Wicklow VC H20 (Ireland) moth lists (1 Viewer)

May 9th report.

Temp 11 -12 most of night. Fell to 7C after trap was turned off. Calm, mostly
cloudy with bit of drizzle.The cold temp arrived earlier at the reserve.

1 x 125w MV FArmyard (15sp less favoured site than previous night) 1 x 125 MV home garden (27 sp) and 15w
actinic in local nature reserve on edge of mostly birch woodland.(21 sp)

5 new species for year. 62 species last 2 nights and 69 last 3 nights and 78 for
month so far.

* = new for year.

45 species in all inc one micro to be ID

an engrailed moth (Ectropis sp.) 2
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1 daytime
0672 Parsnip Moth (Depressaria pastinacella) 1
0697 Agonopterix arenella 1 at window
1126 Ancylis badiana 1
1136 Epinotia immundana 1
1255 Cydia succedana 1 daytime
1288 Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2
1651 Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata) 1
1725 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe ferrugata) 2
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 2
1747 Streamer (Anticlea derivata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 1
1768 Grey Pine Carpet (Thera obeliscata) 1
1835 White-spotted Pug (Eupithecia tripunctaria) 2*
1853 Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata) 1
1858 V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata) 3
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 4
1881 Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata) 7
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1*
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1*
1995 Puss Moth (Cerura vinula) 1
2000 Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) 1*
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 17
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 1*
2010 Scarce Prominent (Odontosia carmelita) 1
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 2
2015 Lunar Marbled Brown (Drymonia ruficornis) 3
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 6
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 5
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 19
2179 Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea) 1
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 5
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 6
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 3
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 8
2241 Red Sword-grass (Xylena vetusta) 1
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1
2423 Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana) 1

2074 Common Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 45
And a great diving beetle.

You can go off people you know!

5 moths of four species last night and nothing new so a slight difference there. I was away Saturday night so my son ran the trap and got our first Poplar Hawk-moth for the year, which he was very pleased with.

I dunno, it must be the Guinness that brings them out in Ireland. I haven't seen half of those species yet this year.
However, I'll stick to my litre of Sherry a day hoping for some migrant Hawk Moths from southern Europe. It may not bring them in but it certainly is fun trying. (Hic, pardon).

Harry Eales.

Incredible list!
As I cannot make any intelligent comments, I'd love to know how the pebble prominent got such a bizarre scientific name?!

Surreybirder said:

Incredible list!
As I cannot make any intelligent comments, I'd love to know how the pebble prominent got such a bizarre scientific name?!

Click to expand...

No sooner said than done my friend,

It is latinized from the German 'zickzack' zigzag: from the zigzag profile of the humped larva, enhanced by it's posture. See Emmet,A.M. The Scientific names of the British Lepidoptera. 1991.

The English common name probably derives from the round markings near the tips of the forewings which look like water rounded pebbles from a stream. However, thats just my opinion.

Harry Eales.

P.S. This one's free of charge, the next one's a fiver. lol.

Harry

Thanks, Harry. I'll save up!
Ken

Here's a pic of one of the Notodonta ziczac (Pebble Prominent ) that I got today. Its my most numerous prominent

May 10th report

A much colder night with temp down to 4C but calm, even fog

List is from the one garden MV as the other 2 traps are in Woodland where I'm
workking for the day. If its varied I 'll put list up tonight.
Hebrew Character still holding on as most numerous moth. Small square spot about
to overtake it. The Peppered is 2nd of year .First one on April 23rd.

0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1 Daytime
0649 Esperia sulphurella 2 Daytime
1126 Ancylis badiana 1 Daytime
1651 Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata) 2
1725 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe ferrugata) 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 7
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 1
2015 Lunar Marbled Brown (Drymonia ruficornis) 2
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 3
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 1
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 9
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 4
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 11

Common Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 28

Hello Angus,
I think I'll have to move to Ireland, I ran my Robinson trap last night for 6 hours, it was warm and overcast, more or less ideal conditions for mothing. I brought the trap in at 4.0am when there was a cloudburst. The result 1 Hebrew Character and 3 flies.
It's been a terrible start to the year so far, for me at least.

Harry Eales.

Harry, I'm sre your time will come and I'll get my lean times.

Here is rest of last nights results. Sooner than expected due to unexpected breakdown (they're always unexpected!)

