Mothing at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, 31/10/2014

A windy night and therefore few moths, just 36 of ten species. In addition Jack found a Convoluvulus Hawk moth on a cottage wall down the road.

Convolvulus Hawk-moth

	Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
998	Epiphyas postvittana	Light Brown Apple Moth	3
1395	Udea ferrugalis	Rusty-dot Pearl	2
1716	Rhodometra sacraria	Vestal	1
1764	Chloroclysta truncata	Common Marbled Carpet	5
1972	Agrius convolvuli	Convolvulus Hawk-moth	1
2087	Agrotis segetum	Turnip Moth	1
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	7
2232	Aporophyla nigra	Black Rustic	2
2255	Polymixis lichenea scillonea	Feathered Ranunculus	13
2441	Autographa gamma	Silver Y	1

 The various "traps" used over the week varied from the sophisiticated to the crude.

 I brought the Actinic tube and el;ectrics with the intention of finding a cardboard box in the shop to make a temporary trap, but on the way up from the Scillonian I found this plastic box in the dust-bin enclosure on Porth Mellon beach. During the week it attracted 384 moths of 27 species.

 A collapsible garden waste container, a piece of thin ply and a sawn off plastic funnel were the basis for this 80W MV trap. The electrics were taken from an old strip light and the cheapest waterproof box I could find. I fixed it on my tripod at night. It was usually higher than this, but I lowered it in the high wind. This is a "Heath Robinson" trap (my joke!). Rather disappointing in it's performance, as it missed all the real goodies, but did have the Mecyna asinalis, a tick for me. I placed it a sheltered part of the garden, where the light didn't shine in any windows, possible it was too hidden for the best results. During the week it attracted 341 moths of 28 species.

Pete, Jack and Josh's Heath trap came up with the goods, including the Slender Burnished Brass, Speckled Crimson and one of the Convolvulus Hawk-moths (the one today was on the wall of the cottage down the road where our friends, Alex, Jason and Katie, were staying). I was in a prime position, and although the vanes are nor good in high wind, it was well sheltered and stable.A clear view across the sea probably made it the number one target. During the week it attracted 491 moths of 38 species.

Sam's Heath trap was on site on the 29th and 30th, During two days it attracted 94 moths of 17 species.