Species List for 24/6/2011

With forecast for heavy rain late in the night, I switched off my two black light at 12.30 a.m. They hadn't caught anything, which seems to indicated that they catch late fliers? Pine Carpet and Barred Straw were new for the year.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
17	Hepialus lupulinus	Common Swift	1
998	Epiphyas postvittana	Light Brown Apple Moth	1
1002	Lozotaenia forsterana		1
1293	Chrysoteuchia culmella	Garden Grass-veneer	5
1758	Eulithis pyraliata	Barred Straw	1
1767	Thera firmata	Pine Carpet	1
1931	Biston betularia	Peppered Moth	3
1941	Alcis repandata	Mottled Beauty	1
2061	Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	1
2088	Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club	9
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	6
2098	Axylia putris	Flame	1
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	1
2160	Lacanobia oleracea	Bright-line Brown-eye	1
2321	Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	2
2337x	Oligia strigilis agg.	Marbled Minor agg.	2
2381	Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain	2
2382	Hoplodrina blanda	Rustic	1
2387	Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	3

43 Moths of 19 Species, (16 Macro, 3 Micro)

Species List for 23/6/2011

Predictions of good condition for migrants over the weekend have appeared on UKmoths, I hope they re correct, it's not inspiring at the moment.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
17	Hepialus lupulinus	Common Swift	9
874	Blastobasis lacticolella		1
1293	Chrysoteuchia culmella	Garden Grass-veneer	3
1302	Crambus perlella		1
1931	Biston betularia	Peppered Moth	2
1941	Alcis repandata	Mottled Beauty	2
2060	Spilosoma lubricipeda	White Ermine	1
2061	Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	2
2088	Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club	14
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	8
2098	Axylia putris	Flame	1
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	3
2126	Xestia c-nigrum	Setaceous Hebrew Character	1
2128	Xestia triangulum	Double Square-spot	1
2291	Craniophora ligustri	Coronet	1
2321	Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	3
2334	Apamea sordens	Rustic Shoulder-knot	2
2381	Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain	1
2387	Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	2
2477	Hypena proboscidalis	Snout	1

59 Moths of 20 Species, (17 Macro, 3 Micro)

Species List for 22/6/2011

Perlella and Double Square-spot were new for the year.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
17	Hepialus lupulinus	Common Swift	2
874	Blastobasis lacticolella		2
1002	Lozotaenia forsterana		1
1063	Celypha striana		1
1293	Chrysoteuchia culmella	Garden Grass-veneer	6
1302	Crambus perlella		1
1513	Pterophorus pentadactyla	White Plume Moth	1
1728	Xanthorhoe fluctuata	Garden Carpet	1
1742	Camptogramma bilineata	Yellow Shell	1
1834	Eupithecia vulgata	Common Pug	1
1931	Biston betularia	Peppered Moth	2
1941	Alcis repandata	Mottled Beauty	1
1976	Sphinx ligustri	Privet Hawk-moth	2
1991	Deilephila elpenor	Elephant Hawk-moth	1
1994	Phalera bucephala	Buff-tip	1
2060	Spilosoma lubricipeda	White Ermine	1
2061	Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	3
2088	Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club	17
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	18
2092	Agrotis puta	Shuttle-shaped Dart	1
2098	Axylia putris	Flame	1
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	2
2128	Xestia triangulum	Double Square-spot	1
2154	Mamestra brassicae	Cabbage Moth	1
2302	Rusina ferruginea	Brown Rustic	1
2321	Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	3
2334	Apamea sordens	Rustic Shoulder-knot	2
2381	Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain	7
2384	Hoplodrina ambigua	Vine's Rustic	3
2387	Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	2
2389	Paradrina clavipalpis	Pale Mottled Willow	1

