garden. A slight upturn in the conditions brought a few more moths. There were 25 moths of 17 species with three NFY.

Code

Taxon

Vernacular

Individuals


03.002

Korscheltellus lupulina

Common Swift

1


49.039

Epiphyas postvittana

Light Brown Apple Moth

1


49.156

Hedya nubiferana

Marbled Orchard Tortrix

1

nfy

70.157

Eupithecia dodoneata

Oak-tree Pug

1


70.183

Eupithecia vulgata

Common Pug

1


70.257

Menophra abruptaria

Waved Umber

1


71.025

Phalera bucephala

Buff-tip

1


72.019

Spilosoma lutea

Buff Ermine

2


72.022

Diaphora mendica

Muslin Moth

2


73.052

Cucullia umbratica

Shark

1

nfy

73.099

Hoplodrina ambigua

Vine's Rustic

1


73.101

Charanyca trigrammica

Treble Lines

5


73.267

Lacanobia oleracea

Bright-line Brown-eye

1


73.291

Mythimna pallens

Common Wainscot

2


73.317

Agrotis exclamationis

Heart and Dart

1


73.329

Ochropleura plecta

Flame Shoulder

2


73.342

Noctua pronuba

Large Yellow Underwing

1

nfy


..
Large Yellow Underwing

Shark

Sunday, 17 May 2026

Species List for 16/05/2026

 Four traps. A 125W Robinson in the Back Garden, a 125W MV Robinson in the Pond Garden, a 15W Actinic in the Front Garden, and a 80W MV Skinner in the Greenhouse Garden. Encouraged by a slight improvement in the weather another try proved more more worthwhile.  There were 27nmoths of 11 species with three NFY. The little Actinic in the front garden was best with 15 moths of eight species.

Code

Taxon

Vernacular

Individuals


49.039

Epiphyas postvittana

Light Brown Apple Moth

2


69.003

Laothoe populi

Poplar Hawk-moth

1

nfy

72.019

Spilosoma lutea

Buff Ermine

2


72.022

Diaphora mendica

Muslin Moth

2


73.045

Acronicta rumicis

Knot Grass

1

nfy

73.101

Charanyca trigrammica

Treble Lines

10


73.113

Phlogophora meticulosa

Angle Shades

1


73.317

Agrotis exclamationis

Heart and Dart

2


73.319

Agrotis segetum

Turnip Moth

1


73.325

Agrotis puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

4


73.359

Xestia c-nigrum

Setaceous Hebrew Character

1

nfy


..
Poplar Hawk-moth

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Knot Grass

Friday, 15 May 2026

Species List for 14/05/2026

 Four traps. A 125W Robinson in the Back Garden, a 125W MV Robinson in the Pond Garden, a 15W Actinic in the Front Garden, and a 80W MV Skinner in the Greenhouse Garden. After another days gap, because of the very cold weather another try, but misguided. Just four moths of three species.

Code

Taxon

Vernacular

Individuals


71.025

Phalera bucephala

Buff-tip

1


73.317

Agrotis exclamationis

Heart and Dart

1


73.325

Agrotis puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

2



Wednesday, 13 May 2026

Species List for 12/05/2026

 Four traps. A 125W Robinson in the Back Garden, a 125W MV Robinson in the Pond Garden, a 15W Actinic in the Front Garden, and a 80W MV Skinner in the Greenhouse Garden. Still very cold, marginally more moths, with 11 moths of seven species.

Code

Taxon

Vernacular

Individuals


49.039

Epiphyas postvittana

Light Brown Apple Moth

1


49.292

Notocelia cynosbatella

a moth

1


72.022

Diaphora mendica

Muslin Moth

2


73.099

Hoplodrina ambigua

Vine's Rustic

1


73.101

Charanyca trigrammica

Treble Lines

2


73.319

Agrotis segetum

Turnip Moth

1


73.325

Agrotis puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

3


Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Species List for 11/05/2026

 Four traps. A 125W Robinson in the Back Garden, a 125W MV Robinson in the Pond Garden, a 15W Actinic in the Front Garden, and a 80W MV Skinner in the Greenhouse Garden. Very cold and nasty. Five moths of five species.

Code

Taxon

Vernacular

Individuals

72.020

Spilosoma lubricipeda

White Ermine

1

72.022

Diaphora mendica

Muslin Moth

1

73.317

Agrotis exclamationis

Heart and Dart

1

73.319

Agrotis segetum

Turnip Moth

1

73.325

Agrotis puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

1


Sunday, 10 May 2026

Species List for 09/05/2026

 Four traps. A 125W Robinson in the Back Garden, a 125W MV Robinson in the Pond Garden, a 15W Actinic in the Front Garden, and a 80W MV Skinner in the Greenhouse Garden. A better catch with 43 moths of 18 species with three NFY

Code

Taxon

Vernacular

Individuals


03.002

Korscheltellus lupulina

Common Swift

1

nfy

44.001

Alucita hexadactyla

Many-plumed Moth

1


49.039

Epiphyas postvittana

Light Brown Apple Moth

2


49.292

Notocelia cynosbatella


1


71.017

Pheosia tremula

Swallow Prominent

1


71.025

Phalera bucephala

Buff-tip

2


72.015

Calliteara pudibunda

Pale Tussock

1


72.019

Spilosoma lutea

Buff Ermine

6


72.022

Diaphora mendica

Muslin Moth

6


73.015

Autographa gamma

Silver Y

1


73.059

Calophasia lunula

Toadflax Brocade

1

nfy

73.099

Hoplodrina ambigua

Vine's Rustic

1

nfy

73.101

Charanyca trigrammica

Treble Lines

4


73.113

Phlogophora meticulosa

Angle Shades

1


73.244

Orthosia cerasi

Common Quaker

2


73.267

Lacanobia oleracea

Bright-line Brown-eye

1


73.317

Agrotis exclamationis

Heart and Dart

5


73.325

Agrotis puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

6







.

