My Coventry garden Moths (1 Viewer)

[Reader]

Sounds like the perfect marriage to me. I wonder if I can get my missus to start working nights...

The best bit Mike is that we are not even married.

I must admit that the arrangement has its benefits but it has its pitfalls as well. If a major bird arrives anywhere near me, that I could go for after work, I wouldn't have the transport to go for it as my Mrs has the car. I'm thinking of last years Belted Kingfisher that arrived on the Friday night but had gone the next day.

I also have two weeks holiday each year more than her and in that period wouldn't have the car because she uses it so unfortunately I have to book a holiday abroad without her because it would be dearer to have a holiday with a car in this country than it would be abroad.

I have had to make the hard decision to join Steve Lister to go to Turkey for two weeks hard Birdwatching in September. Last year I went to Jos Stratfords place in Lithuania for the same reason.

Hard life isn't it. I told you it had its benefits. :-O

John

 

[MikeWall]

Hard life isn't it. I told you it had its benefits. :-O

John

So, get a second car and everything's sorted At least you've got no kids to throw into the mix, that really shanghai's the whole thing...

 

[Reader]

So, get a second car and everything's sorted At least you've got no kids to throw into the mix, that really shanghai's the whole thing...

Oh I wish I could afford a second car. My Mrs should have retired last year but will still be working for at least a year before were straight.

My kids have long grown up and long gone but we have two dogs, which are as good as kids as they have to go everywhere with us.

Back to the moths. It is absolutely stair rodding it down at the moment but it is beginning to look brighter. I hope it stops as I will run a trap tonight and Hummerman (Martin) might come over and join me.

John

 

[Reader]

It was pouring down until nearly 10pm then it stopped so I put the trap out but by midnight hardly a moth had been seen. I decided to give it up as a bad job and put the trap away in the garage. As I placed the trap on the table I noticed a funny shape on the outside corner of the trap. Upon inspection I could see that it was an unusual looking moth and after a bit of manouevering I managed to pop it into a jar. It was a Coxcomb Prominent and the first one I had ever seen.

Apart from what I am sure is a Copper Underwing all I had was the odd Large yellow Underwing and Mother of Pearl and a couple of Silver Y's and that was it. Was it as bad as that with you other guys?

John

 

[Surreybirder]

Was it as bad as that with you other guys?

John

No, conditions were better here. The only prob. was that I got home late so I didn't get the trap on till after dark. No coxcomb prominent here, though.
Ken

 

[Brian Stone]

Note the palpi are largely black with a neat white tip indicating this is Svensson's Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera. This is covered nicely on ukmoths now:
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3827
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3826

 

[scampo]

It was pouring down until nearly 10pm then it stopped so I put the trap out but by midnight hardly a moth had been seen. I decided to give it up as a bad job and put the trap away in the garage. As I placed the trap on the table I noticed a funny shape on the outside corner of the trap. Upon inspection I could see that it was an unusual looking moth and after a bit of manouevering I managed to pop it into a jar. It was a Coxcomb Prominent and the first one I had ever seen.

Apart from what I am sure is a Copper Underwing all I had was the odd Large yellow Underwing and Mother of Pearl and a couple of Silver Y's and that was it. Was it as bad as that with you other guys?

John

I have to say that the copper underwing doesn't look in a very good mood, John! (-;

 

[Reader]

Note the palpi are largely black with a neat white tip indicating this is Svensson's Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera. This is covered nicely on ukmoths now:
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3827
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3826

Damn, I didn't take a body shot as I was convinced that it was a Copper Underwing. Thanks for that Brian. It is a first for my garden.

John

 

[Surreybirder]

Damn, I didn't take a body shot as I was convinced that it was a Copper Underwing. Thanks for that Brian. It is a first for my garden.

John

It's still a pretty convincing photo, John, and the body shot wouldn't necessarily have provided any more evidence.
Ken

 

[Reader]

It's still a pretty convincing photo, John, and the body shot wouldn't necessarily have provided any more evidence.
Ken

Thanks Ken. I have just added it to the Moth gallery as it appears that there wasn't already one in there.

John

 

[Reader]

Last night I was joined by Hummerman (Martin) and his Mrs (Dawn) for a few hours trapping in my garden. He brought along his trap and placed it to the side of our garage but didn't seem to have a lot of success with it so he placed it elsewhere and again with not too much success.

However my trap seemed to be on song as I had a really good night last night, not necessarily on quantity (allthough I had well over 50 Large yellow Underwings & loads of Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing) but I had a couple of quality Moths that I had never seen before such as the magnificent Red Underwing & Old Lady (although this Old Lady was a definite Old Lady as it was well worn). Other moths pulled in were Scarce Silver Lines, Small Square Spot, Willow Beauty, poss Carnation Tortrix, Bramble Shoot Moth, and a few that I have to clarify that may include the Uncertain, an unusual looking Pyrausta aurata and female Gold Swifts that look nothing like the males.

I have shown a few I know and some that need clarifying.

Red Underwing

Old lady ( a well worn old Old lady)

Scarce Silver-lines

Following are a few more.

1. Bramble Shoot Moth
2. Poss Pyrausta aurata
3. Orange Swift (Female)
4. Orange Swift (Female - dark form)
5. Poss Carnation Tortrix

I have a few more to look at that will follow any replies I may have.

John

 

[Steve Lister]

Hi John

I would say number 5 is defintely Carnation Tortrix.

Steve

 

[Reader]

Hi John

I would say number 5 is defintely Carnation Tortrix.

Steve

Cheers Steve.

 

[MikeWall]

1. Bramble Shoot Moth
2. Poss Pyrausta aurata
3. Orange Swift (Female)
4. Orange Swift (Female - dark form)
5. Poss Carnation Tortrix

I have a few more to look at that will follow any replies I may have.

John

P. aurata is so.

 

[Reader]

P. aurata is so.

Thanks Mike.

 

[Reader]

Here are some more for your thoughts.

1. I think is a Small Square Spot
2. I think is an Uncertain
3. I'm sure is a Dusky Thorn
4. Poss Agriphila straminella
5. Poss Agriphila straminella (different moth)

 

[PaulK]

I would have said the first one is The Brick, the second looks like Vines Rustic and it is deffinately a Dusky Thorn. I'll leave the pyrals for someone else

 

[Reader]

I would have said the first one is The Brick, the second looks like Vines Rustic and it is deffinately a Dusky Thorn. I'll leave the pyrals for someone else

Hi Paul

I can see where you are coming from with your first two suggestions. I did look at them but I have never had either of them before so I supposed I erred on the side of caution and went for two that I have had a few times.

I have side shots of those two if it will help.

John

 

[Reader]

Any more advances on those three outstanding ones.

I am running a trap now but it is pouring down at the moment so I have sited the trap under the pull over garage door. Here are two moths I have had a go at. See what you think.

1 Poss Flunced Rustic
2.Poss Pediasia contaminella

John

 

[Oenanthe]

Hi John
I agree with Flounced Rustic but I think the other is Agriphila geniculea

Regards Damian