Here is mixed woodland list from 2 traps. The
MV on woodland edge in small farmyard and actinic in the wood. Both had 17
species. not including about 10 worn pugs of which I 'd only be guessing. Total
26 species in all inc 2 species new to me. This gives total of 37 species for
night in total.
Good news is, because the work wasn't done today, I get to leave traps for
another night in the woods

* = new for year ** = new species for me.
an engrailed moth (Ectropis sp.) 5
0006 Eriocrania subpurpurella 1
**1007 Capua vulgana 1**
*1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata fluctuata) 1*
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 3
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 4
1768 Grey Pine Carpet (Thera obeliscata) 9
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 4
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 1
1853 Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata) 2
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1881 Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata) 4
*1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 9*
**1903 Barred Umber (Plagodis pulveraria) 1**
*1904 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria) 1*
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 2
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 3
2010 Scarce Prominent (Odontosia carmelita) 1
2015 Lunar Marbled Brown (Drymonia ruficornis) 4
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 2
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 4
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 33
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1
2425 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 4

Had my third prominent species of the year last night with an Iron to add to Swallow and Pale. This moth continued the theme for my Hunts garden by being rather a dark example. The rest of the catch was uninspiring although I am having to use just the 15W actinic at the moment as Royal Mail still haven't delivered my replacement MV bulb that was posted first class a week ago.

A Hebrew Character was laying eggs under the table the trap sits on this morning.

May 11th Report.

Min temp 10.9C, Max 11.3C Calm and cloudy.

Have given 2 lists, one for garden MV and one for combined total of MV and an
actinic trap in mixed woodland. Very different lists. Over species species
recorded. About 10 worn pugs went unrecorded. A number of firsts for me and of season which includes Water Carpet!


* = first of season ** = New moths to me.

Garden 125W Skinner. 26sp.
1126 Ancylis badiana 1
1651 Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata) 1
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1
1747 Streamer (Anticlea derivata) 2
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 3
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 1
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 3
1995 Puss Moth (Cerura vinula) 1
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 3
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 1
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 5
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 2
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1 First 1st brood in trap.
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 17
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 5
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 7
**2214 Chamomile Shark (Cucullia chamomillae) 1**
2236 Pale Pinion (Lithophane hepatica) 1
2469 Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) 1

Mixed woodland each trap 26sp, combined 35 sp
an engrailed moth (Ectropis sp.) 17
0006 Eriocrania subpurpurella 1
*0140 Nematopogon swammerdamella 1*
0464 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 1
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 2
0649 Esperia sulphurella 1
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 6
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
**1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 2**
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 2
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 4
1768 Grey Pine Carpet (Thera obeliscata) 21
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 16
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 1
*1837 Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 1*
1853 Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata) 2
**1857 Dwarf Pug (Eupithecia tantillaria) 20**
1858 V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata) 1
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 8
1881 Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata) 2
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 33
1903 Barred Umber (Plagodis pulveraria) 1
1904 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 9
*1918 Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia) 3*
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 1
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 2
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1
2015 Lunar Marbled Brown (Drymonia ruficornis) 12
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 4
2179 Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea) 1
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 29
2425 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 4

May 12th Report

A calm, cloudy and cooler night. Temp 11C dropping to 8C

One trap in Farmyard garden and 2 in woodland. 6 new species for year. Some over due and
an earlyish Peach Blossom. And another Ruby Tiger.

* = new for year

Farm yard garden 125w MV 27 species.

*0986 Syndemis musculana 1*
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 1
*1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia) 2*
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 2
*1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1*
1768 Grey Pine Carpet (Thera obeliscata) 1
*1778 May Highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata) 2*
1779 Ruddy Highflyer (Hydriomena ruberata) 1
1883 Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata) 1
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 3
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 2
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) 1
1957 White-pinion Spotted (Lomographa bimaculata) 1
2000 Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) 1
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 1
2015 Lunar Marbled Brown (Drymonia ruficornis) 1
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 1
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 13
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 5
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 1
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 3
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 8
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 2

only 16 Cockchafer.

Woodland 29 species. (Actinic 18 sp, 125w MV 24 sp)

an engrailed moth (Ectropis sp.) 10
0006 Eriocrania subpurpurella 3
0701 Agonopterix ocellana 1
1044x Acleris ferrugana/notana 1
*1652 Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis) 1*
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 4
1725 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe ferrugata) 1
1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 2
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 3
1768 Grey Pine Carpet (Thera obeliscata) 18
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 8
1837 Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 1
1844 Ochreous Pug (Eupithecia indigata) 8
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 7
1858 V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata) 1
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 5
*1893 Tawny-barred Angle (Macaria liturata) 2*
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 46
1903 Barred Umber (Plagodis pulveraria) 1
1904 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
1918 Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia) 1
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 1
2010 Scarce Prominent (Odontosia carmelita) 1
2015 Lunar Marbled Brown (Drymonia ruficornis) 9
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 20
2425 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 3

Another very impressive list!
I'm showing my ignorance again, but do the cockchafers predate the moths? Are they attracted by the light, too? I've had caddis flies in my trap but no beetles so far.
Ken

Surreybirder said:

Another very impressive list!
I'm showing my ignorance again, but do the cockchafers predate the moths? Are they attracted by the light, too? I've had caddis flies in my trap but no beetles so far.
Ken

Click to expand...