88 Moths of 31 Species, (25 Macro,6 Micro)

Species List for 21/6/2011

I had high hopes when I set the traps up, as the evening had that humid feeling that meant moths, I was wrong. The wind got up, but the moths didn't, well not many. Coronata, Wood Carpet, Common Footman and Eyed Hawk-moth were new for the year.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
17	Hepialus lupulinus	Common Swift	3
449	Prays fraxinella	Ash Bud Moth	1
874	Blastobasis lacticolella		1
998	Epiphyas postvittana	Light Brown Apple Moth	1
1033	Tortrix viridana	Green Oak Tortrix	2
1293	Chrysoteuchia culmella	Garden Grass-veneer	8
1376	Eurrhypara hortulata	Small Magpie	2
1378	Phlyctaenia coronata		1
1428	Aphomia sociella	Bee Moth	3
1728	Xanthorhoe fluctuata	Garden Carpet	2
1739	Epirrhoe rivata	Wood Carpet	1
1834	Eupithecia vulgata	Common Pug	1
1931	Biston betularia	Peppered Moth	2
1941	Alcis repandata	Mottled Beauty	4
1976	Sphinx ligustri	Privet Hawk-moth	1
1980	Smerinthus ocellata	Eyed Hawk-moth	1
1994	Phalera bucephala	Buff-tip	1
2050	Eilema lurideola	Common Footman	2
2088	Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club	24
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	14
2098	Axylia putris	Flame	2
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	4
2126	Xestia c-nigrum	Setaceous Hebrew Character	1
2147	Hada plebeja	Shears	2
2381	Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain	3
2387	Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	6
2389	Paradrina clavipalpis	Pale Mottled Willow	1
2477	Hypena proboscidalis	Snout	1

95 Moths of 28 Species, (20 Macro,8 Micro)

Species List for 20/6/2011

Heeding the dire weather forecast, I only ran two traps (MV and actinic), both in very sheltered situations. Black bulbs, even when well protected, are susceptible to very damp conditions, and expensive to replace, I therefore didn't run them. The heavy rain didn't materialise here, and I did catch a few moths.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
464	Plutella xylostella	Diamond-back Moth	1
998	Epiphyas postvittana	Light Brown Apple Moth	1
1002	Lozotaenia forsterana		1
1063	Celypha striana		3
1293	Chrysoteuchia culmella	Garden Grass-veneer	1
1991	Deilephila elpenor	Elephant Hawk-moth	1
2061	Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	1
2088	Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club	3
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	6
2091	Agrotis ipsilon	Dark Sword-grass	1
2098	Axylia putris	Flame	1
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	1
2321	Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	7
2381	Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain	3
2387	Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	2
2389	Paradrina clavipalpis	Pale Mottled Willow	1
2441	Autographa gamma	Silver Y	1

35 Moths of 17 Species, (12 Macro, 5 Micro)

Species List for 19/6/2011

Drinker and Dot Moth were new for the year

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
17	Hepialus lupulinus	Common Swift	2
1063	Celypha striana		5
1083	Hedya nubiferana	Marbled Orchard Tortrix	1
1293	Chrysoteuchia culmella	Garden Grass-veneer	1
1338	Dipleurina lacustrata		1
1376	Eurrhypara hortulata	Small Magpie	2
1640	Euthrix potatoria	Drinker	1
1728	Xanthorhoe fluctuata	Garden Carpet	2
1742	Camptogramma bilineata	Yellow Shell	1
1827	Eupithecia intricata	Freyer's Pug	1
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1
1931	Biston betularia	Peppered Moth	1
1941	Alcis repandata	Mottled Beauty	2
1976	Sphinx ligustri	Privet Hawk-moth	1
1992	Deilephila porcellus	Small Elephant Hawk-moth	1
1994	Phalera bucephala	Buff-tip	1
2061	Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	1
2087	Agrotis segetum	Turnip Moth	1
2088	Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club	8
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	18
2155	Melanchra persicariae	Dot Moth	1
2302	Rusina ferruginea	Brown Rustic	1
2337x	Oligia strigilis agg.	Marbled Minor agg.	1
2387	Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	2

57 Moths of 24 Species, (19 Macro, 5 Micro)

Species List for 18/6/2011

Due to the poor weather and dire forecast I didn't run the traps on the 17th, and from the results I needn't have bothered putting them on yesterday. There was one NFY, a pristine Buff Arches.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
17	Hepialus lupulinus	Common Swift	1
874	Blastobasis lacticolella		1
1653	Habrosyne pyritoides	Buff Arches	1
1906	Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	1
1941	Alcis repandata	Mottled Beauty	1
1976	Sphinx ligustri	Privet Hawk-moth	1
2061	Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	1
2087	Agrotis segetum	Turnip Moth	1
2088	Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club	11
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	12
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	1
2126	Xestia c-nigrum	Setaceous Hebrew Character	1
2321	Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	1
2384	Hoplodrina ambigua	Vine's Rustic	1
2387	Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	4

