Speyside Moths (1 Viewer)

Ran a 125W MV trap in the garden of accommodation near Boat of Garten during the week of 7-13 April 2007. The trap was run for 5 nights. Total moths recorded was 346 including those attracted to building lights.

A list of species with max count (in most cases this was the night of 11/4) and total.
* = to be confirmed

*Eriocrania sangii 1 2
Diurnea fagella 9 23
Acleris logiana 1 1
Acleris hyemana 1 1
Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) 1 1
Yellow Horned (Achlya flavicornis) 11 27
Orange Underwing (Archiearis parthenias) 1 1
Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 2 4
Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1 1
Mottled Grey (Colostygia multistrigaria) 1 1
Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata) 30 79
Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria) 11 35
The Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata) 6 17
Red Chestnut (Cerastis rubricosa) 2 3
Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea) 9 14
Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 1 1
Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 13 46
Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 10 29
Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 19 55
Rannoch Sprawler (Brachionycha nubeculosa) 1 2
Red Sword-grass (Xylena vetusta) 1 1
The Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 1 2

Pics to follow.

First five.

The many faces of Early Tooth-striped (provided that's what they all are).

And all together.

And all different! Moths can be so confusing!:h?:

Nerine

Brian, do you have any tecnique for getting the geometers to settle? I've had very little success with trying to photograph them on 'natural' settings. The noctuids are a doddle by comparison. It's probably not helped by the warm weather we've been having.
Ken

I usually just ask nicely. Some do, some don't.

Try potting them until they settle, then tapping onto the prefered surface keeping the pot over incase they fly. After a few attempts the moth may settle in the right position.

I think I was able to pick most of these up and move them around on the end of a small wooden artists paintbrush (number one must-have mothing tool )

Brian Stone said:

I usually just ask nicely. Some do, some don't.

Try potting them until they settle, then tapping onto the prefered surface keeping the pot over incase they fly. After a few attempts the moth may settle in the right position.

I think I was able to pick most of these up and move them around on the end of a small wooden artists paintbrush (number one must-have mothing tool )

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, Brian, I had some success with a waved umber and a micro... see my blog.
Ken

Despite only catching about 4 insects a night I managed a first for the garden last night. The Spruce Carpet was typically uncooperative but I did eventually get it to settle by doing the above in a darker area. Makes sense really that they would be more likely to settle in a shady spot. I screwed up the camera work so still failed to get the shot but it's something else to try anyway.

The Spruce Carpet was more cooperative today (or I was more competent).