July Moths (1 Viewer)

[Andy Adcock]

Another less than stellar night, Poplar Grey and my second ever record of August thorn, twelve years after the last, were the only highlights.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

49 of 23 last night. Northern Footman was a tick, Lesser Yellow Underwing & True Lover's Knot were NFY. Other highlights included Sycamore, Buff Arches (since this year's first they haven't missed a single session, total of 15 caught and counting) and a couple of Dingy Shears.

 

[Farnboro John]

Saturday's alleged Oak-tree Pugs turned out to be badly identified Commons, sorry about that. Thanks to Aeshna5 for picking up.

Sunday morning (18 July) the big highlight was a fresh Green Silver-lines (NFY) in a varied but regular-composed haul of 59 of 27 species.

Numbers:

Miller 3
Common Footman 2
September Thorn 2
Flame 3
Sycamore 2
BBYUW 6
Uncertain 4
Large YUW 3
Heart and Dart 14
Dun Bar 2
Dark Arches 2

A Festoon was also notable.

The trap was out again to be inspected on the morning of the 20th July, with 2 NFY: Ruby Tiger and Scalloped Oak from 39 individuals of 23 species.

Numbers:

Oak Hook-tip 4
BBYUW 2
Riband Wave 2
Least Carpet 5
Heart and Dart 4
Peppered Moth 2
Elephant Hawk-moth 2

Then last night's catch inspected morning of 22 July included a tick: Sharp-angled Peacock, obviously NFG; also a Pale Prominent NFY among 29 moths of 19 species - disappointing but that was my fault as I hadn't got a good connection when plugging the electrics in, correcting that on my return from the pub later.

Numbers

Oak Hook-tip 2
Heart and Dart 7
Elephant Hawk-moth 2
Common Rustic agg 3

Maybe more tonight, I shall be checking everything is working a few times before bed.....

John

 

[Andy Adcock]

Rubbish last night, temp has deopped and a breeze ha picked up, only small numbers of common stuff caught here.

 

[Farnboro John]

In contrast to Andy, a bonanza for me last night with 49 moths of no less than 28 species, two of which were ticks out of 6 NFY! New to me were Dingy Shell and Plain Pug: NFY Tree-lichen Beauty, Double Lobed, Dot Moth and Green Pug.

Numbers:

Tree-lichen Beauty 2
Oak Hook-tip 3
Heart and Dart 5
Silver Y 2
Scalloped Oak 2
Uncertain 2
Box Moth 2
Large YUW 2
True Lover's Knot 2
Ruby Tiger 2

I also had a darkish Peppered Moth (all mine have been pale to this point of the summer) and a Pebble Hook-tip among more regular fare.

John

 

[loiner]

The warm nights this week have given me catches of 130 moths of 62 species on Sunday night, 148/60 on Monday, 125/50 on Tuesday, 153/61 on Wednesday and 135/49 last night. The only really numerous species has been Chrysoteuchia culmella, with 15 to 30 each night. Only Water Veneer and Large Yellow Underwing also made double-figures on at least one night although as commented elsewhere Bird-cherry Ermines performed well with nine on a couple of night when normally two would be a good count. I racked up 29 species NFY, of which four (Lesser Wax Moth, Mompha propinquella, Tinea semifulvella and Anarsia spartiella) were NFG.

 

[Andy Adcock]

The warm nights this week have given me catches of 130 moths of 62 species on Sunday night, 148/60 on Monday, 125/50 on Tuesday, 153/61 on Wednesday and 135/49 last night. The only really numerous species has been Chrysoteuchia culmella, with 15 to 30 each night. Only Water Veneer and Large Yellow Underwing also made double-figures on at least one night although as commented elsewhere Bird-cherry Ermines performed well with nine on a couple of night when normally two would be a good count. I racked up 29 species NFY, of which four (Lesser Wax Moth, Mompha propinquella, Tinea semifulvella and Anarsia spartiella) were NFG.

Oddly, almost absent in the East Midlands.

 

[KenM]

Only 9 moths last night two of which were Box Tree, however hosing the patio plants at 6.45pm this evening, I disturbed a small moth that landed on garden furniture.
Am totally over the moon as was same time last year, when the first graced my pot.🙂👍🍷

 

[Andy Adcock]

Very envious, never had a Mocha of any kind here.