39 Moths of 15 Species, (14 Macro, 1 Micro)

Species List for 16/6/2011

A cold and windy night. A Humming-bird Hawk-moth was nectaring on Red Valerian during the day.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
17	Hepialus lupulinus	Common Swift	1
998	Epiphyas postvittana	Light Brown Apple Moth	1
1063	Celypha striana		2
1175	Epiblema uddmanniana	Bramble Shoot Moth	1
1293	Chrysoteuchia culmella	Garden Grass-veneer	2
1376	Eurrhypara hortulata	Small Magpie	2
1941	Alcis repandata	Mottled Beauty	1
1984	Macroglossum stellatarum	Humming-bird Hawk-moth	1 NFY
1994	Phalera bucephala	Buff-tip	1 NFY
2061	Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	4
2088	Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club	16
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	15
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	1
2126	Xestia c-nigrum	Setaceous Hebrew Character	1
2334	Apamea sordens	Rustic Shoulder-knot	1
2381	Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain	1
2384	Hoplodrina ambigua	Vine's Rustic	2
2387	Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	1

54 Moths of 18 Species, (13 Macro, 5 Micro)

Which Kitten - Answer Sallow Kitten

When I caught this, yesterday I thought it was a Poplar Kitten (Furcula bifida), but now I'm not so sure. Is there a definitive way of separating Sallow (Furcula furcula) and Poplar Kittens?

It is a Sallow Kitten.Thanks to Matt (see comments) and Darrel on UKMoths group. It's the first Kitten of the year, and my memory of previous Sallows was of a much more jagged distal line. I guess this is variable and this one is by no means a smooth curve as you would expect with Poplar.

Kitten

Species List for 15/6/2011

Male Gem (Orthonama obstipata)

I took the rather bland photo, above, in the evening and the moth promptly flew and remained hidden in my mothing conservatory.

Male Gem (Orthonama obstipata)

As I had hoped it was waiting for me, resting on the window this morning. Looking at the Atropos site, there were a few Gems on the 15th.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
17	Hepialus lupulinus	Common Swift	6
874	Blastobasis lacticolella		2
998	Epiphyas postvittana	Light Brown Apple Moth	2
1063	Celypha striana		2
1201	Eucosma cana		1 NFY
1293	Chrysoteuchia culmella	Garden Grass-veneer	3
1334	Scoparia ambigualis		1
1356	Evergestis forficalis	Garden Pebble	1
1376	Eurrhypara hortulata	Small Magpie	2
1428	Aphomia sociella	Bee Moth	2
1474	Ephestia parasitella		1
1689	Scopula marginepunctata	Mullein Wave	1 NFY
1711	Idaea trigeminata	Treble Brown Spot	2
1720	Orthonama obstipata	Gem	1 NFY
1728	Xanthorhoe fluctuata	Garden Carpet	4
1827	Eupithecia intricata	Freyer's Pug	1
1860	Pasiphila rectangulata	Green Pug	1
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug	1
1920	Odontopera bidentata	Scalloped Hazel	1
1937	Peribatodes rhomboidaria	Willow Beauty	1
1941	Alcis repandata	Mottled Beauty	1
1958	Lomographa temerata	Clouded Silver	1
1991	Deilephila elpenor	Elephant Hawk-moth	1
2061	Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	4
2087	Agrotis segetum	Turnip Moth	2
2088	Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club	25
2089	Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	36
2098	Axylia putris	Flame	2
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	3
2126	Xestia c-nigrum	Setaceous Hebrew Character	1
2147	Hada plebeja	Shears	1
2193	Mythimna ferrago	Clay	1
2337x	Oligia strigilis agg.	Marbled Minor agg.	4
2382	Hoplodrina blanda	Rustic	1
2387	Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	5
2389	Paradrina clavipalpis	Pale Mottled Willow	1
2441	Autographa gamma	Silver Y	1

126 Moths of 37 Species, (27 Macro, 10 Micro)