Common Swift


Toadflax Brocade

Vine's Rustic

Saturday, 9 May 2026

Species List for 08/05/2026

 Four traps. A 125W Robinson in the Back Garden, a 125W MV Robinson in the Pond Garden, a 15W Actinic in the Front Garden, and a 80W MV Skinner in the Greenhouse Garden. A warmer airflow, but little to show for it. There were 28 moths of 16 species with two NFY.

Code

Taxon

Vernacular

Individuals


49.039

Epiphyas postvittana

Light Brown Apple Moth

2


70.097

Dysstroma truncata

Common Marbled Carpet

1

nfy

70.141

Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

Double-striped Pug

1


70.226

Opisthograptis luteolata

Brimstone Moth

1


70.252

Biston betularia

Peppered Moth

1

nfy

71.027

Clostera curtula

Chocolate-tip

2


72.015

Calliteara pudibunda

Pale Tussock

1


72.019

Spilosoma lutea

Buff Ermine

2


72.020

Spilosoma lubricipeda

White Ermine

2


72.022

Diaphora mendica

Muslin Moth

2


73.101

Charanyca trigrammica

Treble Lines

2


73.244

Orthosia cerasi

Common Quaker

2


73.291

Mythimna pallens

Common Wainscot

1


73.317

Agrotis exclamationis

Heart and Dart

3


73.325

Agrotis puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

3


73.329

Ochropleura plecta

Flame Shoulder

2


.
Common Marbled Carpet

Peppered Moth

Friday, 8 May 2026

Species List for 07/05/2026

 Four traps. A 125W Robinson in the Back Garden, a 125W MV Robinson in the Pond Garden, a 15W Actinic in the Front Garden, and a 80W MV Skinner in the Greenhouse Garden. There were 29 moths of just ten species.

Code

Taxon

Vernacular

Individuals


49.039

Epiphyas postvittana

Light Brown Apple Moth

1


70.200

Acasis viretata

Yellow-barred Brindle

2


72.020

Spilosoma lubricipeda

White Ermine

2


72.022

Diaphora mendica

Muslin Moth

13


73.001

Abrostola tripartita

Spectacle

1


73.101

Charanyca trigrammica

Treble Lines

2


73.244

Orthosia cerasi

Common Quaker

1


73.267

Lacanobia oleracea

Bright-line Brown-eye

1


73.325

Agrotis puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

4


73.327

Agrotis ipsilon

Dark Sword-grass

2



Thursday, 7 May 2026

Species List for 06/05/2026

 Four traps. A 125W Robinson in the Back Garden, a 125W MV Robinson in the Pond Garden, a 15W Actinic in the Front Garden, and a 80W MV Skinner in the Greenhouse Garden. The weather remained cool.  There were 27 moths of 14 species with two NFY.

Code

Taxon

Vernacular

Individuals


70.173

Eupithecia centaureata

Lime-speck Pug

1


70.183

Eupithecia vulgata

Common Pug

1

nfy

70.257

Menophra abruptaria

Waved Umber

1


71.012

Notodonta dromedarius

Iron Prominent

1

nfy

72.020

Spilosoma lubricipeda

White Ermine

2


72.022

Diaphora mendica

Muslin Moth

6


73.058

Cucullia verbasci

Mullein

1


73.101

Charanyca trigrammica

Treble Lines

1


73.244

Orthosia cerasi

Common Quaker

1


73.249

Orthosia gothica

Hebrew Character

1


73.317

Agrotis exclamationis

Heart and Dart

1


73.325

Agrotis puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

5


73.327

Agrotis ipsilon

Dark Sword-grass

2


73.329

Ochropleura plecta

Flame Shoulder

3



Iron Prominent

Common Pug


Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Species List for 05/05/2026

 Four traps. A 125W Robinson in the Back Garden, a 125W MV Robinson in the Pond Garden, a 15W Actinic in the Front Garden, and a 80W MV Skinner in the Greenhouse Garden. Miserable May continued. There were 13 moths of nine species with one NFY.

Code

Taxon

Vernacular

Individuals


18.001

Plutella xylostella

Diamond-back Moth

1


63.057

Evergestis forficalis

Garden Pebble

1

nfy

70.200

Acasis viretata

Yellow-barred Brindle

2


70.226

Opisthograptis luteolata

Brimstone Moth

1


72.022

Diaphora mendica

Muslin Moth

3


73.058

Cucullia verbasci

Mullein

1


73.267

Lacanobia oleracea

Bright-line Brown-eye

1


73.317

Agrotis exclamationis

Heart and Dart

2


73.325

Agrotis puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

1


.
Bright-line Brown-eye,

Garden Pebble,

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