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August Moths (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Farnboro John
- Start date
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Re mystery moth, Looks like an unusually dark, Flounced Rustic to me?
Here are two moths I've caught recently, an obvious Straw Undwerwing and something I got last night which is VERY similar to the OP, mystery moth, ignore the washed out colours which are misleading, I over compensated in poor light.
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Farnboro John
Well-known member
On the other hand, I live and trap in the centre of Farnborough less than a mile from Allen's gaff and only two of his list (Horse Chestnut and Small Phoenix) are strangers to my garden!
I am completely at a loss to explain the difference between his garden trap and mine.
John
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Some, will be to do with what you neighbours have as available food plants for moth larva in their gardens, your respective neighbours may grow a host of different plants?
Also to do with how well planted the area is generally. I'm just a mile from the City centre but sit atop a valley, looking over a lot of well planted gardens which means I get a surprising variety.
dantheman
Bah humbug
Yes and I think there are lots of factors, seen from a moths point of view as opposed to ours perhaps. So topography, other light sources in the vicinity, the environment as a moth would 'perceive it' (like with rare birds, think like a moth, although there's not a lot you can do in some respects). Differences with an enclosed courtyard garden or good sight lines ...
I'm sure there's research, but how far does a moth trap light draw moths in for example? What height travelling moths passing by will fly at and will they encounter it? Ivy or other heavily scented food sources to attract moths into the area perhaps.
Gardens should have a good variety of non-native plant species, some of which are closely related to native species which otherwise are rare whch can balance against the wider agricultural countryside being fairly bland (some hedgerows notwithstanding). A variety of different habitat types within close reach will affect things too.
I'm sure there's research, but how far does a moth trap light draw moths in for example? What height travelling moths passing by will fly at and will they encounter it? Ivy or other heavily scented food sources to attract moths into the area perhaps.
Gardens should have a good variety of non-native plant species, some of which are closely related to native species which otherwise are rare whch can balance against the wider agricultural countryside being fairly bland (some hedgerows notwithstanding). A variety of different habitat types within close reach will affect things too.
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Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Again, re Allen's 'mystery moth', doesn't look like a Straw Underwing to me at all, I think it's a dark, Flounced Rustic, there is a similar moth here, second image down on the left.
http://birdgroups.co.uk/seemoth/Photo_List.Asp?TaxonID=5582&TaxonName=Flounced+Rustic
http://birdgroups.co.uk/seemoth/Photo_List.Asp?TaxonID=5582&TaxonName=Flounced+Rustic
Allen
Well-known member
It's probably more than a mile now John as my gaff is right on the edge of south Farnborough but I think the real delta here is the surroundings as other have suggested. Despite having a large and mature garden, I lack the advantage of backing onto the green corridor of the brook and I reckon that's the big reason for the difference
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Could be right, especially if I was mistaken about where you were trapping!
Mixture as before the last few days but a year-tick today in the shape of a Bright-line Brown-eye.
John
dantheman
Bah humbug
Didn't put the trap on for a few nights as 30-40 mile winds with gusts of 50-60 forecast. Probably chickened out and should have.
Put on last night 21st, checked 06:45.
Out - 15 of 8 macro
In - 69 of 10 macro ; total 84 of 14 macros, also 1 Peach Blossom near trap last night. 25 Caddis Fly the highest so far.
Highlight Black Arches, with 49 Large Yellow Underwing followed by 9 Flame Shoulder. Some micros etc to look at too.
Put on last night 21st, checked 06:45.
Out - 15 of 8 macro
In - 69 of 10 macro ; total 84 of 14 macros, also 1 Peach Blossom near trap last night. 25 Caddis Fly the highest so far.
Highlight Black Arches, with 49 Large Yellow Underwing followed by 9 Flame Shoulder. Some micros etc to look at too.
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Regarding Allen's mystery moth,
I haven't missed something or confused the replies have I?
I included the link to this thread when I wrote to our recorder with my possible Lempka's Gold Spot, she states emphatically that it's a Flounced Rustic, definitely no Straw Underwing.
I haven't missed something or confused the replies have I?
I included the link to this thread when I wrote to our recorder with my possible Lempka's Gold Spot, she states emphatically that it's a Flounced Rustic, definitely no Straw Underwing.
dantheman
Bah humbug
Haven't seen any missed replies. I can certainly buy it being Flounced. The notches in the cross line below the head are in line, and the bottom cross line (often/usually white-ish in Straw Underwing) is more notched than in Straw.
(Currently struggling with my own Flounced, trying to turn them into something rarer.)
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dantheman
Bah humbug
84 of 13 macro species here - hardly anything outside the trap when I looked, but 50 Large Yellow Underwing and 14 Flame Shoulder the treat awaiting me inside. Nothing new or exciting (except 1 Dark Sword Grass perhaps), but did have first for garden Yellow Shell around 9:30pm last night at the trap when had a quick look.
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
Red Carpet would be a pretty major find that far south Allen, could it have been Flame?
https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NHMSYS0000520988
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
Lousy weather recently has put me off, although I managed a night about a week ago, with nothing of any real note (most interesting species being my first Setaceous Hebrew Character for a while), but we had fun spotlighting Silver Ys feeding on the lavender.
Last night was slightly better, with a couple of Canary-shouldered and three Dusky Thorns, my first Green Carpet for a couple of months and an Oak Bush Cricket. Three Lesser Underwings were also of note, only had a couple of singles of those a few weeks back. The only new species was a big Bulrush Wainscot. More wasps than I've found in the trap before too, at least half a dozen, but happily all pretty docile. 84 moths of 18 species the final tally, Large yellow Underwing (35) & Common Marbles Carpet (11) the most numerous.
Last night was slightly better, with a couple of Canary-shouldered and three Dusky Thorns, my first Green Carpet for a couple of months and an Oak Bush Cricket. Three Lesser Underwings were also of note, only had a couple of singles of those a few weeks back. The only new species was a big Bulrush Wainscot. More wasps than I've found in the trap before too, at least half a dozen, but happily all pretty docile. 84 moths of 18 species the final tally, Large yellow Underwing (35) & Common Marbles Carpet (11) the most numerous.
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Allen
Well-known member
I'll recheck the ID guide in that case, admittedly it was a fairly quick look through and I didn't check ranges. Update forthcoming later.
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Trapped last night (26th/27th August) for the first time in several days. 41 individuals of 14 species, with Larger Yellow Underwings now asserting themselves (15) and Square-spot Rustics just beginning the climb to boring status with 5. A Small Dusty Wave probably the best of a fairly routine trap.
John
John