Its hard hat time during may for the 'May bug' I don't know if adults feed or not. The larvs feed on roots. Perhaps someone else knows more. Anyway, they're big! Almost filling an egg space. I took this pic because these 2 were about to copulate. I don't have picture of antennae. They certainly are attracted to light as some other bettles. Had another great diving beetle last night. They do damge the moths because they so big with little hooks on their feet, but they're not usually over active in the trap.

Sometimes caddisflies will outnuimber moths in my trap.

Hello Ken,
Light traps attract not only moths, but also terrestrial and aquatic Coleoptera and Hemiptera, Ephemeroptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera etc. The main problem with the larger beetles is that they wander around inside the trap trampling over the moths and causing considerable damage to the specimens.

Some carniverous Coleoptera and Hymenoptera may have the occasional moth as a snack when in the trap, but it is more likely that most moths are lost to predation by birds, wasps (inc. Hornets where they occur) where a trap is left out overnight. During the summer months it is light enough at 3.0am for birds to become active and they soon learn where there are easy pickings. Robins, sparrows and tits are small enough and brave enough to access traps. Regarding Cockchaffers, I'm no beetle expert but I think they are herbivors in their larval and adult stages.

Harry Eales.

May 13th report. (have exceeded 100 species for the month)

Temp ranged from 13C at midnight down to 5C before dawn because shies cleared.
Have finished with woodland so species numbers down a lot. I'm also having to
place the traps in less favoured areas to gat away from "the" robin. Either this
or not trap at all. The actinic trap only had 8 species, but had 5 that the
MV(25sp) did not have

* = new for year ** = new moth for me.

35 species in all.
**0200 Psychoides filicivora 5** Daytime
*0227 Skin Moth (Monopis laevigella) 1* Daytime
0288 Caloptilia stigmatella 2 one Daytime
0385 Anthophila fabriciana 2 Daytime
0391 Cocksfoot Moth (Glyphipterix simpliciella) 50 Daytime on rowan blossom.
0608 Elachista rufocinerea 1 Daytime
1053 Acleris hastiana 1
1126 Ancylis badiana 1 Daytime
1255 Cydia succedana 1 Daytime
1725 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe ferrugata) 4 (2 red form)
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 5
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 1
1778 May Highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata) 4
1779 Ruddy Highflyer (Hydriomena ruberata) 3
1835 White-spotted Pug (Eupithecia tripunctaria) 2
1881 Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata) 1
1893 Tawny-barred Angle (Macaria liturata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 2
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 3
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 4
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 4
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 4
*2069 Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) 1*
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 4
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 23
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 5
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1
2423 Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana) 1
2469 Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) 2

Is it not possible to make the trap 'the robin'-proof? Or are quite a few of its victims outside the trap. (I seem to get more moths on my greenhouse than in the trap.)
Still a nice list, though. About 17 macros I've never had!

Grrrr! Forecast was for a warm cloudy night last night, but it turned out cool and clear. The trap held just a Hebrew Character and a Brimstone Moth this morning plus a Caddisfly and the usual gang of Cockchafers. A Twenty-plume Moth out in the evening was the only other record.

Roll on summer!

Surreybirder said:

Is it not possible to make the trap 'the robin'-proof? Or are quite a few of its victims outside the trap. (I seem to get more moths on my greenhouse than in the trap.)

Click to expand...

I suppose if your a 'whiz' of a DIY man you could rig up some form of counter-balanced flap hinged to the bottom of the trap entry cone inside the trap, and held in the open position by some small electro-magnetic device. If the trap is on a timer the flap would close when the power is switched off, effectively cutting off access into the trap.

Many moths will alight on objects within the light zone, many drop to the ground and/or in your case, settle on the greenhouse. Birds will find many of these and eat them. Having a timer that shuts off the light before dawn, will give those moths in an exposed position time to find somewhere secluded to pass the day. Of course you will miss a few species that fly just before dawn but as most of these fly at dusk as well, you won't miss much.

Harry Eales.