Only ever seen this one, in Russia.

 

[KenM]

Very envious, never had a Mocha of any kind here.

Only ever seen this one, in Russia.

FWIW Andy, may be a coincidence? but I have Field Maple growing in the garden and as a tree species they are not particularly common hereabouts.👍

 

[Andy Adcock]

FWIW Andy, may be a coincidence? but I have Field Maple growing in the garden and as a tree species they are not particularly common hereabouts.👍

Our County recorder says that most garden traps have a poor yield due to the great lack of native plant life.

 

[Farnboro John]

Our County recorder says that most garden traps have a poor yield due to the great lack of native plant life.

Surely that may apply in an inner city area but unlikely to do so at an urban fringe or near a wildlife corridor? How far does your recorder friend think moths travel in a night (my own assumption given the prodigious migration capabilities of some is that it varies as for birds, with variation in traps similarly affected).

Perhaps Allen and I should compare the plant content of our close proximity Farnborough gardens and then factor in more distant matters such as the wildlife corridor of Cove Brook outside my back garden.... I think it is more complicated than suggested.

John

 

[Allen]

I certainly believe (with no scientific evidence barring the comparison of John trap catches to mine!) that having any wildlife corridor alongside increases catch. My garden has no discernible corridor to connect it even though I'm about a mile or so from John and the catch number reflect this. And thats despite having garden planting aimed to encourage wildlife and with several mature native trees and wild patches. Equally when I trap at my partners which is a rural, very small Surrey village the numbers and variety reflect the advantage of natural habitat on the doorstep.

 

[Andy Adcock]

I certainly believe (with no scientific evidence barring the comparison of John trap catches to mine!) that having any wildlife corridor alongside increases catch. My garden has no discernible corridor to connect it even though I'm about a mile or so from John and the catch number reflect this. And thats despite having garden planting aimed to encourage wildlife and with several mature native trees and wild patches. Equally when I trap at my partners which is a rural, very small Surrey village the numbers and variety reflect the advantage of natural habitat on the doorstep.

Totally agree, I sit high on one side of a well, vegetated valley where gardens, back on to each other so I effectively, trap a very large garden. The fact that I've recorded things like Oak and Roesel's Bush Crickets at my light, possibly, also indicates my slightly better than normal, suburban location. I don't get big numbers but I do get variety, stuff I would never have thought I should get.

My catch tonight was poor, twos of this and that, notable was the months first Spectacle but notable by their absence for the first time this month were Common Footm and and Coronet, however, most notable was my first ever Fen Wainscot, the first I've seeen since my time in Russia. This is my ninth, tick of this year, my best for ten years.

 

[KenM]

After yesterday’s mega, it was going to be a hard act to follow and so it was.
Circa 20 moths of 14 species 5 of which were TLB’s, other highlights were my 2nd (foy) Scalloped Oak, Pale Prominent and a Peppered Moth (too fast for the camera) of the type f.insularia.

Cheers

 

[Steve Lister]

TLBs had me flummoxed until I realised what was in your third photograph - I have still to get my first, though they have started turning up round here in the last couple of years.

 

[Andy Adcock]

TLBs had me flummoxed until I realised what was in your third photograph - I have still to get my first, though they have started turning up round here in the last couple of years.

You may remember Steve that I had the first for Notts in 2018 but there has only been one other since.

Some unusual records here at the moment, a friend of mine in Notts has just caught a Marsh Oblique-barred

Marsh Oblique-barred Hypenodes humidalis

 

[KenM]

Another good night to include 5 TLB’s another Festoon (6th for year) and a “Lifer”.

Cheers

 

[Andy Adcock]

Another good night to include 5 TLB’s another Festoon (6th for year) and a “Lifer”.

Cheers

If it's your sixth of the year, how can it be a 'lifer'?

A poor night here both in range of species and numbers with only Pale Prominent of note.

 

[KenM]

If it's your sixth of the year, how can it be a 'lifer'?

A poor night here both in range of species and numbers with only Pale Prominent of note.

Look at the last image Andy...that was my lifer!